France

[SteveG]

new to Motorhoming but have Dover/Calais booked from mid May for a 3 week trip. Have been with a caravan some years ago but fancy a trip in Eastern France, maybe down to the Ardeche area and back up through Loire valley? Have just got All the Aires book.
Any tips on stops or routes out there?

 

[f6c]

France is very MH freindly just poodle along and stop whener your fanncy takes you Enjoy.

 

[tonka]

Follow your nose...
Chat with other motorhomers when you meet them, good way of getting useful info..
Dont make any rigid plans..
Have a great time..

Having a motorhome that can use the Aires will make it so much easier than with a caravan..

 

[FIDGET]

Hi Steve,
Which way are you planning to go. here's a few aires worth a visit
Catillon sur Sambre nice canalside aire takes 5 ,if full another parking area on opposite side of road
2 Avenue de la Groise
59360 Catillon-sur-Sambre, France
50.076308, 3.646158

Geraudot lakeside aire,
Parc naturel régional de la Forêt d'Orient
Piney, France
48.302353, 4.334731

Giffaumont-Champaubert nice lakeside aire
1 Rue du Port
51290 Giffaumont-Champaubert, France
48.553969, 4.765742
alternative nice parking area lakeside
Réserve Nationale de Chasse et de Faune Sauvage du Lac du Der-Chantecoq
France
48.568806, 4.702965

Ardeche we stayed at a municipal c/site camping Zamendof nice riverside c/site
40 Chemin de la Plage
07150 Salavas, France Ideal for hiring a canoe to go down the river
44.397528, 4.383145

Loire.
Briare aire
1-4 Rue des Vignes
45250 Briare, France
47.631894, 2.739210
or we prefer canalside parking
24 Quai Mazoyer
45250 Briare, France
47.634381, 2.740089

Sully sur Loire nice aire next to chateau.
Chemin de la Salle Verte
45600 Sully-sur-Loire, France
47.771109, 2.384196

Turquant aire
1 Rue des Martyrs
49730 Turquant, France
47.223393, 0.028895

Amboise aire or campsite
Allée de la Chapelle Saint-Jean
37400 Amboise, France
47.417554, 0.987393

Hope these help
Terry

 

[SteveG]

Thanks for the info Terry, loads to look at there. The biggest thing I'll have to get used to is the freedom. I'm used to having sites booked We're looking to head down the Eastern side down to the Champagne region or maybe further then coming back up through the Loire and the other side of Paris
Thanks again Steve

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[FIDGET]

Hi Steve anymore ideas just ask or start a conversation (top right on screen)
afraid I'm not much help on c/sites as we 95% use aires when we are over there
I'll look up some aires from loire back up via the Seine
Terry
check out map refs on google earth & little yellow man

 

[SteveG]

Plan to get into the Aires thing, how are they for hook up? We've been looking at the Aires book, it just dropped through the door last week. Think we're settled on what area now Thanks for the help
Steve

 

[FIDGET]

I haven't used electric on the aires, most don't have them , some charge for only a couple of hours , most times the french tend to hog them. we haven't used them as most days we travel for a couple hours which charges habitation battery up , also hab battery lasts about 3 days without charge. you'll find aires a bit tight on parking more like car parks some no problem . they don't adopt the 6 mtr rule

 

[magicsurfbus]

On the way down from Calais we stopped overnight at the Seurre aire, near the river Saone. Alternative stopovers en route to the Ardeche include the municipal campsite/aire at Dijon (lovely city), or beside the lake outside Mesnil-Saint-Pere.

Vallon Pont d'Arc has two aires - the better one is on the east side of town. Easy drive from there to the Pont d'Arc and the Ardeche Gorge road. They should have a brand new museum nearby in May which will be a replica of the Chauvet caves where some of the oldest prehistoric cave art was discovered.

We started a three week trip down there last April and worked our way west via the following places:

Le Puy - unusual church on top of a volcanic plug, small aire below but we chose to move on.
Puy de Dome - big peak among a range of dormant volcanoes, electric train up to the summit, impressive views from the top. We stopped overnight in the MH parking area, but not sure if it's officially allowed or not. Plenty of others did the same anyway.
Vulcania - unusual volcano-themed visitor attraction nearby. They were expanding the site and building an aire there last year so it should be ready by now.
Rocamadour - picturesque town clinging to the side of a gorge, free overnight MH parking above, near the coach park.
Lascaux II - replica of the cave where the famous prehistoric art was found. If you go you have to get your tickets in town first. There's an aire in Lascaux town but we chose to move on the Les Eyzies de Tayac which is a personal favourite. Nice aire there.

After that we headed for La Rochelle and the Ile de Re.

 

[Easyliving]

We had a trip down the eastern side of France in September last year. Loads of really nice aires to stay on like Stenay, Charleville Mezieres and Mareuil Sur Ay (in Champagne country).

We didn't have time to get further south than Metz and had intended to stay on the aire there. Not only was the aire full but it looked pretty scruffy to us so we stayed at the municipal campsite right next door which was great and within easy walking distance of the city.

We have stayed on quite a lot of aires and the best advice I can give is to a) get to your chosen aire before lunchtime for a better chance of getting a space and b) always have an alternative aire in mind just in case.

Aire at Arras, not especially pretty but handy for the historic (WW1) city. Easy run from Calais.

Mareuil Sur Ay, aire just a few metres from the canal.

Charleville Mezieres, pretty square in the town. Aire is 10 minutes walk from here.

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[Easyliving]

Here's another of our favourite aires, this one is at Bergues - not far from the Channel ports / tunnel. Loads of space for even the biggest van but no services at all. Charming town just a short stroll away.

Paul

 

[scousebird]

Montherme was a lovely aire

from there we moved to Charleville-Mezieres as mentioned above

then to Laon but didn't stay there

then to Bruyeres et Montberault which was brand new

 

[eroom]

Hi STeve Have you seen JaG details about the meet at Twin Lakes just South of Cognac from
1st May T0 20th May. It's about the time you'll be there. Hope I'm not being presumptuous.
Be lucky
Eroom

 

[maison]

On your way south don't ignore Southern Burgundy.

Not usually on the tourist route, (most just by-pass en route to Provence of the Med). Therefore not "touristy" but scenic and with many good wines.

Either way, enjoy your new found freedom. I'm sure you won't regret your decision.

 

[sedge]

Fantastic clock on the front of an old building in Seurre. Worth wandering along the high street to look at.

Stenay aire - both sides of the river, electric included, you get a code for the shower block on whichever side you are on. Person from the Capitainerie will give you a note of it when they come to collect the dosh but if you go on the side opposite think you have to pay in the office before you go over, to get the gate code.

Bergues, yes. The picture doesn't show the immense potholes in the approach 'track' - it isn't what I'd call a road! Plenty flat. To get to the town, you go about 50ys back down that track, and hang a right, through a door in the City Wall !

Yes you can overnight on the carpark at Puy de Dome, no prob and well worth the train ride up to the top, wasn't expensive either, to our pleasant surprise. It can get extremely cold and windy at the top though - keep an eye on the weather and take suitable clothing even if you don't need it at the bottom.

Two aires in Amboise, one at the back of the town (ie away from the chateau and river) and one on an island in the middle of the river! - it's halfway across the bridge, that island. Has a campsite on it too. Think the island aire has elec but can't exactly recall now. Pay at machine outside to get in.

Catillon sur Sambre - nice but the canalside one is a tad tight as I recall. Think there's a length limit. They were still building the overflow one when we went there a couple of years ago, looked like crushed up coal they were surfacing it with - not what I'd call attractive, but of course it wasn't finished. And some longer vans DID use it.

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[Hollyberry]

In Loire Atlantique I can recommend the Aire at Jard sur Mer.
Right above beach, easy walk to harbour and town. Broken Link Removed

Inland campsite. Very friendly staff, clean, nice pool. http://www.campinglhermitage.com

 

[SteveG]

Thanks for all the suggested folks, had a look at some can't wait!

 

[FIDGET]

Hi Steve,
Geraudot aire

Catillon sur Sambre aire

briare canalside aire

Sully sur Liore aire

Beaugency aire

 

[scousebird]

unfortunately the aire at Beaugency is now closed