La Châtaigneraie d’Armor (C.G.O.)

Founded in 1950 in Couëron, about ten minutes west of Nantes, the Club Gymnique de l’Ouest (CGO) is one of the oldest naturist clubs in France. The association welcomes its members and visitors on a wooded site, the Châtaigneraie d’Armor, of about 5 to 6 hectares, at 10 Route de Vigneux. It is affiliated with the Fédération Française de Naturisme and the Naturisme Pays de la Loire association, and had its Youth and Popular Education accreditation renewed for a further five years in 2024.

The CGO describes itself as a club rather than a conventional campsite: it offers only a few pitches, with or without electricity, for a caravan, motorhome or tent. Every visit is arranged in advance by phone or via the contact form, to check availability and the number of nights; volunteer members then welcome visitors on their pitch.

Naturism is practised here as a family, with friends or alone, in a spirit of nudity, respect, conviviality, inclusiveness and nature that the club upholds. Access requires an FFN or FNI licence, which the CGO can issue on site, either annually or for a day. A first taster day is offered free of charge, by appointment.

Outside the season, the club keeps in touch with its members every Saturday evening at the municipal pool of La Durantière, in Nantes, reserved for holders of an FFN licence.

On site, the CGO’s heated pool is surrounded by sun loungers. Its pool, fitted with steps and a ramp, makes access safe for children; water quality is checked every day and logged in a register available to the ARS health authority. A sauna is also accessible during opening hours, in line with the safety and hygiene rules set by the club.

“Le Home”, a large communal hall with a kitchen and fireplace, allows people to share meals around tables and chairs; a fridge, microwave, kettle, games and a small library are available to everyone there. The CGO has neither a restaurant nor a bar in the conventional sense: the site’s meeting point serves hot or cold drinks and ice creams, in a friendly atmosphere, on the season’s key occasions such as the closing meal.

For passing visitors, a few pitches with or without electricity welcome caravans, motorhomes and tents, subject to prior booking. For shops and conventional dining, Couëron and the Nantes conurbation are about ten minutes from the site.

The Châtaigneraie d’Armor site offers two pétanque courts, also usable for mölkky, and a table-tennis table. The meeting point serves as a hub for shared moments between members and visitors. The season is punctuated by convivial get-togethers, such as the annual pétanque tournament held with the Association Naturiste Pays de la Loire or the end-of-season closing meal, and the club offers a free taster day to anyone wanting to get to know the place before committing.

Outside the season, from September to June, the CGO meets its members every Saturday evening at the municipal pool of La Durantière, in Nantes, for a swimming or relaxation session open to holders of an FFN licence, to keep in touch with naturism even in winter.

The site is about ten minutes from Nantes, whose heritage and parks are easy to visit from the club. The Atlantic coast and its naturist beaches are not far off either: Saint-Nazaire is 65 kilometres away, and the naturist beach of Pen Bron, at La Turballe, about an hour’s drive, with further beaches in Brittany and the Vendée to extend the outing.