La Clapère

Family naturist campsite in the Vallespir, at 150 metres above sea level at the foot of the eastern Pyrenees, about ten kilometres from the Spanish border and 22 km from the sea. The grounds cover 50 hectares of Mediterranean vegetation (bamboo, palms, cork oaks, agaves) and are crossed for about two kilometres by a stream, with small waterfalls and natural pools that, however, can shrink to very little water in dry summers. The roughly 200 pitches, almost all with electricity, are spread over several levels, in shade or sun, near the stream or higher up away from everything; there are also 10 mobile homes rented by the week (dogs and cats not allowed inside). The heart of the campsite is a large pool with a sun terrace and a paddling pool for little ones, next to the pink farmhouse that houses the bar, restaurant and a small shop with fresh bread in the morning. From June to August there is a simple programme: boules and table tennis tournaments, tennis and a multi-sport court, drawing for children, a dance evening with a show put on by the guests and the communal Saturday paella. It is popular above all with families with children and with couples; those who have stayed appreciate the nature, the spacious pitches, the quiet and the reasonable prices, while some find the owners' welcome not very warm and mention dated washrooms, poor lighting at night and no mobile signal (wifi is only available on the farmhouse terrace). The shop, bar and restaurant are open only from late May to mid-September. A good base for hikes in the Pyrenees (Canigou, GR10) and for Céret, 7 km away.