CL sites in France

Rich4280
Rich4280 Forum Participant Posts: 1

Hello,

I think I am correct in saying that most 'aires' in France are for motorhomes and do not allow touring caravans. We much prefer to stay on smaller sites in the UK in our tourer and just wondered if anyone knew if France have anything similar to our CL sites.

Thanks, Rich

 

 

Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited March 2023 #2

    There are lots of small sites in France but fortunately they are not limited to Club members only in the way that our CLs are. If you would like to say where you are going some of us may be able to make suggestions. 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,298 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2023 #3

    They do however often have very short seasons, particularly the ones on farms. It  therefore it depends very much on when you are traveling as to what sort of choice you will have. We used them extensively when holidaying with the kids in school holidays. However, now going out of season there is much less choice. Last year I emailed the Mairie in a small French village to check on opening of their small municipal, they had put it back a couple of weeks to 14th June.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,298 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2023 #4

     The camping car park network of Aires do allow caravans on those with facilities, when they are open. It varies but normally between April / June and September. Those able to be used in this way are shown by orange / purple markers on the photo. They are generally ex municipal sites.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited March 2023 #5

    The number of outfits allowed on small sites in France is not rigidly limited to five outfits   -  it depends on the overall size of the site.

    For instance this is a photo of Camping Keraluic in Brittany (privately owned) which has plenty of space so is licensed for 25 outfits but isn’t overcrowded.

  • AGOG
    AGOG Forum Participant Posts: 58
    edited April 2023 #6

    Two I can highly recommend. Not CL's but small, peaceful and have the "feel", both in Dordogne region.

     

    Manzac Ferme near Augignac

    La Tournerie near Montignac-Lascaux

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,585 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited April 2023 #7

    A couple of small site recommendations:

    Camping Le Cormier, Obterre in Loire Valley not from Loches. Run by British and an excellent site

    Camping Les Ammandieres, Mouries just east of Arles in South of France. A farm site that takes about 15 units. A good few years since we were here but CL like site.

    For a general small campsite website try the following

    https://rural-camping.com/france/index.htm

  • Burgundy
    Burgundy Forum Participant Posts: 313
    100 Comments
    edited April 2023 #8

    A small site on family vineyard with tastings at Brissac-Quince, just south of Angers.

    https://www.domaine-belle-etoile.fr/camping/

     

    very similar near St Aignan on the Cher

    https://www.petitfute.co.uk/v11415-saint-romain-sur-cher-41140/c1166-hebergement/c1047-camping-hotellerie-de-plein-air/c178-camping/96554-domaine-du-bien-vivre.html

    we have stayed a couple of times on both.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited April 2023 #9

    We searched Provence for somewhere like a CL and found La Grange de Campaulise at Mazan - and thought we had found it. Six pitches in front of an old farmhouse, private swimming pool and spotless new facilities - all for 20 euros in June. But the pitches were unshaded and the heatwave was fearsome. Some of you might try there again in sensible weather. PitchUp has the details.

    But we abandoned it and went to seek shade at a shabby old municipal site in pine forest up in the hills where it was breezy and much more comfortable. So here is a photo of Camping des Chalottes at Murs - up above the tourist trap at Gordes. But don’t expect Club standards.

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2023 #10

    Have you tried UKCampsites as they also cover French sites and lots of reviews. Here is the page for Pays De La Loire https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/results.asp?county=Pays%20de%20la%20Loire

    As well as the filters across the top you will notice as you scan down through the sites they state how many pitches the site has, so you should be able to find something quieter and to your liking. 

    We normally we end up on French sites not exceeding 100 pitches. We find over this they get commercial in feel.

     

    Colin