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Nothing planned for this summer? Then off to France. We've heard it's pretty nice there. If you're already there, you can turn your camping trip into a little round trip.
The route we have created includes highlights such as Paris and the Côte d'Azur, but we have also included one or two lesser-known spots. If you have a few weeks to spare this summer and don't quite know what to do with it, why not check out our route? :)
Stop 1: French Ardennes
Start off in the forests of the Ardennes Regional Nature Park in north-east France. After the long journey, you can stretch your legs by hiking or walking and finally swap the noise of the motorway for the sounds of the forest. You'll breathe a little easier right away. If you have your mountain bike with you, you can also get to know the nature park on one of 22 mountain bike tours on two wheels, and climbing fans will also get their money's worth thanks to three natural climbing sites. There are also villages and castle ruins to discover among the hills, valleys and forests, as well as two riversides (the Meuse and the Semois). You can find more information at here.
Le camping des Rapides de Phade
Simple, cosy campsite right on the banks of the Semois, near the small town of Monthermé
Almost 60 pitches (also shaded pitches)
Swimming in the river
Bar with drinks and pastries
Simple sanitary facilities
Rest & relaxation right by the river and in the middle of nature
Paris doesn't really need any introduction. The city of love is of course a must on our tour of France. While our perfect day in Paris consists of various cafés, a visit to one of the many museums and a stroll along the Seine, there are of course many other options open to you in the metropolis. There's that one famous tower that everyone always wants to see, isn't there?
Campsite Sandaya Paris Maisons-Laffitte
On the edge of the city, directly on the Seine - 40 minutes to the city centre by train (approx. 15 minutes on foot)
Simple sanitary facilities
A small shop
Bar and restaurant on site
Pool area with heated swimming pool, water playground and bubble bath
Free workshops for children/entertainment programmes
A table tennis table, a multi-sports facility and pétanque
From Paris, our further route takes us to Brittany, to the Armorique Nature Park. The nature park includes the Crozon peninsula, the Arrée mountains, the Aulne-Maritime river and the islands of Ouessant, Molène and Sein. A wide variety of landscapes (including small bays and rugged cliffs) and diverse flora and fauna are just as much a part of the park as several hundred kilometres of hiking and cycling trails. You can learn more about the park and the region in various museums.
Camping Trez Rouz
On the Crozon peninsula, right by the water in the heart of the park
just 30 metres from the beacha heated swimming pool
you can bring your dog 🐶
a small shop with local products and souvenirs
fresh bread and pastries, pre-ordered breakfast
a play area, table football, board games and a small library
barbecue facilities
an on-site restaurant with a delicious selection
sanitary facilities and a waste water disposal and filling station
Don't forget wedges - some of the pitches can be a little sloping
In the Marais Poitevin Nature Park near the west coast, you can take a boat trip along the canals that run through the park - a bit like the Spreewald, but in France. Apart from that, you can also explore the park on foot or by bike, or make yourself comfortable in the café by the boat hire. Other attractions include the Royal Abbey and the climbing garden. Find out more here!
From the nature park, you continue on to the Atlantic coast. Rugged rocks, fine sand, the wind in your hair and the water rippling in front of you. What more could you want from the sea? There are countless beautiful villages, beaches and other cool spots along the coast. Something very special is the largest dune in Europe, the Dune du Pilat in the Bordeaux region. The beach next to it, Petit-Nice beach, is just as impressive. A few nice towns to visit are La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Soustons or Bayonne, otherwise you might just look for a nice campsite first and look around for small villages and beautiful beaches.
Camping Le Pavillon Royal
Directly on the Basque coast near Biarritz
Just a few minutes' walk to the beach
Pool with paddling pool
PlaygroundGym and massage parlour
Yoga, Pilates and aquagym classes, table tennis and boules
Sanitary facilities and launderette
Waste water disposal station and refill station
Restaurant with Basque specialities and a small grocery shop (fresh bread and croissants every day!)
Entertainment programme for children during the high season
But enough beach for now. At the next stop, it's off to the mountains. In the Pyrenees National Park, you can give your hiking boots a good run or take a mountain bike tour or two. In addition to the highest peaks in the French Pyrenees, you can also experience the diverse flora and fauna and over 200 high-altitude lakes. We also have a few hiking tips for you: the nature in the upper parts of the Aspe and Ossau valleys is particularly beautiful. On the border with Spain, you will also find the Somport Pass and the Pourtalet Pass. Both are known as great viewpoints. You can find a selection of hiking trails on websites such as Alltrails, Kommot or Outdooractive. As always when hiking in the Pyrenees National Park, it is important to make sure you have the right equipment and the right level of difficulty for your group and to make sure that everyone in your group is fit enough for the hike before you set off. You can find more tips on preparation and your behaviour when hiking at here.
Camping Cabaliros
On the banks of the Gave de Cauterets, in the heart of the Pyrenees with a view of the mountains
a free bus that takes you to the thermal baths, shops or cable cars
5-minute walk to the nearest supermarket
the possibility to pre-order fresh bread and pastries and a small shop with local organic/fairtrade products
table tennis and play facilities for children
WIFI
modern sanitary facilities plus washing machine and tumble dryer
Dogs are also allowed 🐶
a meeting room with library, board games are available at reception
Pitches with water, electricity and possibility to empty waste water
From the mountains, it's back to the sea in no time at all - this time to the Côte d'Azur. You may have heard of it before. Look forward to beaches, blue water, beautiful harbour towns and southern French sunshine. There are definitely many beautiful spots on the Côte d'Azur. If you like it a little more chic and ✨ fancy ✨, Monaco and Cannes are a good choice. Marseille and Nice are well worth a visit, as are the many beautiful stretches of beach that can be found on the (semi-)islands of the Hyères archipelago, as well as in Nice, Cassis and Antibes. Other beach favourites include the Plage de l'Escalet, the Plage Notre-Dame, the Plage Petite-Afrique, the Plage Mandelieu or the beaches in the Calanques National Park (for some stretches of beach, you'll have to do a hike first).
Camping Seagulls
Directly on the beach in the harbour town of Martigues
The sandy beach of Sainte-Croix is 400 metres away
The nearby
Tamaris bay
a restaurant with pizzeria and bar and semi-shaded terrace
No more annoying decisions about whether to take the car to the mountains or the sea. At Lac du Mont Cenis, you have mountains and turquoise blue water - one of the very best combinations, in our opinion. The lake is surrounded by mountains and close to the border with Italy. In the water you can swim, pedalo or kayak (thanks to the hire service) or stand-up paddle to your heart's content, while around the lake you can use your mountain bike or hiking boots (unfortunately it's not possible to hike around the entire lake, but there are many other routes to beautiful viewpoints). There are also a few restaurants by the lake for a little refreshment in between.
There is no campsite directly on the lake - but there is nothing to stop you stopping off at the car park and spending a little time there.
9. Stop: Strasbourg
That's how quickly a round trip comes to an end. Last but not least, we go on another city tour, this time in beautiful Strasbourg. The city on the border with Germany not only has a pretty old town, but also Strasbourg Cathedral, the astronomical clock display at the Liebfrauenmünster, the Orangerie Park, the Barrage Vauban and the Ponts Couverts are other sights. You are also sure to find what you are looking for in terms of museums and gastronomy.
Camping de Strasbourg
15 minutes by bike and approx. 30 minutes on foot from the old town (even quicker by tram)
a heated swimming pool with sun loungers and parasols
table tennis, boules, volleyball and a playground
table football, board games and billiards in the communal room
WIFI
sanitary facilitiesa restaurant with café and bar and a small grocery store
The campsite can be great, but sometimes you just want to be somewhere beautiful with your camper. Wild camping is as popular as ever. Here, you can find out more about wild camping and free standing with a campervan in France.
(No spoilers here: the situation isn't too bad!)
Whether you follow our route or put together your own round trip through France, we hope you have lots of fun. And of course we'd love to receive a postcard, hihi.
