Club du Soleil de l'Essonne

A members' naturist club founded in 1957 and run entirely by volunteer members, in a 7-hectare wood in the Gâtinais Regional Nature Park, about 50 km south of Paris. The heart of the grounds is the two-basin pool built by the members in 1968-69 (with a diving board and a children's pool), where nudity is mandatory; elsewhere it is required when the weather allows. You can stay in a tent, caravan or motorhome on shaded pitches in the woods (without marked boundaries), or in caravans and small chalets for rent for 1-4 people; there is a shared kitchen, a communal barbecue, a play area, pétanque, volleyball and table tennis, but no restaurant or shop. The stated spirit is family-oriented and communal, and regulars confirm it: a warm "like family" welcome, great tranquillity, birdsong and starry skies; some foreign visitors, however, mention small toilet blocks, little information and some difficulty fitting into a club environment, as well as an unpaved access road. Open all year to members; to visitors from late May to October (every day only in July and August). The GR1 and GR111 trails start at the gate. Suited to those looking for simple, convivial naturism near Paris, less so to those who want facilities and entertainment.