Naturistengelände Thielle "die neue zeit"

Naturist ground on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel, between Gampelen and Marin, bordering the Fanel nature reserve, built by volunteers over more than eighty years and now run by the «die neue zeit» foundation. The spirit is that of the early twentieth-century life reform movement: throughout the grounds no meat, fish, alcohol, tobacco or drugs, electronic devices used as little as possible, no dogs. Entry is only with the card of a recognised naturist club or federation (foreign ones also count, such as DFK, FFN, NFN, British Naturism or the INF card), after a guided tour and three trial days. Most of the places are taken by seasonal campers; holidaymakers are left with a small tent meadow in the copse, a few spaces for motorhomes and caravans without water or electricity, and very simple rooms, studios and chalets, often without their own bathroom. The lake is shallow and suitable for children; it is reached by a path through the reeds and has two rafts and a small harbour for little sailing boats; there, bathing is always nude, while elsewhere on the grounds those who wish can cover up with loose clothing (swimwear is not allowed). There is a self-service vegetarian restaurant, an organic shop, a wood-fired sauna and, especially in the summer holidays, a largely free programme of sport and culture. The peace, the greenery and the friendliness are the most frequently mentioned strengths; critics find the rules strict and the reception inflexible, and one guest in 2024 noticed many clothed people. It is easy to reach by train: the Zihlbrücke stop is one minute from the entrance, and around it there are cycle paths and boats on the three lakes.