Camping Municipal, Soissons
This site, usually open all year, is closed until the beginning of April 2017 - info in case anyone is planning a stopover any time soon. (Like us
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Comments
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thanks for the heads up, i think we'll pass Paris on the left
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Meecee
We stayed there earlier in the year. Its handy because it has about eight special motorhomme all weather pitches. Do you have any idea why its closing for so long so I can add a note to my site review
hereDavid
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There is an article here in the local press - but not much more information:
L'Union (October 2016)And a translation from another local newspaper here:
The Soissons municipal campground is closed this Winter from November to March 31, for the first time for years, as a measure of economy. It was one of the very few sites open throughout the year and had a negligible number of
visitors during some parts of the winter.0 -
Why not park in one of the laybys opposite the Campsite?
We did.
It's a quiet cul-de-sac, ample room for any length of Motorhome and handy for the park and river walks.
And it's free!
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We only knew when arriving at around 2pm on Sunday to see gates locked and notice of new opening time - we stopped and made coffee then drove on to Calais and got a train one day early for 9 euro extra, probably cheaper than the site would have been. Strasbourg to Calais in one day (with stops and detour to Soissons) was surprisingly easy although we've not got the Sanef bill yet.
Sanef tag great.0 -
We've stopped there every year for the past 10 years in January along with other transient Dutch/Belgian campers!
We're unable to travel outside UK due to medical problems this coming year, but it sure puts a hole in our recommended route to Spain
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Thats exactly why these municipals are closing or drastically reducing opening periods, we had the same experience at Maillezais, site closed and a car park 100 meters away packed with motorhomes. I think their days are numbered.
I think you're probably right, many municipals have been taken over by the camping chains as local communities are presumably unable to afford them these days, especially if they need updating. I suppose the chains are mainly interested in those with high tourist potential - not good news for your average small French town/village.
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The campsite in question was also quite cheap, around £10 a night, so even less reason for not using it.
David
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We arrived in Soissons late in the afternoon as darkness fell on a New Years Day a couple of years ago and found the gate to the Municipal closed and no-one available to let us in and gain access.
We then tried the riverside Aire but it had a barrier across the entrance – I think it's closed completely now.
Back we went to the Municipal, were still unable to get in, and decided the road outside would suit us for an overnight stay.
Pulled up, kettle on, meal prepared and settled down for a 'night in'.
Not the best French stopover - but warm and cosy never the less!
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I think this year has been extremely difficult for all campsites in France - even the largest ones have had reduced visitor numbers. It's not at all surprising that these municipal sites are closing - because French communes are finding their funding is being cut. It's a sad day, though, when any close, especially for those of us used to travelling around France and quickly finding a site when we want to stop. Sadly it's not going to be as easy as it used to be.
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We arrived in Soissons late in the afternoon as darkness fell on a New Years Day a couple of years ago and found the gate to the Municipal closed and no-one available to let us in and gain access.
We then tried the riverside Aire but it had a barrier across the entrance – I think it's closed completely now.
Back we went to the Municipal, were still unable to get in, and decided the road outside would suit us for an overnight stay.
Pulled up, kettle on, meal prepared and settled down for a 'night in'.
Not the best French stopover - but warm and cosy never the less!
you may well be right, the aire is not showing on my 2016 POI file, nor on Camperstops, although it is appearing on another list (Caramaps) i use....
not sure about All The Aires, not checked
so, it looks like its not the provision of the aire thats had an effect on the Municipal, as thats closed too.
perhaps a general lack of visitors to Soissons, especially if its looked on as nive place to park on your way to somewhere 'proper'....
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It was a great winter night stop - cheap, good sanfacs, free wifi, and town centre a short stroll by the river. It was run by the parks department and there were more staff then customers at times.
Never came across the aire, but on several visits the laybyes, and open ground opposite the site, were being used by 'travellers'.
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I think it's such a shame these municipal sites are closing, and being taken over. One of the unsung delights of France, even if the facilities were sometimes not brilliant. The locations so often were!
As a caravanner I feel it's going to get more and more difficult to find any site as so many M/homes use Aires to which caravans have no access.
Incidentally in our village in France where our mobile is located a new sewage treatment plant has been constructed!
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