André Durville

In 1924 he graduated as a physician, his thesis was L'action de la pensée sur les phénomènes de nutrition cellulaire [The effect of thoughts on the cellular phenomena of nutrition] (Thesis) (in French).

1924.. André and his brother Gaston, influenced by Dr. Paul Carton, were advocates for natural, healthy diets.

With his brother, Gaston he established the Naturist Society in 1927.

In 1928 the brothers founded the Physiopolis naturist camp on Platais island in the Seine[a] 27.6 kilometres (17.1 mi) from the centre of Paris.

In 1930 they established the naturist village of Heliopolis on the Île du Levant, an island in the Mediterranean Sea.