La Camargue & Rocamadour

[Rioja]

Anybody got any good recommendations for both these locations please ?

Plus , are these the two areas you would visit if in this part of the world.

Thanks

 

[ValA.]

Wow, you're world apart here. Rocamadour is in the Dordogne, full of tourists, a bit like Lourdes. The Carmargue is about as far south as you can get before you drop off France and not full of tourists. Mostly it's empty, apart from the birds and wildlife. There's nothing similar. The only thing you can say about them is that they are both in France. Having said that, I wouldn't go back to Rocamadour, but we go back to the Carmargue regularly.

You'll get people who recommend Rocamadour, which is OK if you like following half the world up a hill full of tourist shops to a shrine at the top, or the bottom, depending on which way you're going. The Carmargue is wild, especially off the tourist routes, full of wildlife, wild rice, wild bulls, wild horses, and wind. St Maries de la Mer is Gypsy Town on Sea, but worth visiting, (and the Carmaguais bullfights where no bull gets killed are spectacular - and sometimes free at St Maries de lar Mer), the bird sanctuaries are amazing, you can drive out to the end of the world - and have the mediterranean on both sides, and you can eat seafood to die for. I know what I'd go for - but you'll no doubt get others who argue on the other side.

 

[Rioja]

Valerie, Thanks for your assessment. We seem on the same wavelength on several issues !We too dislike tourist hordes, love seafood and wildlife photography is my hobby !

We are going in September. We have 12 days to spend and had thought 6 days in each location.

We stayed near Cahors, albeit in an hotel, several years ago in July and it was very pleasant, especially canoeing on the Lot.I guess September will be a lot quieter.

Any recommendations for campsites would be appreciated.I am concerned by comments about 1)mosquitos 2)itinerants and thus security, as reported in the CC Caravan Europe Guide.

 

[cris_408518]

Rioja.

Try putting your chosen destinations into www.mappy.com and www.flickr.com.

Mappy aerial photo's of France are very good and Flicr and other like sites give you an idea of what is on offer in an area.

It might work for you to help in choosing where you want to stay.

 

[ValA.]

When on the Mediterranean we usually stay at Le Boucanet, near to Grau du Roi - just on the edge of the Carmargue. It's directly on to the beach, and clear (mostly) of mosqitoes. It has a lovely restaurant, shop, bar, pool, etc., but should be fairly quiet in September - and we may even be there - we usually have an early holiday (May, and then again in August/September). Flamingoes fly overhead at dawn, and in the evenings, and the sunsets from the rocks adjacent to the beach are spectacular. Grau du Roi is a small french fishing village, albeit with the usual tourist shops, but somehow manages to remain 'authentic'. There's a lovely route into the Carmargue by 'bac' (free car ferry) across the Petit Rhone - and St Maries de la Mer is worth visiting. There's no problem on a site like Boucanet, with itinerants, but there are a lot of 'travellers' in that area, so the smaller municipal sites may have issues. Stick to larger sites and you should be OK.

We've stayed in the lot, at Moulin de Perie - but the weather was unimpressive when we were there, so we moved on after just a few days. St Cirq Lapopie is worth a visit, as it the Grotte de Pech Merle (cave paintings). We visited another small town, Sauveterre la Rouerge, which is a Bastide (walled) town - and if you end up anywhere near, it's definitely worth a visit - the public loos, up an 11th century staircase are a talking point!

For wildlife you can't beat the Cevennes and Gorges du Tarn - vultures, beaver, butterflies, and birds of every other sort. Also canoeing..... oh I could go on and on......sorry!

 

[ThePlotter]

Please dont jump down my throat but being accurate I dont think Rocamadour is actually in the Dordogne,but what the hell nice place to visit once but not twice as yes it is very busy.

 

[Rioja]

Please dont jump down my throat but being accurate I dont think Rocamadour is actually in the Dordogne,but what the hell nice place to visit once but not twice as yes it is very busy.

Monsieur Le Plotter ...un herring rouge !! Haven't done any French in many years, time to start again.Rocamadour might not be "in" the Dordogne but according to my map it is very close to the actual river ! Appreciate the very busy comment, has made us think..as you can see !

 

[Rioja]

Valerie.. I have checked out the website for Le Boucanet and it appears rather large, what I imagine Pontins to be like, which isn't my cup of tea. Is it going to be quiet in the first week of September ? You have definitely whet our appetites for both La Carmargue and the Cevennes National Park. We have spotted a nice looking campsite that is perfect for our needs in the latter.

We are now thinking arrive Zeebruge, 2 nights Dijon as a rest over, 6 nights Carmargue, 6 nights Cevennes, 10 nights ( which is a package and can't be changed Limoges, then 5 nights to get back to Zeebruge. What do you reckon..is it viable mileage wise or am I attempting too much in too short a period ?

 

[ThePlotter]

Rioja bonjour mon ami,je parlais Francais mais un petit peus.See I cant do it either.You are of course correct Rocamadour is near to the River Dordogne but it is in fact in the Department of Lot.Still who cares,perhaps I was a bit unfair in that it is an amazing place set at three levels clinging to the side of a gorge,as luck will have it there is now a lift because its a long climb back up!It would be a shame not go if oin the area but try and find a quiet time as it can be a bit busy.Bon soir a vous.

 

[Rioja]

Tres bien Le Plotter je suis well impressed !

Among other reasons for changing our minds is that we stayed in Bouzies on a weeks activity holiday based in an hotel there. We visited St Cirq Lapopie,the Caves,Cahors, canoed the river Lot, did the bike riding thing etc so we have seen a bit of the Lot but missed out on Rocamadour.We had only thought of there as we hadn't a clue where to start planning our holiday. What do think of the new itinery ?

 

[ThePlotter]

Pardon monsieur Rioja but i have not done that bit we have done most parts but have been to a site on the west of the Dordogne that we really like so intend to return there, not too far from Bergerac and easy access to the vineyards and areas still to explore.

 

[ValA.]

Le Boucanet isn't at all like Pontins - or we don't think so (but then I've never stayed at Pontins!). I think most french campsite websites up the 'activities' bit - and you see loads of pictures of kids dressed up, shows, 'animations', games, and so on - in reality when we're there it's quite quiet, the main activity is the nightly game of boules, and the moules/frites in the restaurant. It does have a nice pool - which we like, which gets busy, but isn't noisy or full of games of water polo.

 

[ValA.]

Just had another look at the website - and there are two Boucanet sites - I must admit one (Domaine du Boucanet) does look Pontin-like. The other Le Boucanet, I don't think does - but others may differ. Hope you find somewhere suitable.

 

[DavidKlyne]

If its the Le Boucanet at Le Grau du Roi it certainly is not like Pontins. In September it will still be quite full but with mainly retired English/Dutch/Germans using Camping Cheques. We have stayed there twice and always liked it. There is also a lot to do and see in the area. You can see some pictures on my website www.caravantravels.co.uk

David

 

[EvansofSprot]

Wow, you're world apart here. Rocamadour is in the Dordogne, full of tourists, a bit like Lourdes. The Carmargue is about as far south as you can get before you drop off France and not full of tourists. Mostly it's empty, apart from the birds and wildlife. There's nothing similar. The only thing you can say about them is that they are both in France. Having said that, I wouldn't go back to Rocamadour, but we go back to the Carmargue regularly.

You'll get people who recommend Rocamadour, which is OK if you like following half the world up a hill full of tourist shops to a shrine at the top, or the bottom, depending on which way you're going. The Carmargue is wild, especially off the tourist routes, full of wildlife, wild rice, wild bulls, wild horses, and wind. St Maries de la Mer is Gypsy Town on Sea, but worth visiting, (and the Carmaguais bullfights where no bull gets killed are spectacular - and sometimes free at St Maries de lar Mer), the bird sanctuaries are amazing, you can drive out to the end of the world - and have the mediterranean on both sides, and you can eat seafood to die for. I know what I'd go for - but you'll no doubt get others who argue on the other side.

Totally agree with the above remarks.

 

[EvansofSprot]

Monsieur Le Plotter ...un herring rouge !! Haven't done any French in many years, time to start again.Rocamadour might not be "in" the Dordogne but according to my map it is very close to the actual river ! Appreciate the very busy comment, has made us think..as you can see !

Un hareng rouge would seem to be more accurate.