Montpellier University awarded Gaston Durville his medical degree in 1911 after he completed a thesis focused on the etiology of hypnosis. This early academic inquiry into the psychological dimensions of health provided a foundation for his career, which spanned decades of institutional medicine, public health advocacy, and the development of alternative therapeutic methodologies throughout France.
Clinical Training and Theoretical Origins
Born in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris in 1887, Gaston Durville was the son of Hector Durville, a noted magnetist and hypnotist. During his medical training, he served at the hospice at Brévannes, operating under the supervision of Dr. Paul Carton. This placement proved significant for his professional trajectory, as it was there that he internalized the principles of natural treatments, which combined physical therapy with psychological approaches.
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Take the IQ test →Establishing the Naturist Movement
In the early 1920s, Gaston and his brother André founded an institute for natural medicine located on Cimarosa Street in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, later renamed the Naturist Institute. By 1927, the brothers established the Naturist Society. They expanded their efforts in 1928 by founding Physiopolis, a naturist camp situated on Platais island in the Seine, roughly 27.6 kilometres from central Paris. In 1930, they added the village of Heliopolis on the Mediterranean island of Île du Levant to their portfolio, further integrating naturist practice into the French landscape.
Psycho-naturism and Therapeutic Methodology
Gaston Durville synthesized his medical background with the influence of his brother Henri and the techniques of Dr. Viard to develop a therapeutic framework known as psycho-naturism. This approach utilized a diverse range of interventions, including massage, physical exercise, air baths, water, light, diet, magnetism, and mental suggestion. Through his writing, including a voluminous treatise titled La Cure naturiste published after World War I, and a 13-part series on psycho-medicine, he disseminated these ideas to the public. He frequently challenged mainstream dietary habits, famously criticizing the traditional English breakfast of bacon and eggs as nutritionally unsuitable for both English and French climates.
Publishing and Professional Legacy
In 1923, the brothers launched La Vie Sage, a monthly review dedicated to naturism and psychic education, which was rebranded as Naturisme in 1930. Gaston collaborated frequently with his brother André on works such as La Cuisine saine, La Cure végétale, and La Cure mentale. His independent bibliography includes Les Maladies sexuelles and Les Maladies de la circulation, both published in 1921. He died in 1971 at Villers-sur-Mer, leaving behind a son, Jacques, who also pursued a career as a physician.
Fast facts
- Born: 1887, 3rd arrondissement of Paris
- Died: 1971, Villers-sur-Mer
- Profession: Physician
- Medical degree: Montpellier University, 1911
- Notable project: Physiopolis, Platais island
- Notable project: Heliopolis, Île du Levant
- Key collaborator: André Durville
- Notable family member: Jacques Durville (son)
Questions readers ask
What was the main therapeutic method promoted by Gaston Durville?
He promoted 'psycho-naturism,' which combined physical agents like diet, exercise, and light therapy with psychic techniques such as hypnosis, magnetism, and psychotherapy.
What was the purpose of the Naturist Institute?
Founded in Paris in the 1920s, the institute served as a base for his natural medicine practice and helped formalize the naturist movement through institutionalizing these therapeutic methods.
