Isle du Levant

Isle du Levant, or Le Levant, is a French island in the Mediterranean off the coast of the Riviera. The island is home the naturist resort of Heliopolis. The remainder is under military control of the French Army ¹

The naturist community on the Ile du Levant was started by doctors Gaston and André Durville. In 1931, they created Héliopolis (the city of the sun), the first naturist community in France. They sought to promote “a way of living in harmony with nature, characterized by the practice nudity in common, with the aim of promoting self-respect, respect for others and the environment”. The doctors first started the Institute of Natural Medicine in 1919. That later became the Heliopolis naturist institute ²

Naturists at the Ile du Levant as early as 1949 demanded that everyone be clothes free. Clothing was not optional, residents yelled a the clothed people who were present “les textiles” gawkers “à poil!”³ Local still seek to implement the practice of being clothes free today. Reports exists of clothed beachgoers being challenged. ⁴

The Levantin Charter governs behavior on the clothes free island. Though nudity is only required on one beach.⁵

Greet the people you meet with a smile.
Practice Naturism with mutual respect.
Nudity is: mandatory on the beach of Les Grottes, on the coastal path and all bathing places, free on the ledges, the square and at the merchants who accept it, regulated on the port and the administrative buildings.
Water is a rare and precious commodity: do not waste it.
Respect Nature and do not take any excessive samples.
Respect the Cleanliness of the Estate and take away all its waste.
Fire is our worst enemy: do not smoke throughout the Estate, do not light a fire, collect cigarette butts.

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