Poble Naturista El Fonoll

Medieval hamlet in the Corb valley, abandoned and rebuilt since late 1998 as a naturist village, surrounded by almost 200 hectares of woods and hills with around twenty kilometres of trails. It is run by a couple with the help of volunteers, and its character is more that of an alternative community than a holiday village. You sleep in stone houses, apartments and rooms, in a group hostel, in isolated huts that are often occupied all year round, or in the area for tents and caravans, which is basic and has outdoor showers. The rules are among the strictest: in good weather you are completely naked, swimwear and underwear are not allowed, and you may cover up only against the cold or strong sun. At the entrance you buy an access voucher, even just for the day, with no need for membership cards. There is a spring-water pool, mud baths, a solar sauna, a library on naturism with over 25,000 volumes, free vegetable plots, outdoor games, the communal Sunday paella with music, dancing and workshops, and a restaurant with a vegetarian buffet that in practice opens only in summer: out of season it is best to bring your own food. Dogs and cats are allowed on a lead, and noise is prohibited at night. Those who love the essentials appreciate its charm, its freedom and the friendliness of the managers, and describe people of all ages, families included, being naked with complete naturalness; at night, from 22:00 to 8:00, the electricity is off and you need candles. Others come away very disappointed, and in recent months the criticism has grown harsher: walls in poor condition and stairs without railings, dirty bathrooms that are too few and far from the pitches, no facilities for motorhomes despite prices considered high, as well as rough access roads, flies, murky water in the pool and the noise of nearby wind turbines. Some also felt reprimanded for speaking Spanish rather than Catalan, and some found few people there, largely clothed. This is not a place for those seeking comfort.