An exhibition in Marseille is celebrating France’s 100-year history of naturism, as the country cements its position as the world’s most popular destination for nudes.
Called Naturist Paradises, the exhibition opened this summer at the Mucem (museum of European and Mediterranean civilisations) and documents in 600 photos, films and objects how and why France is so attractive for naked tourists.
There are 4.7 million regular naturists in France, including 2.1 million French people and 2.6 million visitors, mainly from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and UK, according to estimates from the Fédération française de naturisme.
The real figure could be higher as there is no need to purchase membership or a card to visit a nudist beach or resort.
Mucem director Amélie Lavin told specialist website Naturisme.fr that naturism has seen “a real revival in recent years,” particularly in France.
“The southern coast, especially the Mediterranean, is particularly attractive to those seeking unspoilt natural spaces where they can free their bodies from all forms of restraint,” she said.
Read more: Naturist ‘naked’ space opens in Paris park
Naturist public areas
France has more than 360 dedicated public areas, including 106 establishments for holidaymakers, 70 beaches and 33 campsites labelled by the Fédération des Espaces Naturistes.
There is even an urban area set aside for naturism in Bois de Vincennes, Paris, where people can go nude from April 15 to October 15.
Naturists are keen to point out that the activity has more to do with connecting with nature than simply shedding clothes.
“It is a way of healing and feeding your body, of taking in your surroundings and being aware of what is around you, not just getting a tan without lines,” said Karel Oliviero, policy officer for the Fédération des Espaces Naturistes.
Huge money-spinner
The naturist industry is estimated to be worth between €300 million and €370 million a year and supports 3,000 jobs, directly or indirectly, she said.
Naturism is far more common in Europe than the rest of the world. The Fédération Naturiste Internationale says there are 16 million naturists in the world, 13.8 million of which are from Europe. Some 21 European countries offer stays at naturist campsites.
The reason for France’s popularity, however, is not just the abundance of sites. Mrs Oliviero also credits the sunshine and stunning landscapes, with seas and lakes often just a short walk away from campsites.
“It is a beautiful country with naturist areas spread all over.”
It also helps that naturism is protected by French law, with areas specifically dedicated to it. This is not always the case elsewhere, where ‘wild’ naturism may not be seen as any different from indecent exposure.
There has been a renewed interest in naturism following Covid lockdowns, with more people seeking to reconnect with nature. The biggest growth area has been families with young children.
“It is not a movement that is connected to fads or trends. For example, yoga has always been a naturist activity, long before it became popular in the mainstream,” Mrs Oliviero said.
Generally, naturism is a family affair, she added, and naturists are often introduced to it at a young age. Sometimes, four generations are regular visitors to the same area.
“At first, new people tend to be scared of the regard des autres (how they are perceived by other people), but they quickly realise this regard does not really exist,” she said. “Once you overcome that step, you realise it is incredibly freeing.”
Though nudity is not compulsory at naturist sites, it is recommended. “The point of naturist sites is to be naked, but of course if you are cold you can put a layer on,” said Mrs Oliviero.
The movement started in the 1920s, although it was restricted to islands, special clubs or chateaux. It was also based around health and embraced vegetarianism.
In the 1950s, it became more popular, thanks largely to Albert and Christiane Lecocq, a French couple who founded the Fédération française de naturisme in 1950 and co-founded the Fédération internationale de naturisme three years later.
Naturism is now more relaxed than it was 70 years ago: “No one is told not to smoke, not to eat meat or to do a minimum number of hours of sport,” said Mrs Oliviero.
For more information about naturist areas, see naturisme.fr.
The exhibition in Marseille runs until December 9. Nude visits are available one evening a month when the museum is normally closed, although footwear is mandatory.
See mucem.org/en/naturist-paradises
Rules of stripping off in France
Since the introduction of a new penal code in March 1994, “deliberate sexual display in the sight of others in a place accessible to the public gaze is punishable by one year in prison and a fine of one hundred thousand francs ".
However, it has been worded in such a way as to rule out any possibility of action against people practising naturism in places specially designated for this purpose.
In most cases, you can sunbathe topless on a beach but you cannot be completely nude on a non-naturist beach. Where local authorities choose to ban topless sunbathing, this must be made clear via signs at the entrance to the beach. Those contravening this can face a €38 fine.
Some towns, such as Nice, have issued bans on men going topless on streets, and this automatically extends to women.
Read more: Fines handed out in Nice for men not wearing T-shirts on streets
In areas where no such rules are in place, the legality can get murkier. Technically, if there is no ban issued by decree, women can go topless. However, due to the different views of men and women’s bodies, women going topless may be arrested for “sexual exhibition”.
A number of cases about this have been heard in local courts in France and they have concluded that it is okay for a woman to be topless in public, provided there is clearly no sexual nature attached. However, France’s highest judicial body, the Cour de Cassation, has criticised these rulings, saying that both the ‘material and moral’ elements must be taken into account.
