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Southeastern France |
A nudist
city of 40,000 right on the
Mediterranean in southeastern
France! |
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
Cap d'Agde (pronounced Cap DAG) is actually a nudist
city of 40,000 right on the Mediterranean in southeastern
 France. The naturist/tourist section of
the town was developed, believe this, by the French government in the 1960's to
exploit the beauty of the region and the Mediterranean.
 Accommodations range from beachfront
apartments, condominiums, homes and hotels to nearby villas or castles in the
hills for accommodations during the summer. Otherwise, the naturist section of
the town is closed down; actually no one chooses to visit when it's cold!
Most of the permanent residents of the town live in other parts of the
city besides the naturist section.
 Cap
d'Agde is actually a huge recreational and vacation complex covering thousands
of acres in southeast France on the Mediterranean coast about 4 hours north of
Barcelona, Spain.
Only a part of Cap d'Agde is devoted to the nude or
"Naturisme" section. The remainder of the real estate complex includes the
"textile" development for permanent homes, condos, apartments, beaches, hotels,
entertainment, retail strip centers, a marina and golf course.
 The Nude ("Naturisme") section
includes several apartment buildings, condominiums, a nude hotel, stores,
clubs, bars, shops, adult spas, restaurants, a marina and arguably the largest
camp ground for nudists in the world with over 2,500 sites for RVs and
trailers. Most of the permanent structures and accommodations are privately
owned but many are placed in a rental pool so you have a variety to choose
from.
The "Naturisme" sections of Cap d'Agde are as
follows:
Heliopolis-Studios and apartments
Port Nature-Villas
and apartments
Helio-Village-Villas
Port Ambonne-Apartments
(original)
Centre Hélio-Marin-Camping sites (2,500)
Port
Venus-Villas
Port Soleil-Apartments
Port Sauvage-Villas
All the
various complexes actually run together and are accessible on foot. The larger
(textile) section of Cap d'Agde is huge so you will need a car to reach most of
the other parts of the textile complex. The separate town of Agde, France is
about 5-10 minutes west of the resort complex known as Cap d'Agde.
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
The city of Cap d'Agde, in southeastern France, is
twenty minutes from Bezier and an hour from Montpellier, both with airports
with service from Paris. Barcelona, Spain is less than 200 miles to the west
and south, about 4 hours away by car.
Both airports at Montpellier and
Bezier can be reached daily by several scheduled flights from the Paris
airports of Charles de Gaulle or Orly. Trains service both cities as well. And,
rental cars are available just about everywhere. Taxis and buses operate
locally. Airline seats are limited, planes are commuter aircraft, so plan well
AHEAD.
Auto route A-9 toll way serves the area with exit # 34 only 20
minutes from Cap d'Agde itself so driving is easy from anywhere in France or
Spain.
Some travel package companies may include transfers from
Montpellier; otherwise plan on renting a car or taking a taxi. Castaways'
affiliate agent in Cap d'Agde can also arrange to pick you up at the Agde train
station if you rent accommodations.
Day time visitors are also welcome
if you are not a rental guest at Cap d'Agde. You may be expected to pay a small
entrance fee if you are on foot.
If you will be at Cap d'Agde at least
once in your lifetime, we recommend you rent a car to see the countryside,
although you will not need a vehicle within the "Naturisme" section.
TIPS: Make sure you arrange for a rental car before you arrive as demand is
high during the season.
TIPS: Make sure your rental accommodations in
the "Naturisme" section INCLUDE space for a rental car if you plan on driving.
Expect to pay a small daily entrance fee for your car for the length of your
stay in the "Naturisme" section of Cap d'Agde.
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All types of services, dining, shops, markets, bars and
discos are available in  Cap d'Agde and
all have one thing in common--all the customers are nude. If you like beach
life, the best located accommodations are the apartment units in the complex
called Heliopolis.
Accommodations are usually booked up and sold out
far in advance with rates running between $100-$200/person/night the norm.
Languages spoken are French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and
English and more. Most local shop and restaurant service personnel speak a bit
of English. Always learn a few phrases and words in French to at least try to
make an effort to communicate, even crudely, with your French service personnel
who will appreciate your attempts. We've found that the younger service
personnel you typically encounter speak several languages and will happily
converse with you.
Electricity is 220 v so take a converter/adaptor
with you.
Several beach clubs spotted along the shore offer rental
lounges, umbrellas and include food, drink and rest room facilities, too.
Always carry a towel with you to sit on. Some apartment or condo
accommodations and services INCLUDE beach towels in addition to linens, a nice
touch so you won't need to pack your own bulky beach towels while traveling.
Check your accommodations package to be sure.
 Two shopping areas are in the Naturisme
section: One each in Heliopolis and Port Ambonne and a small group of shops,
restaurants and tourist offices are just outside the entrance the Naturisme
section. An ATM machine is in the Port Ambonne center and a cybercafe is in
Port Nature 6 with another in the Place de la Marine in the town of Agde
nearby. Other commercial facilities are also located in the textile section of
Cap d'Agde alhtough will probably need To stock up for most of your holiday
supplies, try the Hyper-U supermarket on the right hand side of the road
heading into Agde.
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Usual accommodations include some type of kitchen so you
can buy fresh food from the nearby markets to prepare yourself. All types of
snacks, beach shops and fine dining restaurants abound in
 the nudist section of the city so you
never have to wear clothes unless you want to. Life goes on until late at night
or early in the morning so you're not going to wonder what to do
next.
Prices for food and drink are similar to any other vacation
locations but they're not exorbitant. Most rental accommodations include
bedroom, living room, bath and a kitchen so most visitors prepare a meal or two
during the day and enjoy dining out at night. The best part is arguably the
French pastries, the hot bread and fresh fruit you will find most guests buy
daily each morning to start their day. Best bargains no doubt are French wines
that you can purchase in the stores for USD $5-$15/bottle. An average meal at
night can run USD $10-$20/person + drinks (subject to change).
Don't
go to Cap d'Agde expecting gourmet meals since you will encounter mostly simple
dining and the bill of fare is rarely extensive. One of our favorite little
haunts for breakfast, lunch and enjoying the view (both people and beach) is
L'Horizon located adjacent to the far east end of Port Nature # 1 building.
Sete and Carcassonne are towns nearby that offer much better French
food. Plan to visit Barcelona, Montpellier, Nice or Paris for gastronomic
delights if you're looking for great cuisine.
Visitors are for the
most part nude during the day while at night, most wear some clothing in the
village itself with garments likely to be shed in the clubs as the night
progresses.
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Accommodations are usually booked up and sold out far in
advance with rates running between $100-$200/person/night the norm.
The
majority of the room accommodations do not have air conditioning while most of
the condos do. Make sure you let us know what room type or category your
prefer. The weather is usually quite nice during the day but occasionally, the
temps can be very hot so hope for a breeze. Most days, the wind blows west off
the sea or east straight from the plains behind the complex. We've found the
cool, gentle sea "breeze" can turn into gusty, windy conditions so be prepared.
Some of the better accommodations are apartment villas located in the two
"villages" around the marina in the low rise, single level buildings. A few
include 2-3 bedroom units with a private pool....great for couples to share and
entertain. Apartments are scattered around three areas in the "Naturisme"
section including Heliopolis, the largest single complex, plus Port Ambonne and
Port Nature, most with balconies in mulit story buildings.
Hotel EVE
is the only such property in the "Naturisme" section with 48 air conditioned
units. Hotel EVE is very basic, similar to a Motel 6 in the USA. Many guests
who stay there expect to find other "like minded" visitors and "hedonistic"
couples and singles. Simple accommodations include a private bathroom with bath
or shower, toilet, TV, alarm clock radio, telephone, mini bar, safe and
hair-dryer. The hotel's best assets are its pool and roof top terrace for
breakfast.
Nude accommodations are suitable for families, singles,
couples, gays, lesbians, hedonistic couples and everyone in between. You will
find no "five star" nude accommodations on site.....most are fairly plain but
functional so don't go there expecting the Ritz! Better accommodations are
outside the nude section in the textile zone where 3 star and 4 star hotels are
located.
NOTE: If you use the camp site, you must possess a FFN card
(French Naturism card). Otherwise, to use the rest of the "Naturisme" area or
to rent accommodations there, there are no other membership requirements
although there is a small entrance fee to bring a rental car into the
"Naturisme" section.
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Group ages range from 20's to 70's with most in the middle.
With such an international cast of sun worshippers on the beach and in town,
you will find lots of compatible people to meet.
Once you get there you
will see nudists from infants to senior citizens.
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With an electric, lively atmosphere, you're sure to find
something of interest or someone to talk to. During the day, the water sports
area can get downright crowded, so it's advisable to stay at a resort which
includes membership in a private beach club right to the water's edge.
 Night life can be fun and
entertaining from dining au naturale to bar and disco hopping late into the
evening.
The beachlife during the day is what most people visit for
with the nightlife and socializing running a close second. People watching seem
to be just about everyone's favorite hobby.
NOTE: With 30,000 to 40,000
visitors annually, Cap d'Agde is a truly international cast of characters, so
you will find everything there---singles, couples, families, gays, lesbians,
groups and just about all nationalities. Have fun and be friendly--you never
know who you'll meet there.
You will find more families in the camping
area of the Naturisme section although families are welcome throughout the
area. Night time in and around Heliopolis, Part Nature and Port Ambonne are are
mostly frequented by adult couples and singles.....in night club clothes,
mostly, with most ladies outfits revealing and fun.
Night clubs cater
mostly to adult activities with at least six clubs and spas on site in the nude
section and include 2 et 2, Nat' Hamman, Le Glamour, Le Tantra, Le Pharon and
Le Jules whose pool above the club has recently been re-constructed. Admission
ranges from USD $25-$50/person and may include food and drink. Opening and
closing times vary so check first before committing to an all nighter at any
one of these.
TIP: Drinks can be expensive. Some clubs include a
couple of drinks with admission so check with each of them before you enter.
Otherwise, bring your own bottle which you can use on site in the club. If you
wish to return later or on another night, ask the bar keep to mark your bottle
with your name and leave it in his care for your next visit. Mixers and ice are
usually available for your drinks at most clubs if you BYOB.
Locations
of adult clubs* in Naturisme section:
Heliopolis: Le Glamour
Port
Nature: Le Tantra
Port Nature: Le Jules (pool recently re-constructed)
Port Ambonne: 2 et 2 (sauna-no dance floor)
Port Ambonne: Nat' Hamman
(sauna-no dance floor)
Port Ambonne: Le Pharon
*NOTE: The names are
not guaranteed as the clubs may change from time to time with new owners, but
the locations tend to be the same.
Nearby: Adge, France: There is one
club in Agde, Les Quai des Anges
Countryside nearby: L'Extasia, less than
10 miles from Cap d'Agde.
A couple of established bars in Heliopolis
offer diversions, night life, good drink and karaoke include 1664 and
L'Hemingway. Port Nature # 5 and the bars, boutiques and restaurants located
there probably offer the greatest concentration of night life in one place in
the entire Naturisme section at Cap d'Agde.
The beaches have their own
"united nations" sections including families, gays, lesbians, adults and
hedonistic couples & singles. Family spots on the 3.5 mile beach are
located in front of or near the condos, apartments and camp sites while adult
beaches are north of the camp ground area where you will find most of the
mischief.
Beaches are wide and long. Several beach clubs spotted along
the shore offer rental lounges, umbrellas and include food, drink and rest room
facilities, too. Rentals for a couple of lounge chairs and umbrella can be
expensive (USD $10-$20/day) so bring extra cash for that if you plan to hang
out there. The benefit of a beach club is that food, drink and rest rooms are
nearby. Some rental facilities for apartments or villas may include membership
into the beach clubs to check it out when you arrange your rental.
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There's lots to do in the regional area from shopping to
castle hopping. Obviously, dining and wining are two favorites that most folks
partake of. Fishing, yachting and water sports can be arranged throughout the
area. Remember, the Mediterranean can be cold---it's not the Caribbean!!
One of our all time favorite European cities is less than 4 hours by
toll way south of Cap d'Agde and if you have time and a car, spend a few days
before or after Cap d'Agde in Barcelona.
Paris is about a 4-5 hour
ride on the high speed TGV rail from Agde, France and while Nice is a bit
closer; both cities are worthy of an extra 2-3 nights to add on to your
holiday. Other towns close by are: Arles, Nimes, Montpellier and Sete for great
food, dining and seafood. Carcassonne is worth a visit to travel back in time
if you enjoy medieval ambiance.
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Cap d'Agde can get crowded. |
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Fantastic food and drink and fabulous people
watching. |
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Weather can be unexpectedly cool during the summer
with unannounced, windy days. |
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Beach water can be cold. |
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This is the nudist experience of a lifetime. It's
unlikely that you will ever see more people in the "all together" at one time
anywhere else. |
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Late July and all of August.
The actual season
extends from late March to early October but the best months are May-September.
Top months are typically July and August when the place can get crowded in the
village and on the beaches.
Weather in southeast France during the
season can be somewhat unpredictable: You may encounter a string of perfectly
sunny days followed by a few cool and cloudy days with the wind trading
directions at any time. Daytime temps during the season range from 20-30 (C) or
70 to 90 (F) degrees. Nights are typically pleasant but gals bring a sweater or
cover-up just in case the wind is blowing, which it can without warning.
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Establish something like this in other parts of the world.
(Like the warm Gulf Coast <grin>)
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• View the Photo
Album
We have a limited selection of photos of Cap d'Agde, but could
use a lot more. If you have some, please go to our
Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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• View Trip
Reports
We have our trip report page started, but we need your trip
reports for Cap d'Agde. To contribute, go to our
Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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Now that you know, GO! Contact CASTAWAYS TRAVEL via
our quotes / reservation page or
800-470-2020 during the business day to book your trip. Thank you for visiting
our website. We appreciate your kind consideration. |
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