guide
La Rochelle has no naturist beach within the city itself, but the city is an excellent base for naturism on the Charente coast. About an hour’s drive away, the Île de Ré and the island of Oléron offer long wild beaches, some sections of which have long been frequented without swimwear.
Where to go from La Rochelle, which beaches to favour, which rules to follow and where to stay at a naturist campsite: here is our guide.
| Place | In brief |
|---|---|
| La Rochelle | No naturist beach in the city |
| Île de Ré | East sector of the Petit Bec beach, at Les Portes-en-Ré, about 1 hour |
| Île d’Oléron | Les Saumonards beach and south-west coast, about 1 hour 15 |
| Nearby naturist campsite | At La Ronde, about half an hour from La Rochelle |
| Precaution | Currents on the ocean side, bathing rarely supervised |
On the north-west of the Île de Ré, at Les Portes-en-Ré, the Petit Bec beach is a large wild beach, popular with surfers and lovers of wide open spaces. Its eastern part, more isolated, has traditionally been frequented by naturists. You reach it from the car park by walking along the beach. Other discreet sections exist on the south coast of the island, but practices change: check locally.
From La Rochelle, allow about an hour by road via the Île de Ré bridge, which charges a toll for cars, or enjoy a pleasant bike ride along the island’s cycle paths.
A little further south, the island of Oléron is one of the best-known naturist destinations on the Atlantic coast, with the Saumonards beach, near Boyardville, and the south-west coast around Saint-Trojan-les-Bains. We cover them in detail in our guide to the naturist beaches of Oléron.
Naturism is tolerated on identified stretches of beach, sometimes governed by municipal orders. Respect local practice: settle away from the textile family areas, stay discreet, take no photos and do not walk on the dunes outside the paths. On the ocean side, bathing is rarely supervised and currents can be strong: never swim alone.
La Rochelle deserves at least a day: the Vieux-Port and its medieval towers, the arcades of the historic centre, the Aquarium, one of the largest in Europe, and the quays, lively in the evening. Cycling enthusiasts will enjoy the network of cycle paths linking the city to the beaches and the Île de Ré.
Half an hour north-east of La Rochelle, near the Marais poitevin, the Camping du Port, at La Ronde, welcomes naturists in a peaceful setting, ideal for alternating beach days with boat trips through the Venise verte. Further south, the Le Petit Dauphin campsite, at Les Mathes, lets you explore Oléron and the wild coast. Find all our naturist campsites in Charente-Maritime.
La Rochelle is an ideal base for a naturist stay on the Atlantic coast, provided you don’t mind a bit of driving: the Île de Ré for the wide open spaces of the Petit Bec, Oléron for the variety of its beaches. Stay quietly at a naturist campsite nearby and enjoy the city in the evening.
Campsites marked “Partner” are Aimer Camper members and are shown first. All results match your search.