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In the summer of 2014, my wife and I visited Le Colombier Naturist Camping with our then 5-year-old son. We didn’t know much about Le Colombier Naturist camping, nor did we know much about the area.
Location
Le Colombier is located in Vendée on the Atlantic coast of France. Vendée is known for its mild climate, sandy beaches, and plenty of historical buildings.
South Vendée features rolling hills composed of rustic spots, forests, large estates, and old farms, forming a setting that invites walking and cycling.
Vendée is also known for the legend of Mélusine in Vendée, which is part of French folklore and tells the story of Melusine, a female figure from European folklore often described as a fairy or water spirit. According to the legend, Melusine was a beautiful woman who could transform into a serpent or mermaid from the waist down every Saturday. The story of Melusine in Vendée is closely tied to the region’s history and culture, and many places in the area bear the mark of the legend through names and sculptures.
Well-Functioning
Upon arriving at Le Colombier, you get a relaxed feeling, not only because of the surroundings but also because of how things seem to function. You get a sense that this place is well-managed and well-established. There are the things you need, and everything seems to work really well; if you have any kind of problems, they will come and help you solve them. At the reception, there is friendly staff who can assist you with almost anything. There is a small shop, a bar, a restaurant, a pool, a playground, a workout area, etc.
When we arrived, there was even a circus, although it left the next day.
Ample Space
When we arrived at Le Colombier, it was a bit late, and the reception was almost closed (we got there and met a person from the reception, even though it had closed almost an hour earlier). She told us that we could just choose a camping spot ourselves and come back the next day to tell where we were staying. We walked around the field to see which spot to choose and were surprised at how large the campsite was. We found a good spot with plenty of space. There was a field on one side, and in front, there was a field without pitches.
We could have chosen any spot because they all had plenty of space. This was really nice because sometimes you arrive at a campsite, and all you get is a very small space where you can hardly set up your tent. Here, there was plenty of room for our car, tent, and other belongings without encroaching on the boundaries of other pitches.
Adjacent to the campsite are forests and also a small lake you can walk down to. This gave the campsite something truly special, which we enjoyed.
Less Touristy
The area where Le Colombier naturist camping is located is not touristy. You hardly see any tourists, which I personally find attractive. I don’t like it when a part of a country or a city is too touristy – it always ends up with a lot of souvenir shops selling useless things, higher prices on everything – and a lack of soul.
Le Colombier is situated in an area where you hardly see any tourists, yet there are still plenty of things to see and do. The soul of the area remains intact, and one feels like a part of the local community rather than part of mass tourism.
Pizza event in Le Colombier
Every Tuesday, Le Colombier have a pizza event, which is truly fantastic for the children and others from the campsite who want to participate. At 10:30 in the morning, children and adults ride to the forest in a cart to collect dead wood. By noon, they return with the gathered wood, which is then carried to the old oven. In the meantime, the “firefighters” have already started the oven, which takes some time to reach the right temperature for baking bread and pizza. At 4 p.m., the children return to bake bread – they get to shape their own bread. At 6 p.m., it’s pizza time for everyone who has reserved a slot. Now it’s time to make your own pizza.
I hope you are inspired to visit Le Colombier Naturist Camping, located in France, Saint Hermione.
