In three weeks, we are going to the Vendee; just north of La Rochelle, about 20k from the coast.
I have seen that there is an "official" naturist beach at Sauveterre, but has anybody got any recommendations for other naturist beaches between the Loire estary and the Gironde estuary?
Has anybody visited the Ile de Noirmoutier? It is supposed to be wonderful (and has a Naturist beach).
From memory the main naturist beaches in the Vendee are St Jean-de-Monts, between St. Gilles and Bretignolles-sur-Mer, north of les Sables d'Olonne and near
l'Aiguillon-sur-Mer.
These locations are only approximate so you will need to do a bit more research/exploring, and I don't know offhand which are official, tolerated or unofficial.
I have visited Noirmoutier several years ago but failed to find the naturist beach.
If I can find the link to any of the French nude beach guide sites I will post it later.
JOhn
Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionaries
Thanks for the reply John.
This: between St. Gilles and Bretignolles-sur-Mer
is about 15Km from where we will be staying.
We have two weeks so have plenty of time to check them all out, and visit Noirmoutier!
Thanks for the reply John.
This: between St. Gilles and Bretignolles-sur-Mer
is about 15Km from where we will be staying.
We have two weeks so have plenty of time to check them all out, and visit Noirmoutier!
It is one of my favorite French beaches - last your we stayed a few nights at St.Gilles simply to revisit it.
JOhn
Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionaries
This is a great area. There is an excellent beach alongside the Foret D' Olonne enter from either end...North at Les Granges and head south (quite a walk it used to be) or South at Sauveterre down to a big car park and head north (shorter walk).
The beach at st. jean we give a miss...but it has been a while, as it was near sewage works and with wind in wring direction could pong a bit...water was clean though so no problems.
The Beach on the Ille D'Oleron we like best is at an area near of forest north of Boyardville...enter through Boyardville. Again been a few years but was excellent despite being near some mussel fishing areas. Small area of beach had a nice mud that people loved to cover themselves in for therapeutic purposes and then wash off in sea. Really nice if weird experience when nude but we joined in the folks doing this.
Wherever you chose it is not bad in that area if it is a regular Plage Naturiste...enjoy.
😉
Al
Thanks for the replies. We are going on Saturday (26th) and the weather forecast is excellent - 25-30 deg C, maybe thunderstorms mid-next week but still warm.
Can anyone recommend a camp-site in that area? I would prefer one that is within walking distance of the naturist section of a beach.
Can anyone recommend a camp-site in that area? I would prefer one that is within walking distance of the naturist section of a beach.
There are several textile camp sites within walking distance of this beach.
My suggestion is that you drive South from St.Gilles and take your choice. We have never had any problems finding an emplacement, even in high season.
JOhn
Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionaries
We have just got back from Gironde (south of the estuary) and Pays Basque, but stopped at Bretignolles on the way back. We spent a (windy) day on Noirmoutier and found the naturist beach between L'Epine and Herbaudiere. The naturist bit is halfway between the two towns and was well sheltered, but there was a fair bit of seaweed in the surf - this was also a problem further south at Soulac sur Mer but had cleared by the time we left, so it could well have gone from Noirmoutier by now as well. We didn't have time to try the beach at Bretignolles unfortunately. If you go further south the beach at Royan (Cote Sauvage) is worth a visit, and we have also used the beach at Point d'Espagnole overlooking the Ile d'Oleron.
If you cross the estuary into Gironde it is more naturist than not - we discovered the brilliant beach at the St Nicolas Lighthouse for the first time this year but have used L'Amelie Plage (Soulac) and Pointe de la Negade regularly. Catch the ferry from Royan. We stay at Camping l'Ocean at L'Amelie Plage which is 300 metres from the beach. Walk 5 or 10 minutes south (turn left!) and you will find the naturist bit, which continues for half a mile or so to Point de la Negade where there is a short textile section then it is naturist for miles, past EuroNat and CHM.
Fabulous part of the world - wish we were still there!