The French have always had pretty liberal mores. But now they’re thinking of taking the fight against sexual prudery up a notch: by allowing residents to bare it all in their capital.
Paris City Hall’ first socialist deputy mayor Bruno Julliard has gotten behind a surprising new plan, originally proposed by the Green party : opening a park for nudists on the grounds of the capital.
The idea? Identify and set up a dedicated space in the city where nudity buffs would be allowed to let it all hang out without fears of being fined or arrested — as is already the case in other European cities like Munich, Barcelona or Berlin.
Public nudity is currently forbidden in France, expect in designated or authorized areas. And paradoxically, with around 100 beaches — including Cap D’Agde dubbed the “nudist capital of the world” — and thousands of nudist campsites, France already is the world’s top nudist destination. But exposing yourself anywhere else could carry a fine of 15,000 euros ($17,000) and a year in prison.
“I am all for it, and I believe the mayor of Paris is also. So we’ll do it,”said Bruno Julliard, but added that he did not to want to “rush nor offend anyone.”
The location has not yet been determined, but the Green party’s suggestion to do it “in the heart of Paris” or on the pedestrian-friendly banks of the Seine is perhaps a little too bold to begin with. “We won’t start by with that” Julliard promised on French TV network BFMTV, “But it does not hurt anyone. We will do it carefully, to respect everyone’s sensibilities.”
Growing acceptance of nudity is definitely in the Zeigeist. Last year, London opened its very first ‘naked’ restaurant, The Bunyadi, to great success (as of April, it had a waiting list of more than 27,0000. It is even set to open in the French capital).
But the French right wing opposition doesn’t seem so open minded.”It’s irrelevant, ridiculous,” said Eric Azière, president of the center right group UDI-Modem group in the Council of Paris. “It’s these kinds of proposals that give way to communitarian demands. I’m scared of twisting the political debate — from burkini to naturism.”
It’s true that such a proposal can seem ill-timed given that France has been embroiled in a heated political debate all summer over whether to impose a national ban on the burkini — a full body swimsuit favored by Muslim bathers. Perhaps French officials should focus on keeping their citizens’ clothes on rather than off.