13.26 - Why France is the Ultimate Nudist Destination?

If you're thinking of giving naturism or nudity a try this summer? France should be your first stop - here's why.

Today at a Glance: your free weekly newsletter

1. Why France is the Ultimate Nudist Destination?
2. Recently published articles: MyFrenchLife™ Magazine
3. Here’s what’s happening around France this week…
4. Judy’s Missive 13.26 (year 13 week 26) (Free for now)
5. Merci mille fois

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You’re reading the weekly free ‘le Bulletin’ newsletter, I’m thrilled that you’re here! And if you’re enjoying ‘le Bulletin’ please consider upgrading your subscription to a paid subscription for as little as euro 3.75/month - it’s as if you’re buying me a cup of ‘café’ or a ‘chocolat chaud’. I’m enormously grateful for the generosity of those who have already subscribed for free, then upgraded to paid! Merci. Judy.

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1. Why France is the Ultimate Nudist Destination?

It’s no secret that the French have a casual attitude towards nudity. In France, it is not uncommon during a doctor’s visit to be asked to bare all. And if you thought you’d be offered a towel or robe to at least partly cover yourself, you thought wrong.   

The concept of nudity is often defined as ‘social’ nudity or naturalism to differentiate it from ‘sexual’ nudity - perhaps not so much a definition but an effort for clarity. So, for clarity here I’m talking about social nudity.

For many nationalities this concept would raise some questions: How does one not stare? Where do you place your arms and hands? Is there a place for modesty? Don’t they feel vulnerable? Is it safe? But for the French, this isn’t such a strange concept. In fact, up to 40 000 free-spirited individuals spend their summer vacations in Cap d’Agde, a sleepy seaside resort in the south of France that in the warmer months transforms into the world’s largest family-style nudist resort.

You may be asking yourself what people do all day in the nude.

“What if they need to do everyday chores, such as go grocery shopping or to the post office? No problem! There’s a bank, post office, supermarkets, and hairdressers in Cap d’Agde. It’s just like any other village, except everyone is naked. Phil Hoad from the Guardian decided to give nude urbanism a go and said only a day after arriving “[he was] happily part of a nude queue in the deli lining up for tabouli and octopus salad…”

French nudity attitudes are so laid-back that in Cap d’Agde that they don’t blink an eye at someone buying groceries in the nude.

Here are five key reasons why France is the world’s best-known naturist country:
- French people think being naked is normal
French people see social nudity as a lifestyle choice. Laissez-faire is the rule of the land as long as you’re paying attention to local ordinances and traditions.
- There are more nudist destinations in France than anywhere else in the world! Think the Atlantic coast, St Tropez, Provence, and many more.
- France promotes nude vacations on YouTube with Naturisme TV
Nudity is not only generally accepted in France, but there’s even a professional YouTube channel dedicated to helping people find the perfect naturist destination
- It’s the only place on the planet where family nudism is truly thriving
The attitude to nudity in France is very different to many other countries, for example, most Americans think of nudism as an adults-only activity.
- They have a naked village on an island: Heliopolis
The village of Heliopolis has about 300 year-round residents and swells by maybe a few thousand more in the months of July and August.

Discover more about nudity in France on MyFrenchLife.org Magazine

And here is an article on Medium by James Grigg about what Nudism means to him and he asks 3 interesting questions and gives his personal answers.

1. What do you enjoy most about Naturism?

2. What do you think Naturism is about (other than what you enjoy as above)

3. What would you like to see as a change in the Naturist society?

What are your views on nudism? Do you find the French attitude to nudism naturalism different from yours? What do you think? Can you add to this discussion? And then there are the 3 questions above, which you may have answers for… Please share with me/us, below.

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2. Recently published articles: MyFrenchLife™ Magazine

Château la Coste: I Dreamed a Dream: <- A reminder that LINKS are red :)

Discovering the Dylan Sculpture at Château la Coste

In 1963, about the time I picked up my first guitar, Bob Dylan wrote about riding on a train goin' west. He titled the tune, 'Bob Dylan’s Dream'. The song looks back to a time when he and his close friends would gather around an old wood stove to laugh and sing, and how he would give anything to recreate those days. It’s one of my favorites.

When my wife, Kim, read that Dylan’s massive metal sculpture, 'The Train', would be arriving at the Château la Coste nearby in Aix en Provence, we made plans to visit. Discover more…

Please say hi/bienvenue in the comments to welcome new MyFrenchLife Magazine Contributor - Mark Jesperson.

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3. Here’s what’s happening around France this week - to read these articles, click the red headings or ‘Discover more’

a. Discovering France's regions via gastronomy: Marseille, a Mediterranean melting pot - video - a reminder that LINKS are red.

A snippet: “Bordering the French Riviera, Marseille is a one-of-a-kind place in France with a soul of its own. The colourful metropolis is famous for being the sunniest city in the country and a fascinating destination with a rich history. The southern port city has been at the crossroads of trade and immigration since it was first founded in 600 BC. All this has made Marseille into a Mediterranean melting pot with a diverse cultural and gastronomic heritage…” Discover more.

b. Everything you've ever wanted to know about the French... but were too afraid to find out.

A snippet: “We were in a small town east of Dijon when we remembered why we had vowed never to return to France. It was quarter past midday and we had stumbled upon a small cafe in the shade of a giant pine. Already a few tables had been taken, largely by French shopkeepers whose businesses all bore the same sign in the window: Ferme pour dejeuner, the precise timing of which was left unclear; like a giant Gallic shrug in the face of any tourist who dared try the door handle…” Discover more.

c. 57,000-year-old Neanderthal engravings found in France's Loire Valley

A snippet: “The oldest known cave engravings in France, and possibly Europe, have been discovered in the Loire Valley, with researchers uncovering designs dating back at least 57,000 years to the age of Neanderthals…” Discover more.

d. Billie Eilish to headline climate awareness concert at Paris's Eiffel Tower

A snippet: “The concert, organised by NGO Global Citizen, features on the sidelines of an international summit launched by President Emmanuel Macron. Artists H.E.R. and Eilish's brother Finneas are also on the bill for the free show at the Champ de Mars below the Parisian landmark. The venue hosted a previous Global Citizen concert in 2021 with Elton John and other huge stars that also had parallel concerts in several cities around the world. Eilish, 21 and a seven-time Grammy winner is known for her environmental advocacy…” Discover more.

e. Hyères – A Cradle For British And American Literature - French & English - a reminder that LINKS are red.

A snippet: “I recently visited the city, in the company of Jean-Luc Pouliquen, author of Robert Louis Stevenson in Hyères. This charming coastal city of the Var can boast a rich cultural past: first a Greek city in the 4th century BC, then a fortified city seat of the Templars, it attracted the European aristocracy who spent the winter there in the 19th century. Queen Victoria herself came there…” Discover more.

f. France's Baie de Somme: Between land and sea - video - a reminder that LINKS are red.

A snippet: “To discover France's Baie de Somme, on the northern Picardy coast, it's best to venture out at low tide. The River Somme's vast estuary reveals an archipelago of sandbanks and salt marshes: a paradise for migratory birds, but also for sheep farmers. During a canoe trip, tourists can get close to the stars of the bay: the seals. The largest seal colony in France has taken up residence here, much to the delight of visitors…” Discover more.

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4. Judy’s Missive 13.26 (year 13, week 26)

For 13 years ‘le Bulletin’ newsletter has contained both stories/articles about France AND what I refer to as my ‘Missive’ that has for all these years been about life and love! and not usually about France.

Since moving ‘le Bulletin’ to Substack recently I’ve decided to try separating ‘le Bulletin’ from my ‘Missive’ - meaning that stories about France and life and love will be separate. And my ‘Missive’ will live here on Substack, but you’ll find it here on the NOTES found on le Bulletin homepage.

If all of this sounds like gobblygook, then perhaps you’re right, but to cut to the chase here is the link to read my first ‘Missive’ on substack, which may help you feel good about the world :)
You can read it here: ‘Generosity in all its guises - 27 June 2023’ ← Click here.

*NOTE: ‘Judy’s Missives’ are soon to become Paid Subscriber exclusive - please consider upgrading.*

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5. Merci mille fois

“Merci mille fois... for being such a loyal, occasional, or new, reader of ‘le Bulletin’ …I'm grateful that you’re here reading - please know that I really enjoy writing for you weekly...” Judy MacMahon

I appreciate hearing from you - rants, suggestions, creative ideas, collaborations, and opposing views are all welcome! Send me a message 
À Bientôt
Judy x
Merci mille fois !