Naturism in the Var and Provence: from the Île du Levant to the Luberon hills

When you think of naturism in Provence, the sea comes to mind first. Yet the region mainly offers another side: peaceful estates under the pines and in the hills, far from the crowds on the coast. And, off Hyères, a place that stands apart in the history of naturism. For the general rules, see our guide to naturist camping.

The Île du Levant, cradle of naturism in Europe

In 1931, two doctors, Gaston and André Durville, founded Héliopolis on the Île du Levant, Europe’s first naturist village. Today about 90% of the island is reserved for a military test centre; the remaining 10% is open to the public. In this civilian part, nudity is allowed, and even expected, everywhere except in the immediate vicinity of the harbour, and it is compulsory on two beaches. The island is reached by boat from Hyères and Le Lavandou.

Héliopolis can be visited on a day trip or for a short stay in a hotel or rental; there is no campsite from our selection on the island. For a naturist camping holiday, look to the mainland.

The Var: pine forests and hinterland

Naturism in the Var is mainly found inland, in the shade of the pines.

• La Tuquette, in Fayence, is a 4-star family campsite on a 5-hectare wooded estate, with two heated pools.
• Domaine de l’Escride, in Belgentier, 3 stars, lies in the Var pine forest 20 km from Toulon, with pitches, chalets and studios.
• La Haute Garduère, in Figanières, offers a naturist hiking trail on the estate.

Luberon, Ventoux and Haute-Provence: hill-country Provence

• Bélézy, in Bédoin in the Vaucluse, is the only 5-star site in our selection: 25 hectares of pine forest around an 18th-century farmhouse, between the Luberon and Mont Ventoux.
• Domaine des Lauzons, in Limans near Forcalquier, 4 stars, focuses on its water area with three pools and slides.
• Le Vallon des Oiseaux, in Reillanne, is a 50-hectare family estate founded in 1986.
• Messidor, in Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, 3 stars, is 15 km from Aix-en-Provence and offers a wheelchair-accessible mobile home.

The hills behind Nice: mountains and rivers

• Origan Village, in Puget-Théniers, 4 stars, stretches along a river between the Mercantour and the Mediterranean, with a pool at 28°C and a slide.
• Le Haut Chandelalar, in Briançonnet, 4 stars, covers 80 wooded hectares bordered by a river, between the Verdon gorges and the Côte d’Azur.

Around the Verdon gorges and Lac de Sainte-Croix, two other estates complete the offer: we devote a separate article to them, naturism in the Verdon.

Choosing according to the season

• In summer, inland heat is intense: choose a shaded estate with a heated pool for cool mornings and a swimming spot (river, lake) for the afternoon.
• In spring and September, Provence is at its best for hiking: lavender in early summer on the Valensole plateau, grape harvests in autumn.
• The mistral can blow hard in the Rhône valley and the Vaucluse: a sheltered pitch makes all the difference.
• Wildfire risk is high in summer in the pine forests: strictly follow the campsite’s instructions (barbecues, cigarettes).

Find all the sites on our page naturist campsites in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, including the Var and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.