Interview. Domaine du Coq Rouge is proof of the vitality of naturism!
While the tourism sector is suffering from the combined effects of inflation, climate change and shifting customer preferences, one niche market continues to stand out: naturism.
With 4.7 million naturist holidaymakers in 2025 and more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, France confirms its position as the world's leading naturist destination.
In its 276th issue, Décisions magazine features Domaine du Coq Rouge, a naturist campsite in the Dordogne, which demonstrates the vitality and prospects of this growing sector.
Source: Décision magazine No. 276 - October 2025
Sandrine and Sébastien Buffet run a naturist campsite located in the Dordogne valley, at the crossroads of Corrèze, Lot and Dordogne: the Domaine du Coq Rouge, where you can disconnect in a natural way! The estate offers 41 pitches and 29 unusual types of accommodation, including several unique options, a heated swimming pool with balneotherapy, a sauna, yoga, craft activities and facilities designed for all ages. The site is committed to an eco-friendly approach with a vegetable garden, mini-farm, dry toilets and solar water heaters. Here, naturism goes hand in hand with respect, nature and unwinding. Sébastien Buffet is also President of the Limousin Regional Federation of Outdoor Accommodation.
Decisions: How have your occupancy rates and turnover evolved over the last five years?
Since we opened, we have seen a 20% increase in visitor numbers each year. Turnover is increasing by around 10 to 15% per year. More and more people are seeking out naturism. During the Covid years, we easily filled the months we were allowed to operate. Since then, we have noticed a change in naturists' behaviour: they are looking for more tranquillity. There has been an influx of new naturists who are less in tune with the historical community spirit of naturism.
Decisions: When are the peak periods for your establishment?
The peak periods depend on the weather, but are mainly July and August; people come when it's hot, since they're naked. They don't choose our campsite because it's located in Collonges-la-Rouge or near Rocamadour and the Auvergne volcanoes, but because it's a naturist campsite. It's the naturist nature of the place that determines their visit more than the tourist destination itself.
Decisions: What proportion of your clientele is foreign? Have you noticed any changes in nationalities or profiles?
Our clientele is mainly French: many Bretons, people from the North, the South-West... This is perhaps typical of the Corrèze region. Other naturist campsites welcome more Dutch visitors, but this is not the case for us.
Decisions: How do you select your services and facilities to remain true to the naturist spirit while meeting expectations for comfort?
We don't have any white mobile homes, only unusual accommodation. We have created a dynamic around unusual accommodation: typical campsites, unusual areas... Holidaymakers come back to try different types of accommodation. Our activities are also designed with this in mind: craft workshops, leatherwork, yoga, wellness, etc. There is a free sauna available. Some accommodations have dry toilets, others are heated by solar water heaters. Everything is designed with an ecological approach in harmony with nature. Holidaymakers appreciate the diversity of the trees, the energy of the place, and the calm.
Decisions: What is the most common comment from holidaymakers when they arrive and when they leave?
On arrival, it's often the wow effect. When people walk through the gate, they enter another world. They immediately feel calm, at home. And when they leave, they tell us: ‘We felt at home here’, ‘We slept well’, ‘We'll be back’.
Decisions: For you, what represents the values upheld by NATURISME.FR or its members?
The values of naturism and our naturist campsites revolve around respect: respect for oneself, respect for others, respect for nature and the environment. It's really a global mindset shared by holidaymakers and managers alike.
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