Caravanning in France?

[redcard]

Hey,

I've read a lot of conflicting reports on how accepted caravans are in France.

I'm looking for some practical advice on how easy it is to rest overnight in aires / supermarkets / general parking spaces, without being asked to move on.

I live in France, and I see many campers / caravans parking in these places, and I can't imagine there being many problems as long as you are respectful (arrive late, leave early, be discrete, use any onsite restaurant / cafe, avoid busy places etc). I rarely see police in my area, so can't imagine they're bothered about caravans parking in municipal car parks etc

I don't want to be an ass, and I'd happily pay the €20 for a camp site, but I just want to be aware of the options available to me.
.
Has anyone visited France in a caravan and been asked to move on? Any advice on absolute no-nos?

Thanks for any info.

 

[otherclive]

Never been asked to move on, but realistically your own in-country experience is probably the most relevant.

 

[redcard]

Agreed. I'm just about to purchase a caravan, so my in-country experience is exactly 0.

Out of interest, what sort of places have you parked up overnight?

 

[Lutz]

I'd never consider parking up overnight with a caravan anywhere else other than at a campsite, and that applies in France just as much as anywhere else.

 

[otherclive]

Agreed. I'm just about to purchase a caravan, so my in-country experience is exactly 0.

Out of interest, what sort of places have you parked up overnight?

A couple of autoroute main service Aires.

 

[GW5]

Parking in Aires can be dodgy with thefts, whether you're in the caravan/motorhome or not. The same can go for large motorway services. I always look for a local or commercial municipal site. For less than €20 there is some security.

 

[IanB1485]

Always stayed at a campsite , there are some municipal ones which are pretty basic on first look , with some people living in their caravans and going to work each day and adequate facilities and a constant movement of one-nighters moving on , but once you get used to them the initial concerns go away .

 

[otherclive]

We once stayed at Grandespette a top spec site just a way south of Dunkerque and they suffered break ins at night one summer. Next time we stayed we were pitched next to a static with its curtains closed all day and no signs of life. Then at night dark clad figures emerged…..ex Foreign Legion soldiers with dogs. No further break ins.

 

[Woodentop]

We once stayed at Grandespette a top spec site just a way south of Dunkerque and they suffered break ins at night one summer. Next time we stayed we were pitched next to a static with its curtains closed all day and no signs of life. Then at night dark clad figures emerged…..ex Foreign Legion soldiers with dogs. No further break ins.

As above we once stayed at the municipal in Chinon and there were a series of break-ins over one night. I heard a twang at about 3am but I put it down to our window-hanging drying rack in the awning. Turns out it was someone trying to get in but they went away. They did however manage to slip a side window open on an occupied Dutch MH next to us and steal their passports, cash, and cards. Three others plus the site deputy manager (French) also got hit.
The Fuzz came about 7am, took some pictures, asked us to go to the Police Station after 9am, took statements via a WPC who spoke good English, gave us copies and told us to get lost. The culprits it was thought were a new bunch of Romanies that had recently set up kerbside about a mile down the road.