Finding The Best Campsite In France

With literally thousands of campsites in France, it would be a good question to ask where the best place to pitch a tent and enjoy the great outdoors. However, despite the intimidating numbers finding the best campsite in France is not actually that difficult. All you need is to look for reviews of known campsites and ask for recommendations from people who have actually gone camping in France.

Be aware though that the best campsites are not just the commercially and commonly known ones. You’ll find a couple of smaller sites that have quite unique appeal. You will eventually find the right campsite that will fit your specific needs with a little patience and hard research.

Probably one of the more popular campsites is the Romarins, Èze. Nestled in the hills near Monaco you will have a great view of the coast from your tent. The rosemary and olive trees add to the ambiance. If you’re looking for a camping place that have amenities like swimming pools and other forms of entertainment, then the Romarins is not the campsite for you. When you pitch your tent here, what you will enjoy is the quietness and calmness of nature.

Another good place is the Les Ormes, St. Étienne de Villeréal. This is a campsite that has more class with rattan loungers and a designer pool. The site is patterned from a famous and high class tent hotel so don’t be surprised to find some comfortable spring beds. This campsite is famous for its vineyards that looked pretty much like the pictures you see in travel books. You’ll find some castles and paper mills as backdrops during camping. And of course, the wine is made from sauvignon and semillon grapes at Château Monbazillac.

If you want a more seascape view, then the camp in Les Criques de Porteils in Argelès-sur-Mer would suit you just fine. Located on the Mediterranean, south of Perpignan, it has lots of wide spreading trees that keeps the campsite well hidden from passersby in the nearby road. To add to the charisma of the place are the old Franco-Spanish buildings and the Catalan street signs. You can see three beaches which are exclusively reserved for campers. You can also find a diving school nearby.

A totally different feel is the agricultural ambiance of Domaine le Poteau in Castlenau d’Auzan. In this campsite you’ll hear the tractors passing by instead of the waves arriving at the shore line. The campsite is situated in Gers’ bountiful wine producing country. You’ll find a vineyard near the campsite and the area itself is surrounded by a garden of small shrubs and trees. Another great appeal of the campsite is the covered communal dining area where the owners often prepare meals for their guests and serve white wine from their vineyard.

Another similar camping experience is the one in Lacave. The farm camping experience in this site is another great experience. With the River Ouysse flowing past the farmhouse and under a canopy of walnut and poplar trees, the site is a great place for a hike. You’ll find a tightrope bridge there which leads to the woods for a refreshing hike.

There’s one thing that you should carefully look for when you find the best campsite in France that fits your needs. And that is the price. Yes, more often than not, campsites in France charge feeds for adults and children campers alike.

So carefully look at the advertised price so you can weigh your choices and prepare for the expenses.

SUMMARY
Les Ormes
Les Ormes, St Étienne de Villeréal campinglesormes.com. Tent plus two adults €10 per night-safari tents €360-€975 per week. Open May 1st-September 15th.

Caudet Radha Yoga Centre

Caudet Radha Yoga Centre, Marsolan, Gers radhacaudet.com. Tent plus two adults €20 per night; teepee €25pp per night. Open all year.

Ferme Noémie
Ferme Noémie, Les Sables, Bourg d'Oisans fermenoemie.com. Tent plus two adults €15-24 per night. Open April-October.

Mas de la Fargassa

High up in the Pyrénées
Mas de la Fargassa, Montalba, Amélie-les-Bains fargassa.com. Pre-erected tents for five cost €450 per week. Campers with their own tents pay €10pp per night.

Camping d'Etretat

On the Normandy coast.
Camping d'Etretat, 69 rue Guy de Maupassant, Etretat . Tent plus two adults €11.30. Open early April-mid-October.

Le Brévedent

The friendliest camping experience in France.

In the heart of Calvados country, with wine tastings for adults.
Le Brévedent, route du Pin, Le Brévedent campinglebrevedent.com. Tent plus two adults €16 per night.

Open April 30th-September 18th.

Le Clapas

Canoeing and kayaking are popular here.
Le Clapas, Salavas, Vallon Pont d'Arc camping-le-clapas.com. Tent plus two adults €14-22 per night. Open April-September.

Panorama du Pyla
Camping Panorama du Pyla, Grande Dune du Pyla, route de Biscarosse, Pyla-sur-Mer camping-panorama.com).
Open April 15th--October 5th. Tent plus two people €17--€43.

Camping de l'Océan

Amid lakes, château vineyards and pine forests.
Camping de l'Océan, 62 allée de la Négade, Soulac-sur-Mer camping. ocean.pagesperso-orange.fr. Tent plus two adults €23.50 per night.
Open all year.

Les Roulottes

Gypsy caravans and campfire cooking.
Les Roulottes, Les Marais, Huisseau-sur-Cosson lesroulottes.fr). Sleep 4-5 €310-450 per week. Open all year.