Cap d'Agde's "village naturiste" is a haven for nudists. It features all the basic amenities of any beach town, all within the confines of the village. The village does have its own rules, and quirks, so use this guide to help plan and prepare for your visit.
Arriving in the Naturist Village
You can get to Cap d'Agde by flying into Montpellier (or any major French city), or there are connections through Paris to Beziers-Agde-Vias Airport, just a few miles away. If you fly into Montpellier, take the train to Agde train station. There is a bus line that runs to the naturist quarter. There are also taxis, and the cost is about 12-15 euros for a ride to the nudist village. If you fly into Agde's airport, you can also take a taxi. Either way, you may want to highly consider renting a car, however (see my comments under Transportation below).
The village is guarded and surrounded by barbed wire, so you must enter through the gate. There is a building at the entrance where you can purchase a card that allows you to reenter the nudist quarter as you please, which costs 9 euros. They of course only accept a credit card for a purchase 10 euros and up, so have cash. The attendants at the information office can be rather surly and frustrating unhelpful. If you will be staying in a hotel or vacation rental inside the quarter, ask for a card ahead of time or instructions on getting clearance to enter without buying the card.
The Rules
Once you are in, you will have certain rules to follow. Most of them are the law, so be careful about breaking them:
- Access to the quarter is reserved for naturists or those working there.
- Total nudity is obligatory within the quarter and on the beach, as soon as climatic conditions permit. (I have, however, seen many people dressed there on a warm day. Also, most people dress for dinner. I have heard of people being turned away from restaurants in the village because they were nude).
- Photo shots and filming are strictly limited to members of the family. (I understand that the bans on photography are strictly enforced. I have, however, come across pictures of the nudist quarter on the Web).
- There are also several laws banning any sort of lewd, crude or pornographic behavior in the nudist quarter.
Transportation
Unless you plan to spend your entire trip inside the nudist quarter, I recommend renting a car. Agde is rather spread out, and the nudist quarter is not walking distance to anything. There is a bus line, but its schedule is rather limited and it is inconvenient. Even if you just rent a car for a couple of days during your visit, it will be worth it for the ease of visiting downtown Agde, or nearby villages like Sete or Beziers.
Dining & Shopping
There are four shopping centers in the nudist area, and each features grocery stores, souvenir shops, boutiques selling revealing clothing and beach gear shops. There are several cafes and restaurants in each of the shopping centers, or "centre commercial" spots.
Nightlife
The nightlife in the nudist quarter isn't always for the faint of heart. While there are typical bars and lounges, there are some with signs pronouncing they are for "couples only." If this is not your cup of tea, you can certainly avoid these spots and your only contact will be reading the signs out front. They are very discreet.
- Ernest Hemingway Cafe in the Port Ambonne shopping center is quite mellow and offers drinks typically found in the States like Bloody Marys.
- Tantra Club, located at Port Nature, is a discotheque open from 9 p.m. until dawn. Its slogan is "Sexy Vibration," if that tells you anything.
- Le 2x2, in Port Ambonne, leaves little to imagination, both in its name and the signs on the building. This couples-only club features a sauna, jacuzzi and bar. Its open daily from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Booking options and comparing rates
The only hotel inside the naturist village is Hotel Eve. This is a hotel providing basic accomodations and decent decor, and the staff is overwhelmingly friendly and helpful. The hotel closes during the off-season, however, leaving only vacation rentals as the option. Find the lowest rate!
Agence RESID offers a variety of apartments for rent in the naturist quarter.
