Wissant

A vast beach between two capes

Wissant unrolls its 12 kilometres of fine sand in a wide arc, from Cap Blanc-Nez to Cap Gris-Nez, in the Pas-de-Calais. The wind blows here almost constantly, which makes it a hotspot for windsurfers and kitesurfers who slalom between the families settled on the sand.

A little further on, one to two kilometres northeast of the main car park, a tolerated naturist zone begins, running along roughly two kilometres of coastline. The boundaries aren't drawn with a ruler, the town hall has approved the practice without setting a strict limit.

Discreet naturism, not exclusive

Here, no closed club, no beach reserved for nudists: naturists mix with textile beachgoers, and it's often the latter who outnumber them in the area. The atmosphere stays family friendly and relaxed, far from the image of a fully nude beach.

Regulars describe a spacious spot where everyone finds their place, rather than a site designed for organized naturism. People come to Wissant mainly for the space, the wind and the scenery, and naturism slips in quite discreetly.

How to get there

The beach sits right in the village of Wissant, 62179, Hauts-de-France. The main car park gives access to the textile stretch, from there you need to walk northeast to reach the tolerated naturist zone.

The fine sand runs the whole length of the bay, and low tide reveals a wide expanse of shore. The near constant wind makes it a place better suited to walking and board sports than to lying still and tanning.