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Cap d'Agde (French pronunciation: [kap daɡd]) is the seaside resort of the town of Agde, France, on the Mediterranean sea in the département of Hérault, within the région of Languedoc-Roussillon. Agde can be reached by TGV SNCF train direct from Paris or Lille whilst the closest airports are Béziers-Cap d'Agde en Languedoc, with direct budget airline services to the UK and Scandinavia, or Montpellier-Fréjorgues. Public transport (taxi or bus) is available between Agde and Cap d'Agde.[citation needed]
Cap d'Agde is one of the largest leisure ports on the French Mediterranean. Development as a tourist resort started in the 1970s before which time the only buildings at the Cap were small houses typically used for weekends by local people.[citation needed]
The Musée de l'Ephèbe houses the bronze nude statue known as "l'Ephèbe d'Agde" ("the Youth of Agde"). The statue was discovered in the River Hérault and was housed in the Louvre Museum prior to suitable facilities being made available in Cap d'Agde to house it.[citation needed]
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Village Naturiste
Cap d'Agde has a large family-style naturist resort.
Coordinates: 43°17′42″N 03°31′38″E / 43.295°N 3.52722°E
The Village Naturiste is a large fenced-off part at the north-eastern edge of Cap d'Agde, although it is accessible along the public beach from the east. It is a self-contained town (although sometimes referred to as the "Naked City"[1]), where nudity is legal and common in the whole resort, including its restaurants and shops, day or night. In the evening, when it gets colder, more people are dressed, sometimes in revealing clothes. A local tourist tax is charged per person, per day.
Village Naturiste is a town by itself, with a 2 km beach, port and marina, campsite, apartment complexes, hotel, shops, restaurants, bars, post office, bank and ATMs, laundrettes, hairdressers, saunas, and other such facilities.
A history of naturism at Cap d'Agde
The land adjoining the long sandy beach at Cap d'Agde was owned for many years by the Oltra family who farmed the olive groves behind the sand dunes adjoining the beach. After the Second World War the brothers Oltra noticed that people were coming in increasing numbers to camp on their land, and that many of these people liked to bathe and to sunbathe nude.
The Oltra brothers began to formalise arrangements for campers on their land, and this subsequently led to the creation of the Oltra Club which is a caravanning and camping resort.
The camp grew increasingly popular, especially with young families. German and Dutch tourists were particularly numerous.
In the early 1970s the government of Georges Pompidou drew up plans for the development of the Languedoc-Roussillon coastline. Naturism initially had no part in these proposals, but Rene Oltra, one of the brothers, persuaded the authorities to include plans for a naturist resort at Cap d'Agde.
In 1973 the beach was officially designated as a naturist beach. Regulations for the new resort were also promulgated. The Naturist Village would be a place where voyeurs and exhibitionists would not be welcome.
Early developments
The first developments were at Port Nature and Port Ambonne where flats, shops and pools were constructed. Later, Heliopolis and Port Venus were built and Port Nature was considerably extended. The flats were sold and the owners often let them when they did not require them for their own use. The Naturist Village became a controlled zone during the season with regulated access. Everyone entering was informed of the regulations and required to comply with them.
The 1980s
By the early 1980s, the Naturist Village was reaching the limit of its development. Many shops and commercial premises remained empty, ready for sale or let.
The election of the government of François Mitterrand was to herald a cooling off of the French economy which lasted well into the following decade. During this time the Naturist Village continued to prove a popular resort and it developed an easy and pleasant atmosphere. There were so many German visitors that the Post Office even had a designated postbox for letters and postcards being sent to Germany.
The present position
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The Naturist Village has never been affiliated with any formal naturist organisation, national or international[citation needed]. Its rules are over thirty years old and appear to be ignored and there is a charter which has no legal basis. There are rules requiring total nudity as the norm, which ban photography, the wearing of provocative clothing and the display of indecent items. All of these are no longer enforced by the authorities. However, new signs on the beach during the 2008 season warned against lewd behaviour and it is understood that at least two people have been prosecuted for such offences, but these are laws which apply throughout France and are not particular to the Naturist Village. In August 2008 Club Glamour staged a publicity event on the public Naturist Beach, where total nudity is allegedly required by law: the event consisted of several women dressed in white masquerading as 'vestal virgins' in a coach pulled by horses, whilst others paraded wearing T shirts displaying suggestive slogans such as "Taste Me". The Police Municipal looked on while this took place. There are now no fewer than five large clubs and many smaller venues in the Naturist Village including shops and bars. There are numerous sex shops which openly display their wares, as well as shops selling fetish items, intimate piercing items etc., all of which are openly displayed in shop windows by day and by night. The old inclusiveness has largely disappeared along with many genuine naturist tourists. There are fewer German and Dutch tourists than ever and almost no children or young people. The 'Germany only' post box has long since disappeared.
The Naturist Village today is dominated by a vibrant night-life centred around the clubs and venues. Many of these clubs are open at certain times throughout the year. During the season, clubbers gain access to the controlled area by telephoning their car numbers in advance to the clubs who then notify security at the barriers (which are the responsibility of the local authority): they do not sign up to the rules which, in any event and apart from the general law, are not enforced. The clubs claim the privilege of the French law of independent organisations ('le Loi 1 juilet 1901' or Association Loi) and therefore set their own rules and make their own exclusions. Very few people go nude in the evening (and some do not during the day) and by nightfall many wear unusual clothing including chainmail, leather, fishnet and fetishist items.
In an article on 23 November 2008, the British newspaper, 'The Sunday Times' suggested that the fires at the swingers' clubs were the work of what it described as 'nudist mullahs' or fundamentalist nudists who harbour a grudge against the echangistes or libertines. The article said that the fires had shocked the local community.
Although no-one has so far been injured in the fires at the clubs in the Naturist Village, it is understood that swingers are becoming increasingly wary of using them as a result of the tensions which currently exist. Local advertising encourages visitors to adhere to the rules, whilst explaining to naturists that the evening entertainment in the naturist village is 'more directed at adults'.
The Naturist Village creates employment and revenue in a region of France which is economically less affluent than many other areas. It also creates income for the local authority through revenue earned from local property taxes as well as income earned from the controlled entry. Publicity is aimed at drawing both genuine naturists and also libertines although there are obvious conflicting interests. It hardly reflects the ideals of naturism still espoused in the publicity of the local tourist office,[2] but was once the jewel in the crown of French naturism.
Anyone visiting the naturist resort should be aware that under French law, public display of sexual activity carries a prison sentence of 7 years and a fine of 50,000 euros. The new French administration is understood to be very concerned about the extent to which the naturist village has been taken over by the commercial sex industry, not only from a public decency viewpoint but also because of the significant loss of revenue from a drop in the number of naturists visiting the site. Local bars regularly flout the law by playing music in the open air till 2:00 am in total contravention of national law, causing sleepless nights for the majority of people. However, it is understood that a strong national and local campaign is being mounted to tackle the businesses which flout the laws and pressure is being put on the local authority and the national government to take action to restore the resort to its naturist purpose.[citation needed]
In 2009, Rene Oltra, the company which bears the name of the original promoter of the resort, introduced the requirement that visitors to its campsite and to the villas and flats which it is responsible for letting, must hold an accreditation from a national or internationally recognised naturist organisation. Furthermore, the company introduced its own regulations relating to the behaviour as well as the appearance of guests (e.g. provocative piercings are prohibited) and it 'blacklisted' a person who, it held, had broken these rules. The person concerned took the company to court claiming that the company had no right to maintain his name on such a list. However, the court found in the company's favour and said that it had the right, and the responsibility, to ensure that its establishments were run with propriety. If it was necessary for the company, as part of these duties, to exclude persons and to hold a record of their names, then it had the right to do this.[citation needed]
In December 2009 the local authority launched a consultation on proposals to renovate and up-grade the naturist village.[citation needed] These include making the village almost entirely traffic-free, constructing tree-lined walkways and promenades, a high-level promenade by the beach, and a four-star hotel to offer year-round accommodation. The plans, which also include the renovation of exisitng buildings and the construction of new facades, are seen as a fight-back by the local authority which is anxious to re-position the village with a higher national and international reputation.[citation needed]
The naturist beach
The naturist beach (where nudity is technically mandatory) has a length of about 2 km and is about 30 metres wide. Sand and water are of good quality and between 16 to 20 degrees C (61 - 68°F). Two security posts feature police and medical facilities. Six restaurants border the southern end of the nude beach. Only one restaurant is available towards the northern end. Even though Cap d'Agde is in France, most of the service staff speak English.
Heliopolis
Heliopolis is the biggest and most prominent feature of Village Naturiste and is a 4-storey round apartment complex with a diameter of around 250 metres (820 ft) located at the beach. Heliopolis has a shopping area with a supermarket at the ground floor. It has approximately 800 apartment units for 2, 4, and 6 people. Built to Le Corbusier principles, the arc-shaped buildings contained an open centre with a swimming pool, tennis courts, and play areas.[citation needed]
In 2005, the local authority, the Mairie d'Agde, granted planning permission for the construction of a large libertine complex in the centre of Heliopolis which resulted in the destruction of the swimming pool and the open space.[citation needed]
Heliopolis provides WiFi Internet access.[citation needed]
Heliovillage
Heliovillage is located just east of Heliopolis, and contains 125 single houses for families. It is fenced-off from the rest of the resort and only residents have access outside daylight hours.[citation needed]
Port Nature
Port Nature is an L-shaped 3/4-storey block with approximately 600 apartments for 2, 4, and 6 people. It is at the beach, south of Heliopolis, with two commercial areas, one closest to the beach and one in the knick of the L, with bars, restaurants, shops, and supermarket. Two swimming pools are south of Port Nature.[citation needed]
Village Nature
Village Nature are duplex houses south of Port Nature, about 120 units for 6 to 8 people each. In this naturist village there's a webcam with a view to the sea. You can see this webcam here.[3]
Port Venus
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This section's factual accuracy is disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. (September 2009) |
"Port Venus consists of Port Venus Village, an eight large houses for bigger families, and Port Venus Residence, a five-storey apartment block with about 72 large units. It is at the back of the resort close to Hotel Eve.[citation needed]"
Port Venus consists of a small "village" of villas and a "residence" consisting of around 90 apartments which share their own private swimming pool. Located on the western side of the Port Ambonne harbour, Port Venus is a small "village community" which holds an annual artists exhibition. Unlike the rest of the naturist village, Port Venus is mainly occupied by villa and apartment owners.
Marina
The marina has about 60 places for boats up to 17 metres (56 ft) and a little boat yard.[citation needed]
Port Ambonne
Port Ambonne is a semi-circular four-story apartment complex north of the marina and east of Heliopolis. It has approximately 400 apartments, each accommodating a maximum of 4 to 8 people depending on size. There is a commercial section at ground level with shops, bars, restaurants and two sauna spas (one for couples only.[citation needed]) Port Ambonne also has a bank with ATM, an Internet café and laundrette.[citation needed]
Hotel Ève
Hotel Ève, a three-star, 48-room hotel is away from the beach. It features a pool, sauna, and roof-top sun terrace.[4] It is the only establishment claiming to be a hotel within the resort.[citation needed]
Le Riad
Le Riad is an exclusive development of 9 Moroccan style villas intended for year-round living within the naturist village. Two of the villas even have their own pools.
Natureva Spa
Natureva Spa is a quality development of apartments and includes a spa centre with gym and pool. Whilst not a libertine complex, the elevated apartments on the eastern side look directly into the libertine pool area of the Les Jardins Du Babylon. Discretion with children is advised.
Les Jardins d'Eden
Les Jardins d'Eden is the first libertine development and is situated in the centre of the Naturist Village. It comprises 65 apartments and offers superior accommodation to libertine couples and echangistes only. It is designed to afford privacy from other developments with the sun terraces and a pool discreetly hidden from those outside the development, even from the surrounding flats of Heliopolis. This design enables all kinds of sexual activity, including oral and penetrative sex, to take place in an open and free environment away from others whom it might offend, and libertines and echangistes are free to engage in such activity without fear of prosecution. It forms part of a complex with the Glamour libertine club, sex shop, outside bar, and restaurant.[citation needed]
Les Jardins du Babylon
Les Jardins du Babylon is a further libertine development which is situated adjacent to the camping and caravan area in the Naturist Village which has been traditionally popular with families.
Camping area
Located at the north of the resort, adjacent to the beach, is a camping area for tents, caravans and motorhomes. The site has a surface of 39 hectares (96 acres) and includes the usual camp facilities such as sanitary blocks and children's play area. The campsite is only open mid-March to mid-October.[5]
See also
References
External links
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