Naturist Holiday Centre at Port Leucate, France

Sun-Worshipping at the Aphrodite Resort and its Nude Beach

© Gillian Thomas

May 6, 2009
Naked on Aphrodite nude beach at Port Leucate, John Harrison
The Aphrodite naturist resort and nude beach at Port Leucate, 22 miles north of Perpignan in south-east France, is a great place to get an all-over holiday tan.

In summer, Aphrodite’s long sandy nude beach (100 yards wide) in the Languedoc is blessed by clear blue skies and bright sunshine so a holiday there can be wonderfully simple - lie naked on the beach, swim naked, eat, drink, read and get a great all-over tan. That’s all there is to do!

Sex High on the Agenda at Cap d’Agde in the Languedoc

In contrast to France’s famous naturist ‘city’ at Cap d’Agde, 60 miles north, and also in the Languedoc, Port Leucate has no nightlife and no one parades around in overtly erotic clothing.

Sex always seems high on the agenda at Cap d’Agde with its mostly adult clientele, gay beach area, sex shops and lively nightlife including couples-only clubs, but Aphrodite feels very tranquil and laid-back. Indeed it is popular with families, often three generations holidaying together.

Naturist Holiday Centres Side-by-side Along Nude Beach at Port Leucate in the Languedoc

Aphrodite is one of several naturist holiday centres just south of the little resort of Leucate in the Languedoc. They lie side-by-side on a narrow strip of land with the sea on one side and a lagoon on the other, alongside a beach officially designated as nudist-only. Access is by road bridge at either end.

The resort’s attractive 2-storey terracotta buildings contain simple but well-equipped apartments with either a patio or balcony. Dotted around them in its landscaped grounds are two swimming pools, tennis courts and a shopping centre which sports a handful of small shops and restaurants.

Swimming and Sunbathing on the Nude Beach

Officially guests at Aphrodite are supposed to be naked all the time, especially on the nude beach, though most people put on at least some clothes in the evenings when the temperature cools. During the day however they wear nothing, except perhaps for a t-shirt or colourful sarong as protection from the sun.

It’s a way of life that you quickly get used to it, especially as swimming nude and then sunbathing naked to dry off is wonderfully invigorating. You soon feel really healthy.

Nude Holiday

You also have the bonus of acquiring an all-over tan unblemished by white strips. No wonder that once people have tried a nude holiday, few want to go back to wearing a swimming costume. Even the briefest bikini or trunks feels very damp and clammy compared with having nothing on.

Start the Day with a Swim on the Nude Beach

A delightful way to begin the day at Aphrodite is to step out of bed, put on flip-flops and pick up a euro coin. Naked, walk the few yards from your apartment to the beach. Leave the flip-flops and euro near the water’s edge and run into the sea for an invigorating early-morning nude swim.

Then walk naked back across the sand to the open beach shower and enjoy the water cascading over you. Put on your flip-flops and - carrying the euro - walk to the resort’s boulangerie (baker’s shop), drying in the sun as you go. Buy a long French baguette loaf (shopping in the nude soon seems very natural!) and take it back to the apartment for a leisurely breakfast.

Being Nude in Public

At first the prospect of being nude in public can be daunting, but you quickly get used to the sight of people walking around naked, especially as you soon appreciate that men and women come in all shapes and sizes. And you see people of all ages from toddlers to the elderly.

Newcomers usually start by going to the beach dressed but, surrounded by so much bare flesh, quickly catch on to the fact that it is much more embarrassing to stay clothed than to strip off. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll be hooked for life!


The copyright of the article Naturist Holiday Centre at Port Leucate, France in France Travel is owned by Gillian Thomas. Permission to republish Naturist Holiday Centre at Port Leucate, France in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Naked on Aphrodite nude beach at Port Leucate, John Harrison
Many Aphrodite apartments enjoy a sea view, John Harrison
Naked on Aphrodite nude beach at Port Leucate, John Harrison
Naked on Aphrodite nude beach at Port Leucate, John Harrison
Naturists on Aphrodite nude beach at Port Leucate, John Harrison


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo