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Naturism and the spirit of Country in the French Dordogne<br />
‘This is freedom’<br />
A camp site in France for naturists, in CountryLifeMagazine.. ‘Here, you<br />
take off your spurs and the cowboy hat,’ says Jacco van Deutekom, the<br />
Dutch proprietor of <strong>Terme</strong> d’Astor in the Dordogne. But also without<br />
clothes there are many shared values. ‘For us, too, nature and freedom<br />
are the priority,’ Jacco stresses. ‘Here you are free.’<br />
Not the exaggerated no-boundaries-whatsoever, like you may see in some French naturist sites<br />
where decadence rules. But freedom surrounded by nature with a beautiful climate,<br />
at a spacious camp site where you can relax in privacy or join others who<br />
will soon be friends. The elements are at work. Hot summer nights,<br />
the stars above, the nearby river for swimming and canoeing.<br />
The Dordogne –its old name is Périgord- is a region with<br />
large oak and chestnut forests. ‘Great for riding horse back.<br />
There are equestrian centres’, says Jacco, who<br />
has known the area since he was a boy.<br />
His parents emigrated in 1979, pioneering as<br />
they opened the first Dutch owned naturist camp<br />
site in the Dordogne. For the benefit of our guests,<br />
who are looking for peace and quiet. But also for our<br />
own sanity. You do not emigrate from an<br />
overpopulated country to recreate the madness.’
For information :http://www.termedastor.com/en/ or at impec24@orange.fr<br />
Preying birds<br />
The 18 hectare car free camp site is located in the<br />
woods on top of a gentle hill giving the site its name.<br />
<strong>Terme</strong> d’Astor means<br />
‘hill of Astor’, but also ‘destination’. There are a<br />
hundred pitches, large plots in the sun or shadow,<br />
quietly aside or near the main field, or with a view of<br />
the valley where preying birds circle.<br />
After Jacco took over the site of his father he designed<br />
and built 12 log cabins for his guests. ‘Made of solid<br />
wood, with a large covered terrace.’ They are for<br />
holiday makers who do not fancy to camp in a tent but<br />
like to use all other facilities. There is a shop, a goodsized<br />
swimming pool, a Finnish sauna and a jacuzzi.<br />
Naturist walks in the forest. ‘And our theme nights are<br />
sought after. Barbecue nights, Country-nights and music<br />
by French and English artists. Also by a great Mexican<br />
guitarist.’<br />
La belle<br />
The French call their country La belle, or La douce<br />
France, the beautiful, or gentle France, and here you<br />
see why.<br />
The Dordogne is the county of the thousand castles, but<br />
also rural with small holdings, green fields and forests.<br />
Which means truffles, bee-hives and honey, walnuts<br />
too. And wild boar and duck..<br />
The prehistoric caves of Lascaux are world famous. Not far from<br />
<strong>Terme</strong> d’Astor you will find the impressive castles of Castelnaud,<br />
Beynac and Josephine Baker’s castle Milandes. They are open to<br />
the public. Near Bergerac is the chateau of Monbazillac, known<br />
for its sweet dessert wine, also drank by the French as an<br />
aperitif. The surrounding vineyards are rapidly becoming more<br />
respected and well-known.<br />
Medieval Sarlat is a must, inevitably very busy in the<br />
summer unless you do as the French: get up early to<br />
visit the market with its regional delicacies. Nearer<br />
to <strong>Terme</strong> d’Astor you will find 13th century fortified<br />
villages like Monpazier. A village also frequented by<br />
horse riders..<br />
‘Naturism, from where we stand, adds something<br />
important to a region like this,’ Jacco observes. ‘To<br />
people who do not know this concept we say: why not<br />
give it a chance and feel, surrounded by nature, what<br />
it really means when we say ‘this is freedom’.’
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