Good sites near attractions in France
Jen and I spent three weeks in France last year with our first and new motorhome. We found sites that were near to the town we wanted to visit best so we could leave the home at the site and walk or cycle into town. Chartres, St EMillion, Chinon and St Jean De Luz fitted the bill well, we believe Loche would have suited as well.
This year we are thinking of going down the east side of Paris and heading to Carcassonne then returning via the west.
Any suggestions of good sites would be appreciated and if you want details of our journey please ask.
Alex and Jen
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Details of your route will be helpful in suggesting other sites, but here are some suggestions in the meantime: It would also be helpful to know just many days you will spend away, and how many stopovers you want. Don't forget, too, that Aires de Service Camping Car are often very central to a town and village and set up specifically for motorhomes.
We used to use a route to the east of Paris, and you might like Epernay (champagne 'capital') where there is a municipal site. Troyes also has a lovely mediaeval centre, and a municipal campsite within walking distance. I'm not sure just how far east you are going so as I say, route details would be helpful.
Camping de la Cite in Carcassonne is walking distance to the old city. We have a house in the area, so know it well, so if you want other suggestions perhaps I can help.
I would take the opportunity to visit Millau and the Millau viaduct, and there are any number of sites in Millau itself, which are within walking distance of the town.
You could also do Avignon - two sites within walking distance of the city. In a similar area St Remy de Provence is an attractive town and there are two or three campsites within walking distance.
Depending on when you are travelling it may be useful to have a look at the ACSI Card website. Using the Advanced search facility you can specify sites within walking distance of a town (or a beach or a lake).
H
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If you take bikes then there are quite a few sites which are in a good position. Not knowing your route makes it a bit difficult to suggest some; presumably you're heading across country if you're starting off by going east of Paris then heading to Carcassonne in the west.
There is a useful interactive map with cycle routes on Greenways in France HERE That may give you some ideas. If you have a lot of time, then returning via the west part of France, both Ile de Re and Ile d'Oleron are worth visiting, both have extensive cycle tracks and plenty of campsites.
Loches, which you mentioned, is indeed very good for being near the nice town; we stayed there for a few days a couple of years ago and enjoyed it there, both the walk into town and cycling further afield.
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Alex, I suggest you change your mindset and think in terms of town and city Aires instead of campsites. That's where French owners of motorhomes go.
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Would like Angers is one of our favorite places for a few days, the site is good and the town is easily reached through the park next door to the site, good cycling on tarmac/gravel paths. The Chateau is well worth a look and shops are also easy reached. Site has good facilities and Wifi is free, if interested Satellite tv is easy tuned in here.
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Many "attractions" in France have overnight Motorhome parking on site - Monet's garden at Giverny, Futuroscope at Poitiers, the Palais Ideal at Hautrives all come to mind, and I think are all free of charge. Disneyland Paris and Mont St Michel also have overnight Motorhome parking, but as you would expect those two are expensive.
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Dates are not 100% set as depending on suggestions might change slightly. We think we will leave 11th 12th may and return before 3rd of June.
We are going to stay with friends for a few days who live near Le Bugue after 22nd may. A quick look at the map would suggest Calais to Reims , Dijon, Lyon, Avignon , Carcassonne, Le Bugue, then up to Rouen which we would like to visit. These are not necessarily the places we'd like to stay, but roughly indicate the route we would have taken without advice.
Also using this facility for first time so please excuse if you get things twice etc.
a
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If you are going for 3 weeks, and spending a few days with friends in Le Bugue during your stay, you will be driving best part of 1500 miles in the remaining time.I would need a holiday when I got home!
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thanks, on our list
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we are aware, maybe extending by a few days at the start. last year did calais to st jean de luz and back with a week with our friends in the dordogne
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