Conference moira::naturism

445.0. "La Sabli�re in France" by MOIRA::FAIMAN (Alternately stone in you and star) Fri May 19 1995 10:29

This note is being entered for a NATURISM reader who prefers to remain anonymous.

	-Neil Faiman, Naturism moderator

===============================================================================

   This is a report on the holiday village La Sabli�re, in Saint Privat
   de Champclos near Barjac, in the Ard�che area, France.

   It is based on our experiences there in July 1994.

   I wish to remain anonymous. It is not proper for an anonymous
   contributor to express opinions - on the other hand, what would a
   report be without opinions on accommodations, restaurants etc. ?

                                  CARTOGRAPHY

Michelin map

   A useful Michelin map is number 246 - the map of the Rh�ne valley.

Directions

   The question is, where do you cross the Rh�ne river ? We came from the
   North, along the motorway, and crossed the river in Bourg St And�ol.
   We then drove South along the West bank, crossed the Ard�che river and
   turned West onto road D901. We then crossed the hills, from the
   Ard�che valley into the C�ze valley. This is a narrow, winding road,
   and I would not recommend it at the end of a long drive.

   The alternative would be, to cross the Rh�ne in Pont St Esprit.
   However, the old bridge (centuries old) is the cause of a long traffic
   jam. The new bridge will be ready in 1995.

                                  TOPOGRAPHY

The Ard�che region

   This place is not on the Ard�che river - it is on the C�ze river. It
   is not in the D�partement de l'Ard�che, it is in the D�partement du
   Gard. It is in the Ard�che region, but not in the most popular part of
   that region - there are far fewer tourists here.

                                  LA SABLI�RE

Address

   Domaine de la Sabli�re, St Privat de Champclos, 30430 BARJAC

   Phone +33 66245116 or +33 66245572

   Fax +33 66245869

   Minitel 3615 code FRANCE 4 (I have not tried this myself).

Booking

   You can book directly, over the phone. You get an option, and you have
   a number of days to send in the form and the money. A cancellation
   insurance can be included.

What does it look like

   This part of the C�ze valley is very narrow. There are no bridges in
   this area.

   La Sabli�re is located on the North bank (facing South).

   At the very bottom, there are the 2 places where you can reach the
   river banks easily, and the two camping areas. The M�sange area is the
   nicer one, and it is close to the river bank area with the rock of the
   Deux Gendarmes (the rock which is on the logo of La Sabli�re).  The 
   other camping area is called Fauvette - it is not so nice, and the
   river bank is not so nice either.

   Close to the M�sange area is the reception, with the small supermarket
   next to it and the restaurant Les Trois Arches on top of it. (Les
   Trois Arches is, in fact, a feature in the rocks on the other side of
   the valley.)

   Somewhat higher up is the recreation area, with the swimming pools,
   the Point d'Info, the cinema, the bar Eden Roc, etc..

   Still higher is the caravan area (trailers, for Americans). You can
   rent a caravan.

   At the very top is the (small) chalet area (wooden huts). This is
   where we were staying.

   Downstream are some other nude camping sites. First is La Gen�se, on
   the South bank. Next is Le Ran du Ch�teau de Fereyrolles, which is on
   a narrow strip of land, on the North bank. There is another place,
   further downstream, which is not recognised by the Naturist
   Federation, and which is said to be a swinging club.

   As La Sabli�re is on a steep slope, there are some practical problems.
   Most people use their car to go to the shop or to the river shore - it
   is a long walk ! However, the roads are narrow and the parking space
   is limited. On the other hand, you cannot use a bicycle - it is much
   too steep.

Dress code

   The general rule is Be nude. Nudity is mandatory (and enforced !)
   around the swimming pools.

Telephone

   There all only 3 telephone booths, near the reception. You will need a
   French telephone card (which you can buy at the shop, I think). There
   are always queues of people waiting at these booths.

Swimming pools, bar, sauna

   There are 2 swimming pools - with expansion room for a third. The
   upper one is rectangular and has a large, very exposed sun-deck. In
   addition, there is a very small, shallow pool for the toddlers. The
   lower one has an irregular shape, has some shadow (that is why we went
   there), a sun-deck and a ledge with a beautiful view of the valley.

   There is a life guard on duty.

   There is a lot of sun-bathing space around the swimming pools.

   There is a building between the 2 swimming pools (on top of one
   swimming pool, below the other), where you find a bar, the Eden Roc, a
   large sun terrace (with a sun shelter), toilets, and a sauna.

   For the sauna, you have to reserve your seat (only one half-hour, free
   of charge) at the point d'info, uphill from the entrance to the upper
   swimming pool. You may think it is odd to take a sauna bath in such a
   hot landscape. Actually, I enjoyed a sauna bath in the late afternoon
   or early evening, to flush my pores and to get my skin massaged by the
   cold shower, and a number of other people seemed to think the same
   (mostly men).

Organised activities

   There are organised day-time activities for every day of the week (not
   on Saturday or on Sunday). An introduction to these activities is
   given on Sunday, in the evening (which is a bit awkward if you have
   children).

   Activities for adults include:

     * Water gymnastics, in the morning, in the main swimming pool.
     * Archery.
     * Book binding.
     * Walks in the woods near the village.

   My list is by no means complete.

   For the children, there is a variety of group activities.

   There are also special day-time activities, such as the annual
   tri-athlon.

   There are also evening activities. There is dancing and/or live music
   every evening. In addition, there is a party on the 14th of July.

The shores

   There are two places where you can reach the river, and sit
   comfortably.

   The first one, and in my opinion the nicest one, is accessible by
   following the wide path from Reception, through the M�sange camping
   area, to the shore of the Deux Gendarmes.

                                  RESTAURANTS

Les Trois Arches

   On top of the reception, and named after a feature of the rocks on the
   opposite side of the valley. You get good value for money, the service
   is good and very friendly. You may want to reserve your table,
   especially on a busy night like the 14th of July, or the 21st of July.

   You can subscribe to the demi-pension formula, which means you will
   eat the plat du jour every evening of your stay, and get a discount at
   the end. We did not subscribe, we ate there every night except one,
   and often something more expensive than the plat du jour, and did get
   the discount at the end.

   You can open an account for your expenses at the Trois Arches and Eden
   Roc.

Eden Roc

   This is the snack-bar next to the swimming pool.

   I would not recommend the food. The ice-cream and the drinks are
   excellent.

Le Plan d'Eau in Goudargues

   The town of Goudargues is in itself worth a visit. The restaurant is
   located at the edge, next to a river. It is very nice, and the food is
   good, too.

                                   SHOPPING

In La Sabli�re

   There is a small super-market next to the reception.

Markets

   You can go to the market in the villages and the towns of the are. The
   list of the market days is available at the reception and the point d'
   info.

Chemists

   There is a chemist in Saint Privat de Champclos (at very centre of the
   village).

Banks

   There is a bank in Saint Privat de Champclos (at very centre of the
   village, across the street from the chemist).

Car mechanics

   I would not recommend the local garage, Mr Graffand (Garage des
   Crozes). You are much better off with Garage Raoux in St Jean de
   Maru�jols.

                                  EXCURSIONS

Walks

   A number of walks (less than 2 hours long), in the vicinity, are
   organised by La Sabli�re itself.

   On each of these walks, you cross the river (at least twice !), by
   walking through it. The best solution is, to have comfortable walking
   shoes, and to carry plastic slippers that you wear to cross the river
   - the pebbles may be round, but they are still painful to the bare
   foot, and also very slippery.

   Take enough drinking water.

   On most of these walks, you can be nude, even though you leave the
   grounds.

     * Le Ch�teau de Fereyrolles. A ruin, on the North side, East of the
       grounds.
     * Les Trois Arches. A magnificent view.
     * La Chapelle de St F�r�ol et La source. On this walk, you are
       recommended to take some garments, because you walk through an
       area that is accessible to outsiders. We put on some clothes when
       crossing the boundary, reached la source without seeing anyone.
       When we were at La Source, we could not resist the temptation,
       undressed again and went swimming - and were caught in the act by
       a bunch of canoeists. We wore our clothes on the way back, and
       came across a nude couple (while we were clothed). Finally, when
       we reached the boundary, we undressed again.
     * La Cuisine du Diable.

Bernard Magos

   This gentleman is a retired speleologist who lives in this area and
   organises a different guided tour every week. You drive your own car.
   I can recommend these excursions. The emphasis is, of course, on caves
   - but only caves that are not touristically exploited and that are
   accessible without special skills and equipment. In the summer of
   1994, these excursions were on Mondays, and you have to enroll the day
   before (which is why we missed this opportunity on our first Monday).

Many other places

     * L' Aven d'Orgnac - one of the many popular (touristic) caves in
       this area.
     * Goudargues - a charming town, with many rivers running through it.
     * La Roque sur C�ze - a quiet village against a hill-slope.
     * Les Cascades de Sautadet - where the river leaves that narrow part
       of its valley.
     * Bagnols sur C�ze - a charming town.
     * Pont St Esprit - a somewhat larger town, with a splendid walk
       along the Rh�ne river.
     * La Chartreuse de Valbonne - an old monastery, now run by a
       Protestant charity.

                                 WATER QUALITY

   The river looked clean. There are crayfish (�crevisses) living in the
   river, which seems to be a good indicator. We were told that, later in
   summer, when the water was low, it did get worse (eutrophia of the
   alg�, because of the fertiliser used upstream).