Cap d'Agde

Cap d'Agde is a seaside resort on France's Mediterranean coast. It is located in the commune of Agde, in the Hérault department within the region of Occitanie. Cap d'Agde was planned by architect Jean Le Couteur as part of one of the largest state-run development schemes for holidays in French history. It is also one of the cities in France where an increasing number of retirees reside since 1980.

Agde can be reached by TGV SNCF train direct from Paris or Lille or Geneva whilst the closest airport is Béziers-Cap-d'Agde airport, which runs direct budget airline services to the UK and Scandinavia. Agde is also served by Montpellier-Fréjorgues airport. Public transport (taxi or bus) is available between Agde and Cap d'Agde.

In place of the wine yard, it is now one of the largest marinas on the French Mediterranean. On June 4, 1971, the town was classified as a "seaside resort".

Development
Historically, this area was occupied by moorland and vineyards. and the only industry at the beginning of the 20th century was the distilleries for alcohol supply.

After immediate World War II, a naturist campsite (Camp Oltra) is set up in Port Lano (former Port Ambonne).

Due to 1960's annual leave and the introduction of plastic instead of wood for the construction of sail and motor boats with the "Plastic révolution" there is a need for structured coastal development for all seashores in France.

A sea resort at Agde in Occitania was planned in the 1960s by the Mission Racine in the (insane with mosquitoes) old salt marsh in Cap d'Agde, the Luno lagoon, 1967 builder : SEBLI from Béziers and SOGEBI. The mass plan decided by Jean Le Couteur is in concentric circles of the different thematic zones (housing, parking, leisure, etc.) around the port. The SODEAL, the builder run by Agde, took place in 1990.

The A9 freeway was built from 1960 to 1978 serving Port Camargue to Argelès.

The mosquitoes were removed from lagoons by chemical spraying. In 2024 aerial and land sprays are still done.

The urbanization mission with its architectural rules came to an end in 1983. By the 1960s, buildings were small houses typically used by locals on weekends, among which the winegrowers' lean-tos remained. Wine  production has plummeted since the sea-resort was planned,  and the traditional piquette is no longer an economics answer.

If in Grau there was a start of tourist activity at the beginning of the 20th century with for example permission for casino gambling in 2 places, the cape with the exception of a winery and a farm among small lots belonging to persons there not residing, plus a temporary exploitation of salt marshes at the beginning of the century, and as forever fishing by small boats with a small home port, the cape was mostly ininhabited. At that time, the State carried out expropriations in Cap d'Agde to avoid land speculation while the general fact was the practice of illegal occupations, including on the islands.

The first urban plan for Cap d'Agde was to stabilize sand with plants (pines, eucalyptus, coconuts, date palms and neriums), build dunes against wind and shore rains, and excavate a grand marina for sailing boats. The building of houses started 5 years later, with a subdivision (plat), and flats in the housing estate near the port and the shore (sea side). Numerous circular car parks have been set up for access to the beaches. They have been planted with tamarisk and pine trees. The mostly winding boulevards that connect the residences are lined with eleagnus or oleanders, as a distinct sign the middle strip is planted with large trees of a specific type.

Due to the German occupation, anti-landing mines were placed on the beaches (particularly at the Mole). Nowadays, the Landing Memorial 1980 allows remembrance on its hill, it is the place where we have the best view of the Pyrenees in the distance and of the entire coastline between Spain and Sète.

In 1976 Richelieu-Rochelongue -in the extension to the South of the marina-, but also the urbanization of Mont Saint-Martin is designed.

And if the last vineyard of Bagnas is now very small below Château Maraval with the Meyer distillery in ruins, walking in is a planned tourist-office leisure nowdays; This "Wine tourism" has been in full development for several years. The main tourist festival is in the 21st century the Vinocap trade show.

Cars and motorcycle are the folkloric elements for the summer. Bikers with their motorcycles are blessed in a ceremony by a priest in the central plaza. Streets are labyrinthine in the 1960s' urban plan, shaped with numerous central parking places serving points of interest.

After Lano, between Le Môle and the cape du memorial, the urbanization of the 1980s took place, (in 1983 Thalacap, a thalassotherapy institute opened in a hotel -it disappeared in 2006-)

On the 2000s' a new Cap d'Agde center was designed, with no more "Mediterranean style", but the "International Style" and this appears in new Congress Palace and the Casino Barrière facades with their rhythmic perforated metal facades; To improve the value of the city with the aim of attracting more prosperous people to live there.

Golf (2013) and municipal campsites (2022) change management providers.

On the 4 main beaches, lifeguards are on duty at several stations, during summer most of the day.

Marinas
There are 2 marinas in Cap d'Agde, many slipways are along the shore mainly for little boats.

Marina Centre Cap












The initial marshland was formed by the flow of water from the Monts d'Agde. But the place became a salt producing place in 1910s'. It has been replaced by the marina. "Its a base for Mediterranean cruises to Spain (50 miles), the Balearics (200 miles) or Corsica (230 miles)". The marina is composed with one entrance, 10 basins forming a 35-hectares body of water dredged to 3 m.; attached to islands in administratively two parts, the public-accessible and not accessible ones. The part between accessible Ile des Loisirs and non-accessible Ile St Martin is the part of the harbor where the boat's mooring ring to the quay is private and sold with the villa or apartment, a little part. The part between Ile St Martin and accessible Ile des Pêcheurs is the main part of the harbor where the boat's mooring ring is rented to the harbor master. Composed of 3100 mooring rings, this location is a home port with a small transit portion. Exists : " The walk along the quays is one of the attractions for the shops and café restaurants. Just behind the waterfront there are grocery stores for everyday life.
 * 6 sanitary blocks (toilets, showers, washbasins) with reserved access (electronic key).
 * Reserved parking for yachtsmen.
 * Fresh water and electricity (220 V mono and 380 V tri) at quayside.
 * Secure pontoons (electronic key access): berths are equipped with catways and, for larger units, with piles or deadbeds.
 * Special berths for multihulls.
 * 2 slipways (Avant Port).
 * European-standard waste disposal center.".

But a significant part of the population (hollyday or annually for retirees) resides in that area. The first buildings for annual occupancy were built on the slope of the Bay of Le Môle, and include low-cost housing, which was done at the same time of the marina buildings with the landmark tower, the campanile. Expansion has taken place on both sides of this new center, with the last developments towards the old port taking place in the 1990s, which is now occupied and owned mainly by retirees, an evolution of the 1960 urban plan that only took working people into account; this element led to the design of the new Cap center after 2000, with larger and more expensive apartments.

Marina Port Lano
Near the naturist camp, the marina has about 60 places for boats up to 17 m in length and a large boat yard. Its In racks dry port stocks cabin cruisers, with racks and elevator for motorboats (no sail baoats).



Recreational activities
Most of them are located in commercial parks with commercial purposes, others are necessary for the local population while others have free entry and an educational purpose.

Underwater fishing has taken place since the creation of Cap d'Agde in the nearby seagrass beds.

Leisure areas have been created, such as the Ile des Loisirs (designed in 1976 )in the main marina (an amusement park, nightclubs and, in the past, a casino (1970s)).

The Aqualand day-swimming theme park was one of the first of its kind (1984).

Between Cap d'Agde and Grau d'Agde, the Centre Aquatique de l'Archipel ("Cité de l'Eau"), a 21st-century construction by the town and the Hérault Méditerranée urban community.

The former tennis camp was created by Pierre Barthès (on his grand'mother field ) whilst Racine plan is beginning, in the first 1970s'. It became since the International Tennis Center. In 1978 a club house and an hotel are built for the international competition. Its modern padel hall opened in 2022 after the takeover by SODEAL the developer, it replaces the hangar.

Around the Tennis Camp, in its vicinity the tennis courts was the major theme for the development of housing estates, some exists near La Roquille beach. Golf practice is an activity that was set up in 1980s. Its extension (27 holes) was inaugurated in 2013.

Les Arènes du Cap offers a variety of shows (and toro-pools during the summer season).

Since 2003 the cultural season of the city of Agde opens with a film festival to which entry is free, it has moved from the old congress center to the new center of the "Rembla du Soleil".

Outdoor activities are available in the Bagnas reserve, including hiking.

The underwater trails have existed to discover underwater fauna since the establishment of the marina in 1967 with its marine protected area. In 2023, opened to public, an architecturally interesting floating Maison de la Mer was built in entrance of marina bassin n°1 to educationally illustrate the considerable connection between the shore and the salt water.

Museum
The Musée de l'Ephèbe houses the bronze nude statue known as The Youth of Agde (l'Ephèbe d'Agde). The statue was discovered in the river Hérault and was housed in the Louvre Museum prior to suitable facilities being made available in Cap d'Agde to house it.

Elementary school
In the same way and for the same reasons as for Grau d'Agde and for Tamarissière, in 1956 mayor Louis Vallière will open in the renovated [former farm] located on the Clape estate the first school in Cap d'Agde (where the Musée de l'Ephèbe is now located). Urban planners have forecast 2,500 sedentary residents at Cap d'Agde. Due to the particular nature of the environment, the project will be managed by SEBLI and the chosen architect, the Cap d'Agde architect Jean Lecouteur. Due to Museum construction, the "Jules Verne" Elementary school is built between 1976 to 1980.

Arena
Aside the antique villa d'Ambonne, on the land of the old farm, à completely new project for an arena in Agde, in use since 1974, a concrete building for open air shows.

Church Saint-Benoît
A Catholic church was built on a model adapted to the seasonal affluence: its right wing is formed by high bay windows that open onto a courtyard in which pews are placed for the faithful. The rite is ecumenical. Church was built right next to the ruins of the Villa Embonne (a wheat mill), the first Greek settlement (next to the contemporan arena and Clape museum).

Naturist village
Cap d'Agde has a large naturist resort. The naturist village encompasses a significant area along the eastern coast of Cap d'Agde.(43.295°N, 3.52722°W) It is built on private land, replaces the former campsite. It does not follow municipal planning directives of the Mission Racine : shaped volumes rules) which exclude large architectural complexes with no local architecture references for roof or walls. It is fenced-off with an entrance gate, and it is also accessible along the public beach from the north. It is a self-contained town (sometimes referred to as the "Naked City"), where nudity is both legal and common.

The Naturist Village is becoming a hotspot for swingers and libertines. It has a 2 km beach, a large marina, places for 2,500 campers, apartment complexes, hotel, shops, restaurants, night clubs, bars, post office, bank, ATMs, launderettes, hairdressers, and other facilities.

History of local naturism
The land adjoining the long sandy beach at Cap d'Agde was owned for many years by the winemaker Oltra family who farmed the olive groves behind the sand dunes adjoining the beach. After W.W. II, in 1950's, the brothers Oltra noticed that people were coming in increasing numbers to camp on their land, for bathing and sunbathing nude.

The Oltra brothers began to formalise arrangements for campers on their land, and this subsequently led to the creation of a caravanning and camping resort, called the 'Oltra Club'. The camp grew increasingly popular, especially with young families and German and Dutch tourists.

In 1960s the government of Georges Pompidou drew up plans for the development of the Languedoc-Roussillon coastline. Naturism initially had no part in these proposals, but Paul René Oltra, one of the brothers, persuaded the authorities to include plans for a naturist resort at Cap d'Agde. In 1973 the beach was officially designated as a naturist beach. Regulations for the new resort were also promulgated. The Naturist Village would be a place where voyeurs and exhibitionists would not be welcome.

Early developments
The first development was the construction of flats, shops and pools at Port Nature and Port Ambonne. Later, Heliopolis and Port Venus were built and Port Nature was considerably extended. The flats were sold and the owners often let them when they did not require them for their own use. The Naturist Village became a controlled zone during the season with regulated access. Everyone entering was informed of the regulations and required to comply with them.

The 1980s
By the early 1980s, the Naturist Village was reaching the limit of its development. Many shops and commercial premises remained empty, ready for sale or lease. The election of the government of François Mitterrand was to herald a cooling off of the French economy which lasted well into the following decade. During this time the Naturist Village continued to prove a popular resort and it developed a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. There were so many German visitors that the Post Office even had a designated postbox for letters and postcards being sent to Germany.

The present position


The naturist village is also becoming a hotspot for swingers and libertines, with sex-shops and swinger clubs. The swingers are also active on the naturist beaches, which has made many naturist tourists change destination to family friendly naturist resorts. The nickames is "La baie des cochons".

The naturist village has rules which require nudity as the norm, and which ban photography, the wearing of provocative clothing and the display of indecent items. In 2008, signs were put on display on the beach warning against lewd behaviour. The nightlife centres around clubs and venues. Many open only at certain times of the year. On 23 November 2008, the British newspaper The Sunday Times suggested that fires at three swingers clubs were started by hard-line naturists, or 'nudist mullahs', who oppose the echangistes or libertines.

In 2009, René Oltra, the company that bears the name of the resort's original promoter, required that visitors to its campsite, villas and flats belong to a naturist organisation. However, because of abuses, Cap d'Agde is no longer registered with or supported by the Fédération Française de Naturisme.

In December 2009, the local authority proposed renovations that would make the village almost traffic-free. These renovations involved the construction of tree-lined walkways and promenades, a raised promenade by the beach, and a hotel. Work was to start in early 2012. Other plans included the renovation of buildings and the construction of new façades.

The naturist village creates employment and revenue in a region of France less affluent than others. It creates income for the local authority through property taxes and admission prices.

In September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic it was reported that a testing station outside the village found 30% of 800 naturists tested positive for COVID-19. Under normal circumstances at the time—much reduced during the pandemic–the village itself held 10,000 campsite pitches and 15,000 beds, a population density seven times greater than nearby Montpellier.

Naturist beach


The naturist beach (where nudity is technically mandatory) has a length of about 2 km and is about 30 m wide. Sand and water are of good quality, varying from 16 to 22 C. Free access to the nudist part is possible, coming from the north of the beach but impossible from the south with the Port Lano entrance. Two security posts feature police and medical facilities. Six restaurants border the southern end of the nude beach. Only one restaurant is available towards the northern end. Even though Cap d'Agde is in France, most service staff speak English.

See also for naturism

 * CHM Montalivet
 * Euronat
 * Levant Island
 * Platais Island