Country
France
Reviews
No reviews yet
Family friendly
Yes
Season
Late March to late September
About CHM Montalivet (Centre Hélio-Marin)
CHM Montalivet, the Centre Hélio-Marin at Vendays-Montalivet on the Médoc coast north of Bordeaux, is widely described as the world's first naturist holiday centre. Albert and Christiane Lecocq founded it on 23 July 1950 as the Centre Naturiste Hélio-Marin de Guyenne on burnt forest land leased from the commune, and the International Naturist Federation was formally founded at its first congress here in 1953. Today it is one of the largest naturist resorts in Europe: about 175 to 220 hectares of pine forest behind the Atlantic dunes, split into some 20 villages with over 3,000 pitches, privately owned bungalows and caravans, and rentals ranging from mobile homes, chalets and studios to tents and tiny homes. Facilities include an outdoor naturist water park with slides, hot tubs and a paddling pool, an indoor lane pool, a central village of about 27 shops, restaurants and bars, tennis, archery, minigolf, a surf school, an outdoor cinema, a cultural centre with a library and kids' clubs for ages 3 to 17. The resort fronts about 2 km of naturist beach with two supervised bathing areas, one lively and one quiet. It is strongly family-oriented, and single guests are admitted only when introduced by an existing guest.
Legal context & local rules
Nudity is lawful on the private naturist resort and its adjoining naturist beach. In 1966 the CHM opened what is described as mainland France's first official naturist beach.
Public nudity in France is permitted exclusively in designated naturist zones (officially recognised naturist beaches and centres). Outside these zones, nudity is criminalised under French Penal Code Article 222-32 (exhibition/indecent exposure). The legal framework distinguishes between "naturism" (controlled, designated areas) and "public indecency" (general public spaces). France has 150+ member clubs offering naturist accommodations and 50 holiday centres with official status.
What’s here
Getting there and visiting
The CHM is at 46 Avenue de l'Europe, 33930 Vendays-Montalivet, about 90 km north-west of Bordeaux; there is no rail station nearby, so most visitors drive. Stays are booked with the resort for pitches or rentals; day visits are not the norm. A naturist licence is required, with foreign federation and INF cards accepted; the on-site club NACA, approved by the French Naturist Federation, issues the federal licence. The 2026 season ran from 28 March to 27 September, with supervised bathing from May to September. Families and couples are the core clientele.
Before you go
- 1 Check the current local rules and access conditions before travelling.
- 2 Bring a towel and sit on it when using shared seating.
- 3 Never take photographs of other people without clear consent.
- 4 Respect the venue’s clothing, privacy, and behaviour rules.
Location
⌖View this place on the map
45.3620, -1.1500
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a naturist licence?
Yes. A naturist federation licence or INF card is required; foreign federation cards are accepted and NACA issues licences on site.
Are single men welcome?
Single guests are admitted only when introduced by an existing guest, as the resort is family-oriented.
Is it family friendly?
Very. It has kids' clubs for ages 3 to 17, a water park and supervised beaches.
When is it open?
In 2026 the season ran from 28 March to 27 September.
Is the beach naturist?
Yes. About 2 km of naturist beach with two supervised swimming areas from May to September.
Sources
- CHM Montalivet official site
- France.fr: FKK in der Nouvelle-Aquitaine Official
- Wikipedia: CHM Montalivet
- HelloAsso: NACA Naturistes Amis de la Côte Aquitaine, cotisations 2026
Researched 25 October 2026 ; confirmed against an official source 25 October 2026.
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