The border area of Rhône-Alpes and Languedoc-Roussillon in southeastern France is a beautiful region of rugged gorges that is reminiscent of the canyon country of the American southwest. The crowning jewel of this region is Les Gorges de l'Ardèche, a spectacular canyon of the river Ardèche. The Ardèche canyon is extremely popular with kayakers, rafters, hikers and nature lovers in general, and it is not out of the question to find nude sunbathers scattered throughout the canyon.

The most popular spot for nudity along the Ardèche is Plage des Templiers, also the name of a campground next to the beach. The campground itself is clothing optional, and it is a tent campground with no direct auto access. (All gear has to be sent down into the gorge from the parking lot at the top via a ski-lift-type mechanism.) The Templiers beach, which is a sandbar along the river surrounded by incredible scenery, is open to everyone, and day-use visitors have free access to the beach via a path that bypasses the campground. Just about everyone here goes nude, and it is quite common for visitors to hike nude from the parking lot.

Allow about half an hour to hike from the parking lot to the beach.

more info (in French) from www.vivrenu.com

more info (in French) from www.plagenat.org

VISUAL RESOURCES

GPS: 44.3400, 4.5031

commune, department, region, country
      Saint-Remèze, Ardèche (07), Rhône-Alpes, France

official tolerance?  yes (T)

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