Leo and Corrie have opened a new naturist campsite under the name “Chatelet Nature”, in the centre of the Livradois-Forez national park, in the SE of the Puy de Dome department. The property also has a holiday apartment for 4, and a caravan for 2 to rent. The nearest shopping is in the market town of Ambert, which is within walking or cycling distance (2.5 km).

For anybody who has dreamed of their own naturist paradise in the sunny south of France, The Hamlet comprises 4 houses, several out-buildings, a large swimming pool; all set in 55 acres of pasture and woodland with views of the mountains. Serene and private, bounded by national forest with two small streams flowing through it. It has its’ own water supply, enjoys free electricity via a water turbine, and is 40 minutes’ from the nearest international aiport.

This small Dutch-owned naturist domain in the Nièvre department, in south-west Burgandy, offers two gîtes within the old farmhouse. One – Le Sureau – sleeps three people, and the other – Le Laurier – sleeps up to four. Champagne Manoir has a swimming pool, and additionally a mini camping site for up to 6 touring units, with electric hook-up (tents, caravans and motorhomes).

Close to the Spanish border, and situated at an altitude of 700m in the Vallespir Valley, Domain Mas Can Prim has two naturist-friendly gîtes / apartments for rent. There are fine views of the mountains in all directions. Gourmet breakfasts and multi-course dinners are prepared using unprocessed and unsprayed organic produce from the vegetable garden and orchard. In the near future the Dutch owner plans to build a woodland  spa. (Original Dutch website)

Located at Rocles, in the Ardèche region of southern France, La Berle Gîtes are Dutch-owned, and most of the guests are naturists! In addition to comfortable accommodation, there’s a hot tub, sauna and swimming pool for bathing in the buff. The two properties are La Clède and La Grange, which each sleep up to 4 people and baby.

A pair of French properties described as ideally suitable for naturists.

Villa Veyrines at Veyrines de Domme – just 3km from the Dordogne river – is set in 1 hectre of grounds and has two sun terraces and its own swimming pool.

Les Chauses is a secluded cottage again with its own pool in 2 acres of grounds, at the end of a small track with no passing traffic. The property is peaceful and totally private.

A brand new family-friendly Naturist Campsite and Holiday Centre is due to open next month in the heart of the Lot Valley region of the Midi-Pyrenees, France. Domaine de Bourrat is situated in the Parc Naturel Régional des Causses du Quercy, just off Junction 56 of the A20 motorway, and about 20 minutes South-East of Gourdon. Set in 88 acres with far reaching views, there will be space for tents, caravans and motorhomes. Accommodation is also available in a mobile home, a gite and a yurt! A good-sized swimming pool and 9-hole golf course are amongst the range of attractions.

The property is set in twelve acres of wooded countryside with its own lake, saltwater swimming pool and sauna. La Vergnolle is an attractive two-bedroomed wooden house, said to be ideal for naturist holidaymakers. This part of the Limousin region is known as the Lake District of France, and the location is handy for the historic city of Limoge.

Located in the heart of the vineyards of the Cotes de Bourg, close to the Gironde estuary, Domaine Maracky provides naturist accommodation in a garden cottage for 2 people. As well as the heated swimming pool, whirlpool, steam room and spa, there’s also a lounge with billiards, Wii Fit, and a Wi-Fi internet connection. Although the owner speaks English, German and Dutch, the website is in French – Google translation.

A medley of no fewer than six naturist-friendly gîtes in France have recently come to our attention. All of the holiday homes ooze character and have their own private pools. Each enjoys a high level of privacy and is specifically described as suitable for naturists.

Aux Juges is a stone country barn in Eymet, Aquitaine

Les Chenes holiday cottage is in La Roque-Gageac near Sarlat, Perigord (Dordogne)

Saint Quentin De Caplong is an 18th Century stone country house in Aquitaine, Gironde

Les Rieux and Mille Founs Verfeil are two farmhouses in the Midi-Pyrenees / Tarn-et-Garonne region

Charrin Villa is near Decize, in Burgundy

Located just 45km south of Paris in the vicinity of Essonne, the family-friendly 2-star naturist campsite – Les Hesperides – is in a handy location for visiting the French capital. In addition to space for holidaymakers with their own tent or caravan, the 3.5 hectare site also has a number of bungalow chalets for hire. A good-sized pool and plenty of sports activities provide the usual leisure facilities for an enjoyable vacation in the buff.

At the heart of the Loire Valley, Club du Soleil de Touraine nudist campsite has 2 stars, and is set in a wooded 8 acres just minutes from Tours. Recommended by British naturists travelling in the region, the club also has a number of rooms available for anybody without their own tent or caravan. (Website in French, but with a Google translation button bottom left of home page)

Situated in the Charente department of western France, Camping Naturiste du Port offers 44 camping pitches in 1.2 hectres of grounds. The well-equipped site is a handy 20 minutes from La Rochelle and 30 mins from the Ile de Ré. A lively centre with a large pool and a communal French atmosphere.

Château Guiton has been recommended as an ideal spot for a stopover, or a longer stay. Located approximately 20 miles east of the city of Bordeaux, the property offers B&B, gites and camping sites. The family-friendly naturist centre is set in a former vineyard has an appealing swimming pool and its own wine bar!

Domaine Le Portrait is a new quiet and secluded naturist campsite in the South Charente departmente, on the border with the Dordogne. The English-speaking Dutch owners have an 8 acre property with plenty of space for caravans, tents and motorhomes. A 4-berth caravan and a tent are also available to hire. Swimming pool, sauna and WiFi will be available for 2010.

For a back to nature experience, Gites des Chênes offers a naturist guest house set in an extensive 9 hectres of grounds. Tents, motorhomes and caravans can also be accommodated. Situated in the south of Burgandy – 15km from Chalon/Saône – the property is open all year and has an indoor/outdoor pool with a sliding cover and plenty of space for sunbathing. Nude fishing and a sauna are other options available.

Les Saulaies offers naturist accommodation in the countryside 25km north-west of the town of Angers, in the Anjou region of France. Guests can enjoy the large private garden and swimming pool as nature intended. It’s in a handy overnight location for visitors travelling from the UK to the south or west of France. (Translation by Google)

Jean-Didier and Marie-Anne Mathis provide charming accommodation at their property, 200 metres from the centre of the village of Gordes, just to the east of Avignon in the south of France. They have a swimming pool in their large private garden which is perfect for skinny-dipping and naturist relaxation. The pool is available around the clock and according to the owners, ‘ nothing is more enjoyable than bathing at midnight in the moonlight to the sound of crickets before going to sleep …’ (Website in French only)

Fancy your own naturist place in the sun? A new British company, Caravans au Naturel, offers a range of static mobile homes to purchase at a nudist campsite in the Lot-et-Garonne region of France. Set in 10 hectares of forest and pasture, in the middle  of the Lot / Quercy, west of Villeneuve-sur-Lot. The park is open from April – September, with the nearest airport at Bergerac, 80km away. There is a bar, restaurant, self-service grocer, a library,  and discotheque as well as a swimming pool, tennis, bowling alleys, volleyball, archery, table tennis, trampoline, children games, football table, video games and darts on the camping park.

The provincial airport west of the city Beziers, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, is only about 10 miles from the naked city at Cap d’Agde. At the end of this month, the first international low-cost flights to Beziers will begin when Ryanair launches a three-times-a-week schedule from Bristol on 30 March 08.