Clothing Optional Activities

[T3]

88% of French women in this 2009 poll responded that they considered themselves "pudique":

This held pretty true in age ranges from 18 to above 65 years.
(I take "pudique" to mean "modest" but leave it to Cass or Islander to nuance the word, which can be taken to mean "prudish").

When asked about some specific situations, total nudity on beaches was considered personally bothersome by 48% and toplessness on beaches was considered personally bothersome by 23%:


(The polled population was "1000 femmes, représentatif de la population féminine âgée de 18 ans et plus".)

 

[stbartshopper]

Every year we go to SBH, we always go to Gouverneur and sometimes Saline. As stated above, people sunbathe nude at the ends of both of these beaches. Everybody seems at ease with this even though it may be 'illegal.' We know nothing about clothing optional snorkeling/sailing trips. A good place to contact might be-
http://toplocstbarth.com/boat-rental-st-barth.php
or http://masterski-pilou.com/en

 

[Annabelle]

Chiming in as one half of a couple that enjoys a little time at the beach au naturel... I see topless sunbathing just about everywhere, even in more public/populous areas such as in front of La Plage, Nikki Beach (natch), hotel pools, etc. I generally take my lead from what others are doing (i.e., I'm never going to be the first or only to remove my top). My husband enjoys being fully nude at the beach and he indulges in this at Saline and Gouverneur and we make sure to walk far enough away from the entrance that we will not offend anyone. And when we stroll up and down the beach, he puts his suit back on. This level of discretion seems to work just fine and I have never had the sense that anyone objected (and usually there are a few others in the vicinity doing the same).

Interesting poll above -- I'm surprised such a high percentage of women (French women!) are bothered by toplessness. Regardless, I think the female form is a thing of beauty and won't let the poll stop me! ;-)

 

[scotth]

Chiming in as one half of a couple that enjoys a little time at the beach au naturel... I see topless sunbathing just about everywhere, even in more public/populous areas such as in front of La Plage, Nikki Beach (natch), hotel pools, etc. I generally take my lead from what others are doing (i.e., I'm never going to be the first or only to remove my top). My husband enjoys being fully nude at the beach and he indulges in this at Saline and Gouverneur and we make sure to walk far enough away from the entrance that we will not offend anyone. And when we stroll up and down the beach, he puts his suit back on. This level of discretion seems to work just fine and I have never had the sense that anyone objected (and usually there are a few others in the vicinity doing the same).

Interesting poll above -- I'm surprised such a high percentage of women (French women!) are bothered by toplessness. Regardless, I think the female form is a thing of beauty and won't let the poll stop me! ;-)

This is pretty much how my wife and I are when we visit St. Barth every year. As stated above, I have seen nudity at the far end of Columbier as well.
Looking forward to our trip coming on 2/16.

 

[Islander]

I think that most who like to go nude on the beach in St Barths are not French... it is not a French thing to do so. And certainly NOT a St Barths thing. Locals are way too shy to do so, it is not in their culture.

Look, take Cap D'Agde for example, the #1 summer resort for naturists in the South of France is full of Germans, Scandis, Dutch, East Europeans.... The place offers a 2 km wide beach front resort for the naked only, but sees very few French walking around without clothes...

Some here might think that this is part of the "liberté" concept of the French way of living. It is not. Not for most. Latin culture I guess.

Un peu de pudeur, svp.

 

[cassidain]

Tout à fait d'accord

 

[Marc P]

Clothing optional

I first visited Saint Barth in 1990. I have several memorable experiences from that trip, including this one. On a Saturday, I went to Master Ski Pilou to enquire about the possibility of renting a boat. A very nice young French lady gave me good information. Next day, as per the guidebooks, I took the hike to Colombier. Imagine my surprise when I came across the same lady, stark naked on the beach, on her day off. I realized that Saint Barth was different.

I have since become a Saint Barth regular. My wife and I do spend a couple of months every year on the island. And we do enjoy au naturel tanning at the beaches. We go to the following:

- Either ends of Salines
- Far right of Gouverneur
- Either ends of Colombier

We have found that at either of these places, there is always one or two other couples doing the same, as well as a handful of single people. And from having talked to or overheard several of those over the years, I would say that the overwhelming majority have been French, but probably not Saint Barth natives. (I am a native French speaker, having grown up in Canada, and can easily tell the accents apart). We also see tourists from other European countries (Dutch, Scandinavians) and some Americans. Of course none of this is scientific.

I would say that, for my wife and I, the tolerance of discreet nude sunbathing is one of the things that sets Saint Barth apart. It is part of the sexy, sophisticated Saint Barth experience that we enjoy.

 

[Caroline D]

I think that most who like to go nude on the beach in St Barths are not French... it is not a French thing to do so. And certainly NOT a St Barths thing. Locals are way too shy to do so, it is not in their culture.

Look, take Cap D'Agde for example, the #1 summer resort for naturists in the South of France is full of Germans, Scandis, Dutch, East Europeans.... The place offers a 2 km wide beach front resort for the naked only, but sees very few French walking around without clothes...

Some here might think that this is part of the "liberté" concept of the French way of living. It is not. Not for most. Latin culture I guess.

Un peu de pudeur, svp.

It is easy. Go to the end of the beach and listen. The people who go naked at the end of the beaches in St-Barth do not speak English or German. You will hear them speak French.

Also, many people will not do it but they don't care if others do.

Nobody is asking for a complete nudist beach in St-Barth but only for the people who wish to go naked to be free to do so at the end of some beaches.

You can find all kinds of surveys telling you that the French women are not comfortable with it but you can find the as well the opposite very easily with a quick Google search telling you that the French are the people who are the most ok with this.

If the St-Barth were not ok with it, it will have been banned a long time ago.

 

[elgreaux]

It is easy. Go to the end of the beach and listen. The people who go naked at the end of the beaches in St-Barth do not speak English or German. You will hear them speak French.

Also, many people will not do it but they don't care if others do.

Nobody is asking for a complete nudist beach in St-Barth but only for the people who wish to go naked to be free to do so at the end of some beaches.

You can find all kinds of surveys telling you that the French women are not comfortable with it but you can find the as well the opposite very easily with a quick Google search telling you that the French are the people who are the most ok with this.

If the St-Barth were not ok with it, it will have been banned a long time ago.

It was banned a long time ago, as a few people here have pointed out, it is tolerated, not legal...

 

[Marc P]

Tolerated

It was banned a long time ago, as a few people here have pointed out, it is tolerated, not legal...

Tolerated... that is the key!

 

[Islander]

Les Gendarmes à St Tropez.... they have been trying to stop the naturists since 1964!

 

[stbartslover]

Villa Guests tell me there are other areas of our pretty island where it's practiced as well...

 

[dsrc]

I love vintage pictures of St Barth

Hi, love that vintage pic of st barth. Can't wait to be there again in two weeks time. Do you have more of them. Please post. It always nice to see how the island has changed. And that sign! So bizarre.... Love saline beach and Gouverneur. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bart -my real name-]

Hi, love that vintage pic of st barth. Can't wait to be there again in two weeks time. Do you have more of them. Please post. It always nice to see how the island has changed. And that sign! So bizarre.... Love saline beach and Gouverneur. Thanks for sharing.

This site has a bunch of old photos:

http://www.flysbh.com/spip.php?page=galerie-old-st-barth&id_rubrique=49

 

[ChasBidd]

?????, answered:

 

[ChasBidd]

Dennis, the sign still resides on the island. It is now in the hands of a private individual. How it got there, I cannot say. Well, perhaps I know, but I still cannot say, LOL.

I liken it to my ownership of the old Gate 10 sign from SXM, a gate which old hands know well. I call the Gate 10 sign the cornerstone of my Industrial Art collection. The Nudisme Interdit sign doesn't exactly fit in the Industrial Art category, but I do believe that it is in excellent hands.

I know where it is....... See post.

 

[dsrc]

Dear Sir/Madam

I am very sorry that I have not replied to your kind message and link. Last year I feared that I failed to notice it. Thank you so much for posting this link. What wonderful pictures. My word the island has changed.

I would like to post a couple of these pictures in my Instagram profile. Domhydepark is my profile. I quite like to combine a picture from the past with one from the present to show the changes. Would you mind?

We will be in St Barts in two weeks time, looking forward to it.

Many thanks and kind regards

Domenico Strano

 

[Bart -my real name-]

Wut?

 

[alachick]

Hopper!!! Good to see you are back. Doing well I hope.

 

[ccg]

This site has a bunch of old photos:

http://www.flysbh.com/spip.php?page=galerie-old-st-barth&id_rubrique=49

Thanks for the link Bart. The idea of my airplane landing on grass would probably change my arrival transportation.

C