Domaine de la Taillade

Domaine de la Taillade was created in 1983 by Chantal and Noël Brun, who converted their sheep farm in Neuvéglise, in the Cantal, into a naturist campsite. The first holidaymakers arrived in July of that same year, and the estate has since welcomed visitors from the Netherlands, France and Belgium. The estate occupies a remarkable spot, at the confluence of the Truyère and Épi gorges and the Tourette stream, in the Auvergne region. It is now run by Rachel and Christophe, who continue the organic Aubrac cattle farming alongside the tourism business.

Classified 2 stars, the campsite covers 350 hectares of organic farmland, with an open view over the valley from several pitches. It offers pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, as well as equipped chalets and yurts, spread across a wooded, hilly setting.

The naturism practised here is family-oriented: the campsite welcomes both families and couples, with activities and kids’ clubs designed for children. Rachel and Christophe also organise holiday camps for children on the estate in July and August.

The campsite is usually open from early June to early September. It is located in the Cantal, not far from the Puy Mary, classified as a Grand Site de France, and the Truyère valley, which is seeking inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The campsite restaurant serves drinks and ice cream in the afternoon, then hot meals in the evening, prepared by a chef using regional produce and meat from the farm. A small shop offers fresh bread, pastries and farm produce, with freezers available. Each week, Guillaume and Christophe run a bread- and aligot-making workshop around the estate’s wood-fired oven.

The nearby village of Neuvéglise-sur-Truyère has a bakery, a butcher’s, a cheese shop, a pharmacy and a hairdresser, as well as a market on Friday mornings. Other markets are held nearby: in Chaudes-Aigues on Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings, in Pierrefort on Wednesday mornings and in Saint-Flour on Saturday mornings.

A swimming pool with a sun terrace and a paddling pool for children is available on the campsite. Wi-Fi is not available on the pitches, but free internet access is provided at the farm, about 1 kilometre away. For a more complete spa experience, the Caleden water park, in Chaudes-Aigues, is around twenty kilometres from the estate.

A large communal yurt serves as a space for talks and evening screenings. Pets are welcome throughout the campsite.

On site, holidaymakers have free access to a playground, table tennis and archery. Every afternoon, free nature activities are offered to children: den-building, natural mandalas and contact with horses. Family competitions in archery, fishing and pétanque are also organised.

Two hiking trails start from the estate, at the confluence of the Truyère and Épi gorges and the Tourette stream: a one-hour descent to the river, entirely within the naturist area, and a longer two-and-a-half-hour loop around the estate, partly naturist. Other paths lead to the Maligneux footbridge and follow the banks of the Truyère, with maps available at reception.

Several outings led by state-qualified instructors are offered each week: a kayak trip on Lake Lanau, 5 kilometres from the estate, a water hike in the Tourette stream with its natural pools, and evening horse rides across the estate’s 350 hectares. These activities are open to children from age 6 and are charged as an extra. A weekly visit to the neighbouring organic farm offers a chance to discover the Aubrac cattle herd.

In the evening, a barbecue night brings holidaymakers together around the fire, with music from Frits, the estate’s guitarist; expect to pay 10 euros for an adult and 5 euros for a child. Nearby in the Cantal, visitors can also enjoy tree climbing and canyoning with Truyère Évasion, or explore the medieval village of Salers.