Provence June 2018
Planning on visiting Provence in mid June 2018 hopefully to see the lavender fields in bloom but may be too early. Sailing back from Zeebrugge early July.
Read a few of the past threads but still trying to decide where best to stay or would it be better to pick 2 sites with a few days at each. Seen some recommendations for Saint Remy possibly Pegomas.
Never been to Provence before so would be grateful of suggested locations to base ourselves. In a motor home and no bikes so need local transport or to be in walking distance of places. If we pick 2 sites obviously get to see some of countryside whilst transferring.
Planning on coming up from Marseillan Plage. All recommendation gratefully received. Got camping cheques and ACSI card but would not restrict just to these.
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St Remy is pleasant with four campsites to choose from, and there will be bus services from there to places like Arles and Avignon - but for lavender fields you need to go 30 miles east to the hills north and south of Apt - but you will need to drive into the hills to see them. The last week in June might find lavender in full flower but early July is usually better,. Can you change you ferry bookings and delay a little?
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We stayed this year at Mas Nicolas one of the four St. Remy sites, all of which have been recommended on here. We enjoyed our stay and would return. Site has a nice feel, is slightly sloping and has decent facilities, a pleasant pool and small bar with outside seating where you can access t'internet. Easy walk to St. Remy which is a touristy place but nice. The sites hereabouts are popular, we were there in late May, did not book but the site was at least 2/3rds full.
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No sorry eurotraveller need to be back in UK in July. Knew when we booked ferry might be too early for Provence lavender but assume nice area to explore even without. Anyone know if there is website we can use when travelling early June giving update on whether lavender season is early or late?
Don't tend to book sites to retain flexibility. Is it likely to be a problem in Provence? Visited France for last 3 years with no bookings just alternative sites if first one full but never had to take second choice.
Any site recommendation in Apt area?
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Camping les Cedres is close enough walking distance to the centre of the town of Apt, and the upstairs terrace of Restaurant Le Platane in a back street is the nicest place for the regular set lunch. But check their closing day and remember to book there even though not at the campsite.
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There's a website which might help finding areas and dates - it really does depend on the area (and I presume the height) where it's growing. Route de Lavande - There's a good map indicating the best times to see the lavender, and all sorts of other information. In the west the lavender flowers earlier than those areas higher up and further east the flowering season is later.
Other useful websites are https://www.provenceguide.co.uk/explore/lavender-38-1.html and http://www.thelavendermuseum.com/
In 2016 when we went to the area around Nyons, on the 12th July, all the lavender had already been harvested but the air still smelled strongly of lavender.
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We stayed in Provence May this year at 2 different sites Arles and Orange. Enjoyed both, we did have a large scooter with us for getting about and was grateful for it as most places we went were to far to walk. Why not just tour with the MH and move every couple of days.
Will follow this thread as we intend to go back again soon and would love to see the lavender fields.
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Sorry I can't help with a site as we only stayed at one in 2015 and it didn't have a bus service but my blog on the holiday might give you some ideas of other things to do in the area:
https://jennyandjohngocaravanning.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/provence-aude-and-millau/
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Good plan. And a lovely homeward route from there is the A51 northwards to Sisteron and the very scenic D1075 on towards Grenoble - but if you have time call in overnight near the top of the pass at Camping Belle Roche at Lalley,and let Madame cook for you. (Rare for me to recommend a site on the ACSI list ! )
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If you want a site away from the main tourist areas (but still popular) go to the Dutch run ACSI site Les genêts d’or at Bagnols-sur-Cèze. You can see beaver in the beautiful river and walk past one of the biggest vineyards I have ever seen to get to the town centre. Close to Avignon and Orange. We will be there early June for about our tenth visit!
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Hi Martatin.
It may be worth you looking at the area around Carpentras. A particular favourite site of ours is Camping Le Bregoux at Aubignan, just north of Carpentras. In this area you've also got the magnificent Mt Ventoux looking down on you - a wonderful drive to the summit...... and also Vaison La Romaine with its Roman remains and close enough to visit the castle and wine area of Chateneuf du Pape. It could be that the new swimming pool at Le Bregaoux is open next summer too. Visit the Gorge du Nesque and there are lavender fields close by.
If you don't mind a bit of a drive, why not drive up the Luberon and visit some of the places in Peter Mayle's book 'A Year in Provence'? Avignon and Orange not to far away either. Just a few ideas......
Best wishes
David
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When we go to this area, we tend to stay a little further north at the site at Neydens: Camping La Columbiere. Annecy is about 22 miles away - 30 minutes in the car. We prefer to drive in to Annecy- it does get very crowded. Neydens is in France, but very close to the Swiss border and perfect for visiting Geneva. A drive up La Saleve gives you wonderful views over Geneva, including the famous fountain - you can also see Annecy in the other direction and Mt Blanc too. Visit the old wooden bridge on the Annecy side of Cruseilles, or even the Father Christmas shop at the foot of Mt Saleve. Not so far to visit the old town of Yvoire an the shore of Lake Geneva - or even Evian (where the water comes from), just a little further.
At La Columbiere, Jean Busset and his team organise one or two 'activities' on site. On of our favourites is the Raclette/ Savoy evening. A very reasonable cheap meal with his own wine - he has a small vineyard.
Just a few more ideas.
David
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I never quite know how to answer questions like in the village centre within walking distance. I guess it depends on how far you want to walk 😀. The site is on the outskirts of the town - for me, it's a longish walk and I would personally take the car. There are certainly a selection of shops and a smallish supermarket which is on the campsite side of Le Bregoux. We tend not to eat out very often when we are away, but I would think there is almost certainly somewhere to eat - most places have somewhere, and Aubignan is really like a small town. There is certainly a Pizza place. It might be worth having a look on Google maps.
Do let us know what you eventually decide to do.
David
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For motorhomers it is often important to be within walking distance of a town/shops as it saves having to up sticks and drive the vehicle to the town. Some people don't mind this but many, like us, prefer to be able to leave the motorhome and walk into town. The site that I recommended above is 30-40 minutes walk to the town centre. We enjoy the walk but I have to admit that when it is 30 to 35 deg. C it becomes impractical! We often stay at this particular site for two weeks but we certainly take the van to the supermarkets periodically and fortunately French supermarkets usually have extremely large car parks. Not often the case in Italy though. We are reluctant to leave the van too long in car parks so, again, this is limiting.
So, we have a much abbreviated list of sites that we like to visit but there are still plenty to choose from.
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Thanks Hitchglitch we tend to do the same. We too found Italy this year difficult for supermarket parking. Although when staying st Bella Italia they had excellent supermarket on site. Will add your recommendations to my Province list. David I have googled Aubignan and that's a possible too. 👍
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I've been following this thread with interest, as we too are planning to visit Provence in May/June.
I noted the suggestion about returning via Annecy, and wondered what other folks' thoughts are about which route to take from there as we head back north towards Calais? It doesn't seem sensible to stray into Switzerland, so what about the D1508 towards Eloise and then on towards Oyonnax.
Or is it better to go up to Neydens on the A41 and then across on the A40?
we will be towing a 7.5m caravan, so just wondered about inclines and bends. thoughts welcome.
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On your way down, assuming you go via Lyon, you may want to try the ACSI site at Chagny, near Beaune. It is right by the town and very convenient. Popular with the Dutch (they seem to seek out the best sites through word of mouth).
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Northwards from Provence? Aix en Provence to Sisteron, Grenoble, Chambery, and Annecy. Easy,
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Sorry, my mistake. Don't know the D1058 .
Easier way from Annecy is to take A41 Motorway north then west on A40 towards Bourg en Bresse and motorway all the way. But you can head home via Gex and north on the N5 over the top of the Juras.
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My plan is to go to Annecy for a few days but stopping at Lalley as recommended by Eurotraveller. Then on to Beaune where we have stayed before. Exit port is Zeebrugge so will break journey at Chalons en Champagne. Looking forward to June
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Back from Provence good trip and thanks for all suggestions. Itinerary for those interested Camping Les Genets d'or Bagnols sur Ceze very pleasant site. St Remy Mas de Nicolas good site. Camping Les Cedres Apt tired site and not much to Apt so stayed 2 days. Moved on touring lavender and stopping at Banon Flower Camping Epi Blu good location and site our pitch overlooked lavender field. Then on to Annecy which was getting busy by then (30/6). Stopped enroute at Lalley Camping Belleroche excellent site and restaurant (thank you Eurotraveller).
Route home to Beaune - Municipal. Camping de I'lle Cherlieu Arcis sur Aube good stopover better than Challons en Champagne site although more expensive.
Thanks again to all.
Next stop Mosele end of August
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Great feedback.
Interesting that you stayed at Arcis sur Aube. This used to be the municipal and is right in the centre of the town but partly surrounded by the river so great location. It used to be a regular stop-over for us and we stayed one night a couple of years ago after a 20 year gap. Although we liked the site the sanitary block is unchanged and badly in need of an update. The disabled shower is the only half decent facility as the others you have to pull down on the chain to get the shower to work (the Royal Flush!). Worth asking for the key.
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Agree sanitary block could do with update but was impressed with the cleanliness. Shower a bit quirky with pull chain but worked well and only one night. Would use again in preference to Challons as better location and site.
ps Hitchglitch saw a beaver as promised at Bagnols. Even walked into town despite the heat. Will use that site again.
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