Heading to Loire from Calais next week, can anyone recommend 2/3 good campsites along the Loire , our intention is to have 2 or 3 days in each area exploring on our bikes before heading to Spain. Would like to be on edge of village/town if possible, Also any campsite recommendations near Bordeaux and San Sebastián appreciated.
Loire Valley first timer
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I would definitely download Search for sites app and pay a little more to go offline. Invaluable to us in that area.
Phil
Phil
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Go to Amboise, you can visit the local Château over looking the river and is the resting place of Leonardo, his old residence is just also in town. Nice local Vineyards etc
Lenny HB
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Can't help with campsites but there are loads of nice Aires, download the Camper Contact app that has most of the Aires and sites and a few wild spots on it.
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There's a very nice aire at Dampierre-Sur-Loire, a large site that was previously a campsite.
No EHU, but does have water, waste and a toilet, last year it was 7 euros a night... park where you like.
A cycle path runs from the site alongside the Loire to Saumur.
No EHU, but does have water, waste and a toilet, last year it was 7 euros a night... park where you like.
A cycle path runs from the site alongside the Loire to Saumur.
- Jul 5, 2013
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The problem with the Loire is that there is so much to see. Lots of chateaux and beautiful towns. But don't expect steep valleys, because there is a very wide flood plain. Lots of cycling routes all around the valley. There are also plenty of Aires and campsites to stop at close to the river (or its tributaries) and towns. We use the paid for Campercontact app to find them. Here are some in no particular order
Azay-le-Rideau. A must see stunningly pretty small Chateau and lovely little town on the River Indre, which is a tributary of the Loire. There is a municipal camp site and an Aire adjacent to one another on the river and a couple of minutes walk into town.
Gien. Another nice town and Chateau on the Loire. An Aire close to town, but it is small and noisy. I would recommend using the campsite on the other side of the river overlooking the town and Chateau. 10 minutes walk into town.
Sully sur Loire. Nice Aire on the river. Interesting small Chateau and town 5 minutes walk away.
Amboise. Aire and Campsite next to one another on an Island in the middle of the Loire. The Royal Chateau is 10 minutes walk away and well worth a visit.
Nantes. Very lively University City near the mouth of the Loire. Great to walk around in the evening and so many good restaurants you will be spoilt for choice. But the highlight is to visit Les Machines de L'Ile on an Island in the middle of the river where there used to be a naval dockyard. They make fantastic moving machines, and the highlight is to take a ride on their huge mechanical elephant. There is an expensive campsite and a cheaper Aire a couple of miles outside of the Centre near the University campus. Catch the frequent trams at the stop outside of the campsite down to the centre of the City using the cheap tourist pass bought at the campsite reception.
Edit - one tip with the Chateaux. Always try to join a guided tour otherwise you will miss the context and rapidly get bored. Most places have them in English at various times during the day and often you do not need to pay extra for them.
Azay-le-Rideau. A must see stunningly pretty small Chateau and lovely little town on the River Indre, which is a tributary of the Loire. There is a municipal camp site and an Aire adjacent to one another on the river and a couple of minutes walk into town.
Gien. Another nice town and Chateau on the Loire. An Aire close to town, but it is small and noisy. I would recommend using the campsite on the other side of the river overlooking the town and Chateau. 10 minutes walk into town.
Sully sur Loire. Nice Aire on the river. Interesting small Chateau and town 5 minutes walk away.
Amboise. Aire and Campsite next to one another on an Island in the middle of the Loire. The Royal Chateau is 10 minutes walk away and well worth a visit.
Nantes. Very lively University City near the mouth of the Loire. Great to walk around in the evening and so many good restaurants you will be spoilt for choice. But the highlight is to visit Les Machines de L'Ile on an Island in the middle of the river where there used to be a naval dockyard. They make fantastic moving machines, and the highlight is to take a ride on their huge mechanical elephant. There is an expensive campsite and a cheaper Aire a couple of miles outside of the Centre near the University campus. Catch the frequent trams at the stop outside of the campsite down to the centre of the City using the cheap tourist pass bought at the campsite reception.
Edit - one tip with the Chateaux. Always try to join a guided tour otherwise you will miss the context and rapidly get bored. Most places have them in English at various times during the day and often you do not need to pay extra for them.
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There's a very good site near château Chemonceau. English run, can't remember name at the moment
- Jul 5, 2013
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Just noticed your request for places around Bordeaux and San Sebastien.
Blaye is a town on the Gironde estuary a few miles north of Bordeaux. There are a couple of Aires. The best one is in a vineyard called the Chateau Marquis de Vauban on the outskirts of the town. Free to stay and includes electricity water etc. They are not pushy about selling their wines, but if you do want to buy you will not be disappointed. If possible you should stay two nights because the Chateau restaurant does a very good 4 course lunch with a different one of their wines with each course. Cost about 23 Euros each but that includes all the wine you want so a real bargain And afterwards you get a guided tour of the vineyard, which we staggered around. Alternatively there is a municipal Aire on the banks of the Gironde in the middle of the town.
San Sebastien is another nice City. There is an Aire a couple of miles from the centre near the University campus. It is always crowded and busy so you need to get there early to find a space. We walk the couple of miles down to the beach and City Centre, but there are plenty of cycle paths for you to use. Find a nice looking bar and sit at the bar so that you can just point to the various Tapas on offer. Our Spanish is not very good, but most people here speak Spanish in a thick Basque accent.
Blaye is a town on the Gironde estuary a few miles north of Bordeaux. There are a couple of Aires. The best one is in a vineyard called the Chateau Marquis de Vauban on the outskirts of the town. Free to stay and includes electricity water etc. They are not pushy about selling their wines, but if you do want to buy you will not be disappointed. If possible you should stay two nights because the Chateau restaurant does a very good 4 course lunch with a different one of their wines with each course. Cost about 23 Euros each but that includes all the wine you want so a real bargain And afterwards you get a guided tour of the vineyard, which we staggered around. Alternatively there is a municipal Aire on the banks of the Gironde in the middle of the town.
San Sebastien is another nice City. There is an Aire a couple of miles from the centre near the University campus. It is always crowded and busy so you need to get there early to find a space. We walk the couple of miles down to the beach and City Centre, but there are plenty of cycle paths for you to use. Find a nice looking bar and sit at the bar so that you can just point to the various Tapas on offer. Our Spanish is not very good, but most people here speak Spanish in a thick Basque accent.
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Thankyou yes insurance etc all checked and ok
Thankyou so much, great info and advice, will definitely visit Château Marquis de Vaugban and the vineyard. quick question do all Aires have water to fill up and drop the grey waste?
The chateau at Blaye has a dump point which is away to the rear of the chateau. Watercand ehu at the front next to the vineyard. It's a 10 min walk to the citidal which is well worth a visit. The town of Blaye is not that interesting with a couple of small local shops,, but it does have a weekly market. Some supermarkets but quite a walk from the aire. There is a lidll on the outskirts towards Bordeaux. The chateau also does wine trips to Bordeaux and in the summer have a horse and carriage drive to the citidal and wine tasting.
There is also an aire in front of the citidal at the Riverside, which was around 3 to 4 euros per night, water but no dump. But is a flat gravelled area specific for mhomes.
- Jul 5, 2013
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If you get the Campercontact app it will tell you what facilities each Aire has got and what they cost. Also it will show photos and reviews left by people who have used the places. Many Aires, but not all, have water and grey and black waste dumps. Whether we would want to use some of the water taps is another matter! You will usually pay for water. It is more unusual to find one with EHU, and very rare for it all to be free as it is the Chateau Marquis de Vauban.
If you have your heart set on one particular Aire make sure that you arrive there early, especially this time of year when everywhere is busy. The best advice from an "old hand" that I had when I was starting up was to always make sure you have found somewhere to stop by 4pm. That also gives you time to relax and and have a wander around the area.
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If your all insured health wise - can I ask who by ?
MichaelT
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Chambord,- Aire at the Chateau Vilandry - Aire in village, Amboise - Aire in village, Angers - you can overnight in town but we just parked, Orleans -great aire just outside town cycle along river to visit, Saumur. Lots and lots of Chateau many mentioned above, just follow the river start at Gien and head west.
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