Base in Saumur or Chinon (1 Viewer)

[AndyJJDavies]

Hi all
We are looking at doing 10 days in the Loire from 9th September and we would like to stop in one place for at least 5 days and tour around on the bikes. We are currently looking at either the Camping l'Île d'Offard site in Saumur or the Camping de L’Ile Auger in Chinon (wife not interested in aires)

Would welcome any comments on which town would be better as a base and also on the relative quality of the two sites

...or indeed some alternatives?

Cheers
Andy

 

[chaser]

Hi all
We are looking at doing 10 days in the Loire from 9th September and we would like to stop in one place for at least 5 days and tour around on the bikes. We are currently looking at either the Camping l'Île d'Offard site in Saumur or the Camping de L’Ile Auger in Chinon (wife not interested in aires)

Would welcome any comments on which town would be better as a base and also on the relative quality of the two sites

...or indeed some alternatives?

Cheers
Andy

I know it's not what you ask or want , but has she tried Aires before or is it just a preconseption, there are some lovely Aires around there, or have you tried France passion , https://www.france-passion.com/en/

 

[Figaro]

We stayed at both this year as they are both close to the town. Saumur site was pricey and we had a pitch with zero grass, just dusty earth. There is a new aire just outside and we'd stay there in future.
Chinon site is good and would be my preference due to location and town and nearby attractions.
Wherever you stay you'll love it, just avoid the steel box frame bridge over the river just outside Saumur heading West, the one with the 2metre width restriction on .......ouch

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[AndyJJDavies]

I know it's not what you ask or want , but has she tried Aires before or is it just a preconseption, there are some lovely Aires around there, or have you tried France passion , https://www.france-passion.com/en/

We've tried a few with mixed results. The thing is, as well as wanting to stay a while we also like to 'spread out' and have a large awning to hold all our tat so an aire is not really practical for this bit of the trip. I may get her to try a few more for the few days we have either side though.

 

[Figaro]

The pitches seemed bigger in Chinon than Saumur where they are a bit more cramped.

 

[peterc10]

The sites in the Loire are spread out and will tke time to cycle to them all. Suggest you use 3 or 4 campsites as shorter term bases.

But we use Aires, and find that they are often closer to the sites we eant to visit.

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[Baileysbus]

We stayed at both this year as they are both close to the town. Saumur site was pricey and we had a pitch with zero grass, just dusty earth. There is a new aire just outside and we'd stay there in future.
Chinon site is good and would be my preference due to location and town and nearby attractions.
Wherever you stay you'll love it, just avoid the steel box frame bridge over the river just outside Saumur heading West, the one with the 2metre width restriction on .......ouch

Another vote for the Chinon site We were there for several days in May. Cracking spot and short walk into town. Spectacular site at night when the castle is illuminated

 

[Peter and Sue]

Stayed at both in June, both are fine. One night in the Campsite in Saumur but had to move to the Aire just outside for the following 3 nights as the site was full due to the Anjou Vélo Vintage weekend (vintage bike rally). The Aire was fine for us - managed without access to the pool. Only one night spent in Chinon, didn't make it into the town but there was an excellent bar just outside the site next to the river.
We actually preferred the site at Amboise, like Saumur it's also set on an island in the river with a shorter walk to the town centre. Easy drives to the Châteaux at Chenonceau and Chambord. Amboise itself has lots a restaurants and the Royal Chateau. I'd also strongly recommend walking through the town to Clos Lucé, the villa where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life, well restored building with beautiful gardens full of recreations of many of his inventions.

 

[AndyJJDavies]

Stayed at both in June, both are fine. One night in the Campsite in Saumur but had to move to the Aire just outside for the following 3 nights as the site was full due to the Anjou Vélo Vintage weekend (vintage bike rally). The Aire was fine for us - managed without access to the pool. Only one night spent in Chinon, didn't make it into the town but there was an excellent bar just outside the site next to the river.
We actually preferred the site at Amboise, like Saumur it's also set on an island in the river with a shorter walk to the town centre. Easy drives to the Châteaux at Chenonceau and Chambord. Amboise itself has lots a restaurants and the Royal Chateau. I'd also strongly recommend walking through the town to Clos Lucé, the villa where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life, well restored building with beautiful gardens full of recreations of many of his inventions.

Thanks, I was considering were we would go as well as Saumur/Chinon and looks like Amboise would be a good choice

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[lindylou]

Ambois wont allow twin axle motorhomes. We managed to get on because they hadn't noticed when we checked in. Tried to stay a few more days but they wouldn't let us.

 

[peterc10]

Thanks, I was considering were we would go as well as Saumur/Chinon and looks like Amboise would be a good choice

Amboise also has a good Aire . Next to the campsite on the Island. From memory it was about 12 Euros per night including water, dump and electrics.

Edit: the Aire will take twin axle motorhomes AFAIK

The Royal Chateau is a must.

 

[Peter and Sue]

Yes the Aire is right next to the site however when we went in June the price difference was really not significant and far more space on the Site pitch.

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[Steve N Tracy]

We have stayed here a number of times http://www.campinglesnobis.com/ good cycling links to Saumur.

 

[AndyJJDavies]

We have stayed here a number of times http://www.campinglesnobis.com/ good cycling links to Saumur.

That looks nice

 

[AndyJJDavies]

Ambois wont allow twin axle motorhomes. We managed to get on because they hadn't noticed when we checked in. Tried to stay a few more days but they wouldn't let us.

We're ok, we've 4 rear wheels but on single axle.

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[AndyJJDavies]

Yes the Aire is right next to the site however when we went in June the price difference was really not significant and far more space on the Site pitch.

We've found this to be the case at a number of aire/campsite combos which is why we tend to go for the campsites.

 

[lindylou]

We liked Amboise. It won't be able to go again as we are too long to fit on the aire there too.

 

[Jim lea]

Just got back from visiting the usual suspects mentioned above, mixture of sites and aires. Of all the one's mentioned, we'd go with Amboise (the cycle track goes pretty much through the site in both directions). One more we'd add to the mix is Azay le rideau, (our favourite of the lot) lovely position alongside the river, you may be able to interest the wife staying on the Aire there, as it's very similar to the site.
Hope this helps

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[AndyJJDavies]

Just got back from visiting the usual suspects mentioned above, mixture of sites and aires. Of all the one's mentioned, we'd go with Amboise (the cycle track goes pretty much through the site in both directions). One more we'd add to the mix is Azay le rideau, (our favourite of the lot) lovely position alongside the river, you may be able to interest the wife staying on the Aire there, as it's very similar to the site.
Hope this helps

Thanks Jim, looks like Amboise is a definite then. Is the one in Azay le rideau the Camping Le Sabot site?

 

[Jim lea]

Yes

 

[Lenny HB]

We liked Amboise. It won't be able to go again as we are too long to fit on the aire there too.

Aire in the new car park for Leonardo da Vinci house, looked like it had only just been built when we stayed there 2 years ago. No facilities but only €1 for 24 hr.

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[lindylou]

Sounds good Lenny.