Naturism in France

Public Nudity Laws

Comprehensive guide to public nudity laws, regulations, and penalties

Topless Sunbathing Laws

Is it legal to sunbathe topless? Country-by-country legal guide

Indecent Exposure Laws

What constitutes indecent exposure and the penalties in each country

Age Restrictions

Legal age requirements for nudity, naturist venues, and events

Photography Laws

Legal requirements for photographing nude subjects and naturist activities

Naturist Venue Regulations

Legal requirements for nudist resorts, clubs, and venues

Event Permits & Licensing

Requirements for organizing nudist events and gatherings

The Côte Sauvage is the long, straight Atlantic shore of the Arvert peninsula, running north-west from La Palmyre toward the Pointe Espagnole and the Maumusson channel opposite Oléron, backed by high dunes and the pine forest of La Coubre. On the La Tremblade section, the Royan Atlantique tourist office says naturism is authorised between beach access post no. 10 at Pointe Espagnole and post no. 30 at La Bouverie (older listings gave post 32), so nude bathers spread along several kilometres of fine sand. The beach is open ocean, exposed to big swells and strong currents: it is popular for surfing, bodyboarding and surf-casting, and the tourist office stresses great caution when swimming; stay near the lifeguarded zone in summer. There is little shade beyond the dunes, and the crowd thins quickly the farther you walk from the car parks. The southern part of the coast (Les Mathes/La Lède) has its own separate naturist area.

The Espace naturiste of the Bois de Vincennes is an official, seasonal naturist zone set up by the City of Paris in a public park on the city's eastern edge, in the 12th arrondissement. It was first opened in 2017, with the site chosen together with the Association des naturistes de Paris and the Fédération française de naturisme. Since then it has reopened each spring. It is a grassy meadow in the middle of the woods, just below the bird reserve, between the Allée Royale and the Route Dauphine. Wooden signs on the four paths leading in mark its edges. There is no water and it is not a beach. People come to sunbathe, picnic and read nude in the open air within reach of central Paris. A charter of good conduct is posted at the entrance, and the city states that voyeurism and exhibitionism are not tolerated. Naturists and clothed walkers can pass through, so the space is mixed. The Collectif Naturiste Urbain runs welcome sessions and group activities there.

Le Bau Rouge (also written Les Bau Rouges) is a small rocky beach at the foot of the cliffs west of Carqueiranne, on the Var coast between Toulon and Hyères, towards Le Pradet. It is the commune's only naturist beach and one of the oldest authorised naturist beaches on the French Riviera: Atout France records that it was officially authorised in 1977. The beach is roughly 200 m of stones and large smooth rock slabs rather than sand, below cliffs whose rock shades from beige through violet to wine red. The water is very clear, and the rocky outcrops and seabed make it a favourite with snorkellers, divers and sea-urchin gatherers. There is no lifeguard and no beach service, and swimming can be tricky in wind. Part of the beach, set apart from the rest, is frequented by gay men. Access has been the main problem in recent years: the long staircase that served the beach was reported closed in 2024 and 2025, and visitors have had to use a path further east.

Les Esclamandes is the largest beach in Saint-Aygulf, the seaside district of Fréjus on the Var coast: about 600 m of fine sand running north towards the mouth of the Argens river. The Fréjus tourist office divides it into four zones, one of which is a naturist zone; the others are a family area, a kitesurfing zone and an area where dogs are allowed. The naturist section is at the northern end, beyond the Bambusa beach bar and close to the river mouth, and is marked by 'Plage Naturiste' signs. Visitors report that it moved slightly in 2024. The sand is free of pebbles and the water is shallow and usually clear, though it can turn murky after rain with river outflow, and driftwood and debris wash up after storms. The zone is not policed, so clothed walkers, dog owners and kitesurfers pass through, especially in high season. Shade is minimal. It is a practical, easy-access naturist beach rather than a secluded one, used by local regulars, campers from the nearby sites and families.

The Crique des Pierres Tombées is a small rocky cove in Marseille's 9th arrondissement, immediately beside the Calanque de Sugiton inside the Calanques National Park. It is about 100 m of rock slabs and boulders below the cliffs, with no sand. Marseille's tourist office states that naturism here has been authorised by a municipal order since August 2022, and lists naturists as the cove's main users, so nudity applies to the whole cove. Getting there is part of the experience: it is about an hour's walk on national park footpaths from the end of bus line B1 at Luminy. Because of erosion from overcrowding, the national park has required free advance booking for Sugiton and Pierres Tombées on peak summer days since 2022, capped at 400 visitors a day in 2026. On 1 October 2025 a rockfall at the foot of a cliff on the access path closed the site; the tourist office reports it reopened after rock-clearing work, but its listing still showed 'temporarily closed' in May 2026. There are no facilities at the cove.

The Pointe d'Arçay is the long sand spit at the southern tip of La Faute-sur-Mer in southern Vendée, with views across the water to Île de Ré. The French naturist federation's list, published on France.fr, gives a 3 km naturist stretch here running toward the bird reserve that occupies the end of the spit; beach guides describe it as the largest naturist beach in Vendée, beginning beyond the Plage des Barriques. The beach is undeveloped sand with some pebbles, reached through the forest, with no lifeguards, cafés or toilets. The protected area at the tip is closed to the public, so stay on the beach side of any signs. With a long tidal zone and the length of the stretch, it is easy to find space; guides call it almost deserted even in high season, making it one of the quietest naturist beaches on the Vendée coast.

Domaine naturiste de La Sablière is a 62-hectare naturist holiday park in the Cèze gorge at Saint-Privat-de-Champclos in the Gard, between the Cévennes, Provence and the Ardèche. It is a family-oriented resort devoted to naturism. Accommodation is a mix of chalets, mobile homes, furnished tents and camping pitches, all rated 4-star with several quality labels. The grounds have river-edge beaches, a covered and heated pool with views over the valley, an outdoor pool, a paddling pool with slides, a sauna, a restaurant, bar and small supermarket, and a tennis court. A kids' club and evening entertainment run in July and August. Nudity is expected in most areas and mandatory by the pool, according to the naturist listings. The park is open for the summer season, with the 2026 dates given as 7 May to 20 September. Visitor ratings are good, and the site is particularly popular with families.

Naturist club founded in 1931 with a fully enclosed one-hectare wooded park in the protected Buttes du Parisis at Franconville, north-west of Paris. Facilities include a pool, solarium, volleyball and pétanque, archery range, terrace, sauna, changing rooms and a clubhouse. The club prides itself on a welcoming approach for women trying naturism for the first time, and non-members can visit by appointment.

Aphrodite is one of the self-contained naturist apartment residences that make up the Villages Naturistes of Port Leucate, on the Aude coast between Narbonne and Perpignan. Built in the mid-1970s, it is a large, car-free complex of low-rise apartments, studios and small villas grouped around courtyards, owned by individuals and let mostly by the week through owners and local agencies rather than run as a hotel. Units typically sleep two to four people and have a terrace; some upper-floor flats have a glimpse of the sea and views of Canigou and the Corbières hills. Shared facilities include secure gated access, free parking, two swimming pools (a lap pool open mid-June to mid-September and a relaxation pool open April to October, heated outside high summer), three tennis courts and a pétanque area, with shops, restaurants and the marina within the wider naturist village. The long naturist beach of Port Leucate is a short walk away. Nudity is the norm throughout the residence, pools and beach; the Leucate tourist office lists units here as part of the Aphrodite Village naturist residence.

Naturist guest room for two in the wine village of Pouzols-Minervois in the Aude, with an independent entrance, private bathroom and large bed. Guests can use a pool, spa and outdoor jacuzzi, and book massages. Breakfast is served in the garden or on the terrace, and bikes can be hired to explore Minerve, the Corbières and the Narbonne beaches.

Quiet family naturist ground at Le Rocher Saint-Martin in Ceaulmont, a few kilometres from the Brenne regional park, giving access to a clear lake with its own small beach. Visitors can pitch a tent, park a motorhome or rent a caravan. Games and beach tables are provided, and the atmosphere is friendly and informal.

Four holiday houses in the hamlet of Quelvezin at Carnac that can be booked individually or together, between countryside and sea. Listed by the FFN as a partner offering a discount to licence holders, the gîtes are 3 km from Sainte-Barbe beach and close to the Carnac megalith alignments. They suit couples, families or groups of friends who want proximity while keeping some privacy.

Naturist bed and breakfast in Buron, a hill village south-east of Clermont-Ferrand, offering two 50 m² rooms for up to four people, each with a private terrace and a view of the Chaîne des Puys. A common room with fireplace and billiards encourages guests to mix, and in summer there is an outdoor shower and pool. Californian massage is available, and Lac Chambon is nearby.

Naturist bed and breakfast in the Vaunage area of the Gard run by Olivier and Antoine. Two elegantly decorated double rooms share a bathroom and toilet. Guests can relax nude in the lounge, on a large unoverlooked terrace and in the jacuzzi. A home-cooked table d'hôte dinner made with fresh produce is available, and the surrounding vineyards are well known.

Naturist ground in the Bois de la Pardière at Château-Larcher, south of Poitiers, home of the Club du Soleil de Poitiers since the 1970s. Members and FFN licence holders can rent a pitch with electricity, a chalet or a caravan. There is a communal house with equipped kitchen, a bar with ice creams and cold drinks, sports grounds and a pool, with bread delivered in summer.