Beach
Espace Naturiste du Bois de Vincennes
in Paris, France
Paris's only official naturist meadow, inaugurated by the city hall in 2017 inside the large eastern park. Just under a hectare of lawn, open roughly mid-April to mid-October, daytime only. The crowd is predominantly male and gay. There's no water for swimming — this is a place to sunbathe and meet, not a beach.
Where it is
The naturist area sits at the heart of the Bois de Vincennes in the 12th arrondissement in eastern Paris, on a meadow below the bird reserve between the Allée Royale and the Route Dauphine.
What it is
Roughly 7,300 m², free and mixed, the area opens seasonally from late March to late October; nudity is permitted but not required. A charter at the entrance forbids voyeurism and exhibitionism. The meadow has a relaxed, queer-friendly character and is popular with gay visitors.
History
The meadow near the geographic centre of the Bois de Vincennes was long a discreet gathering spot with informal naturist use. In August 2017 the City of Paris officially designated the site as the capital's first public naturist area.