Camping Naturiste Messidor

Campsite Messidor is located in Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, in the Bouches-du-Rhône, about 15 km west of Aix-en-Provence, facing the Luberon Regional Nature Park and overlooking the Durance valley. The exact address is 70, montée du Château d’eau, route de Saint-Canadet.

The site covers around ten hectares and offers 85 spacious pitches of about 100 m², shaded or sunny, of which 56 have an electrical hook-up. Rated three stars, the establishment is affiliated with the Fédération française de naturisme and opens from mid-May to mid-September.

The site presents itself as a sunny land scented with broom, thyme and rosemary, where the song of cicadas accompanies the holidays; the establishment claims this Provençal atmosphere as its trademark. Holidaymakers who leave reviews describe a family-friendly and sociable atmosphere, with a warm welcome and a quiet setting under the pines, away from the bustle.

Pets are accepted provided they remain on a leash or tied up at the pitch. Two toilet blocks offer free hot showers, including a cubicle accessible for reduced mobility; a dedicated point makes welcoming motorhomes easier, and water taps are fitted on every terrace. Vehicle parking is in a car park at the entrance to the site, away from the pitches.

The campsite restaurant is open Friday through Sunday, for lunch and dinner, with a homemade menu that changes each week according to the market and also offers daily specials at the team’s inspiration. Sunday evening is reserved for pizzas. Booking for meals is compulsory, before 11am for lunch service and before 6pm for dinner service, to avoid waiting and waste.

Wi-Fi access is free around the bar-restaurant; as an eco-friendly choice, it is not broadcast to the pitches. A laundry with washing machine and detergent is available, and the toilet blocks are cleaned daily.

Eleven rental accommodations round out the offering: traditional cottages “Les Tournesols” and “Les Oliviers” (30 m², breeze-block walls and Provençal tile roofs), classic or comfort Tit’home mobile homes, and newer models such as Tamaris, Tilleul or Sainte-Baume. The “Piboules” mobile home, awarded the Tourisme et Handicap label, is adapted for reduced mobility, with an extra-wide shower and open, unobstructed spaces.

The campsite pool, about 20 x 10 m, is complemented by a play area near the clubhouse, for the site’s children. All rentals come with blankets and pillows; sheets and towels can be rented on site.

On site, holidaymakers gather around petanque and table tennis, right next to the clubhouse, which also hosts the campsite’s evening events. The establishment organises themed days, such as a Western day with archery and country dance taster sessions, a themed meal and a costumed show, as well as outdoor concert evenings during the summer season, ranging from rock covers to musical tributes.

The campsite’s location, between Provence and the Luberon, opens onto a busy cultural season: the Aix-en-Provence opera festival, the La Roque-d’Anthéron piano festival, the Avignon theatre and dance festival, and the internationally recognised Rencontres de la photographie in Arles, all set the pace of summer within an hour’s drive.

The nearby Luberon Regional Nature Park is suited to hiking through hilltop villages and the rolling landscapes of the Provençal hinterland. The naturist beaches of Martigues, as well as the naturist cove of Sugiton, are accessible in around fifty minutes by car. The region’s major cities, Marseille, Arles, Avignon, Salon-de-Provence, Manosque, Martigues and Toulon, are all less than an hour from the campsite, as are the colourful markets of nearby Provençal villages.