El Torn, in the south of the Costa Daurada, is a natural paradise in the form of an almost virgin beach, between the sea, the forest and the mountains. His fame is international. A place worth visiting at least once in your life, whether you like the beach or not. It is enough to spend a single day there to see that Torn continues to be, as it was at the end of the seventies, a naturist beach. Presence of the absolute majority of people who practice nudism, with naturalness, peace and tranquility. An oasis
That El Torn is a naturist beach is perceived from minute zero, already in the parking area, next to the old disused train tracks. Many of the bathers leave the car naked and start the way to the beach with the usual utensils on: cooler, parasol and chair, yes; bathing suit or bikini, no.
This trip is made daily by many residents of the area, of Reus and the entire Baix Camp region, but also holidaymakers from Lleida, Zaragoza and other parts of Spain. His fame crossed borders a long time ago: French, Dutch – especially in July –, Flemish or, more sporadically, Germans and Italians.
With your feet already on the sand, after a pleasant walk with good views, second evidence. What happened in the parking lot also happens by the sea. In this natural place, bathing suits are and continue to be a minority. The width and length of the beach, 1.6 kilometers long, in a protected area of ??natural interest, contribute to the feeling of freedom. Everyone acts respectfully, without inquisitive glances. No trace of the textile invasion.
First dive and a bit of diving, with the goggles and tube as the only luggage. Then, between towels and parasols, a man appears, veteran, friendly and calm, who distributes a sheet and chats with a couple. Him and her, in bathing suits; the one who delivers what looks like a hand sheet, naked.
He doesn’t sell them anything that can be bought: “Look around you, don’t you feel different? Let’s all be the same, break free and undress. The most normal thing on this beach is to go without clothes”, it can be read. In a respectful and almost pedagogical way, the naturist explains to the textiles that Torn is a beach where nudism has always been practiced.
The Council of Vandellòs and Hospitalet de l’Infant have contributed to pedagogy and have marked Torn beach as naturist. In 2021, a naturism article was included in the new beach ordinance explaining that Torn is for “recommended nudist use”.
“We are not fundamentalists or exclusionists, we are doing well, it is only a recommendation. Nudism creates nudism”, says Manel Mondéjar, 68, from Reus. Just listening to it makes you want to lie down.
He is the president of the Torn Naturist Beach Friends Association, the nudist organization with the most members, almost 700, on the entire Spanish coast. Few like him know how to understand and disseminate, on the ground, naturist philosophy.
Manel, like the vast majority of Torn users, is against creating tension, although they regret the “insults and disrespect” they have suffered on other naturist beaches. “Majorities always crush”.
On this beach, now almost a blessed stronghold, they are, moreover, celebrating their birthday. The Torn Naturist Beach Friends Association has been around for 35 years and has taken the opportunity to continue teaching. “We have the highest naturist rate in the State, at 96%”, they boast.
Several factors, maintain its loyal users, explain that the Torn remains oblivious to the massive arrival of swimmers. The fact that access is not easy or quick, in a society used to almost arriving at the sand by car, has been key. “It’s a natural selection, the beach itself defends itself”, they explain, chatting on the sand. The fact that it is an almost virgin beach also encourages, they say, to get rid of prejudices and artifices. “And luckily, it hasn’t become overcrowded”, they add. Almost a miracle in the age of Instagram.
It has also played in their favor that the nearest reference campsite, El Templo del Sol, is naturist. So is the pub.
The organization has not stopped spreading the word since 1988. They do two naturist excursions every week so that “people can see that you can practice nudism and nothing happens”. They have also created their own signage at a dozen access points to the beach with messages like this: “No swimsuit, better. Try it! Respect nudism and nudists”.
Almost every day, one or two people from the naturist organization hand out leaflets to the few textiles that arrive. “Hello, since you have come to spend the day, you have the best opportunity to try nudism, you will see that it is a very pleasant feeling”. Always positive. Nothing to confront anyone. “We have cut a lot of stone, year after year. Inform and inform… We will continue to recommend the nudist use of Torn”.
