History of the Cap d’Agde Naturist Village: from 1954 to today
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Discover the story of the Village Naturiste du Cap d’Agde, from the Oltra brothers’ campsite in 1954 to the largest naturist resort in Europe.
A naturist campsite by the sea (1954)
The legendary story of the Village Naturiste du Cap d’Agde began in 1954. The brothers Paul and René Oltra, true visionaries, turned their family land into a modest naturist campsite. Set on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Hérault département, it quickly became a haven for the pioneers of naturism in France. Today you can still discover this historic place through the Centre Naturiste René Oltra.
The Mission Racine (1963): shaping the coastline
Under the impetus of General de Gaulle, the Mission Racine (1963) was launched to develop tourism along the Languedoc-Roussillon coast. It was within this exceptional project that the Bagnas area, in Agde, was chosen to officially host what would become the world capital of naturism.
The iconic architecture of Port Ambonne and Héliopolis
The Port Ambonne district, with its avant-garde brutalist design, even received the Grand Prix d’Architecture in 1974. Today, historic residences such as Héliopolis (the famous arc-shaped building facing the naturist beach), Port Nature (the festive, libertine heart of the village) and Port Vénus shape the layout of the village. Explore these districts on our interactive village map.
The largest naturist village in Europe
Today, naturist Cap d’Agde (often nicknamed “the naked city”) covers more than 120 hectares. It has a 2-kilometre beach of fine sand, a marina, swimming pools and a vast network of businesses. With more than 191 businesses listed in our business directory, it is a fully self-contained holiday destination for naturists.