Hi, we are going to France this year, in our motorhome, we have 2 kids who love swimming, they also love to fish, can anyone recommend a good area for both, we dont necesarily need a campsite, as we dont mind rough camping, or staying on aires, many thanks,Tanya.
Lakes in France
- Thread starter Tanya_374247252
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Hi,
there is a nice large lake at Aprement in the Vendee, just inland from St Giles Croix de Vie (?) a delightful old fishing port. There are plenty of sites in the area ranging from farms to larger ones with all the bits and pieces
there is a nice large lake at Aprement in the Vendee, just inland from St Giles Croix de Vie (?) a delightful old fishing port. There are plenty of sites in the area ranging from farms to larger ones with all the bits and pieces
There are lakes in many areas France - and in some so many that you'll never be far from one wherever you are - and many of them have public beaches and even waterslides and that sort of thing. There's an area north east of Troyes - the Parc Naturel Regional de la Foret d'Orient - with large lakes then just a bit further north-east the Lac du Der Chantecoq, there's a lake (man-made I think) at Langres, lots of small lakes around the village of Echourgnac in the Dordogne region, the Lac d'Issarles in the Ardeche region, which is a volcanic lake and deep blue and very clear - but also extremely cold - too cold for me to enjoy swimming there. Then there are the Lakes of Pont de Salars, Pareloup, and Villefranche de Panat in the Aveyron, the lakes of Saint Peyre, Raviere and Laozas in the Haute Languedoc, the Lac de Salagou near Clermont L'Herault - and these are just the ones we've visited, that I can remember the names of. There are thousands more.
The Aveyron/Lozere area is fabulous for rivers - particularly the River Tarn, Jonte and Dourbie. The Tarn is a lovely river for swimming, (and for canoeing if your children are old enough) with lots of campsites alongside the river. We also love 'wild swimming' (in preference to swimming pools to be honest), but prefer rivers to lakes as the water is usually clearer. The Tarn Gorges area also has fabulous scenery, with deep gorges and spectacular cliffs, some lovely villages, and if you're interested in wildlife there are all sorts of birds of prey, including reintroduced vultures (with a viewing area set aside for you to watch them on the clifftops), and otters and beavers in the rivers which are lovely to watch in the evenings, especially from your pitch on one of the campsites!
You can probably tell the Tarn/Jonte/Dourbie area is my favourite - but it also remains remarkably unknown to too many British people, so unlike the Dordogne you don't feel that you're in little England sometimes. See these websites for more information: http://www.gorges-tarn.com/?lang=en, and http://www.ot-gorgesdutarn.com/
There are also lots of lovely lakes in the Auvergne region - but this is a very high altitude region, and does tend to get colder at night even in summer.
The Aveyron/Lozere area is fabulous for rivers - particularly the River Tarn, Jonte and Dourbie. The Tarn is a lovely river for swimming, (and for canoeing if your children are old enough) with lots of campsites alongside the river. We also love 'wild swimming' (in preference to swimming pools to be honest), but prefer rivers to lakes as the water is usually clearer. The Tarn Gorges area also has fabulous scenery, with deep gorges and spectacular cliffs, some lovely villages, and if you're interested in wildlife there are all sorts of birds of prey, including reintroduced vultures (with a viewing area set aside for you to watch them on the clifftops), and otters and beavers in the rivers which are lovely to watch in the evenings, especially from your pitch on one of the campsites!
You can probably tell the Tarn/Jonte/Dourbie area is my favourite - but it also remains remarkably unknown to too many British people, so unlike the Dordogne you don't feel that you're in little England sometimes. See these websites for more information: http://www.gorges-tarn.com/?lang=en, and http://www.ot-gorgesdutarn.com/
There are also lots of lovely lakes in the Auvergne region - but this is a very high altitude region, and does tend to get colder at night even in summer.
Other Clive took the words right out of my mouth, or the letters off my keyboard. Camping les Prairies at Apremont used to be my favourite French campsite but the owner sold out to a large chain and it is now far too noisy and commercialised. Just down the road at Mache you will find Camping Val de Vie (do a Google search for it and you will plenty of photos, including one of the lake).
The lake at Apremont has a roped off area for paddling but best fun is to hire a pedallo and dive into the lake from out in the middle. Only downside is the village gets a bit crowded nowadays. Nice restaurant, chateau and a water tower to visit.
20 minutes drive and you are on the coast. St Gilles is a beautiful place (if you can find a car parking space).
The lake at Apremont has a roped off area for paddling but best fun is to hire a pedallo and dive into the lake from out in the middle. Only downside is the village gets a bit crowded nowadays. Nice restaurant, chateau and a water tower to visit.
20 minutes drive and you are on the coast. St Gilles is a beautiful place (if you can find a car parking space).
There are lots of lakes in this region: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/Gordini100/LeCamping-Rosnay-Brenne.jpg and this one has a good old-fashioned campsite near to a super carp lake. Fabulous restaurant within 200 m.
Very close to Chateauroux!
Very close to Chateauroux!
Tanya,
The March edition of 'France' magazine has just dropped through the door and on the front cover it says . . CAMPING Sensational Lakeside Sites . . . which might be of interest.
Mike E
The March edition of 'France' magazine has just dropped through the door and on the front cover it says . . CAMPING Sensational Lakeside Sites . . . which might be of interest.
Mike E
Hi
As Val A says, there are graet lakes all over France.
However, two suggestions that are favourite with us.
One is an area in central France called the Morvan - wooded hills and lakes. For a great, friendly site on the lake-side try Camp Municipal Plat du Lac at Montigny en Morvan. It's a quiet medium-sized site with good facilities. Swimming in the lake is great and I assume the fishing is OK as there were plenty of pecheurs. For the site location, see page 451 of the Caravan Club Europe Guide Volume 1 (2008).
The second favourite is in the Aveyron, about 50 km north of Rodez between the upper Lot valley and the Aubrac plateau. It is Camping La Romiguiere listed under St Amans les Cots in the Michelin Camping France guide - page 453 in the 2008 edition. The site fronts on to a beautiful lake, with swimming, fishing and canoeing available. There is also a swimming pool on the site.
Paul
As Val A says, there are graet lakes all over France.
However, two suggestions that are favourite with us.
One is an area in central France called the Morvan - wooded hills and lakes. For a great, friendly site on the lake-side try Camp Municipal Plat du Lac at Montigny en Morvan. It's a quiet medium-sized site with good facilities. Swimming in the lake is great and I assume the fishing is OK as there were plenty of pecheurs. For the site location, see page 451 of the Caravan Club Europe Guide Volume 1 (2008).
The second favourite is in the Aveyron, about 50 km north of Rodez between the upper Lot valley and the Aubrac plateau. It is Camping La Romiguiere listed under St Amans les Cots in the Michelin Camping France guide - page 453 in the 2008 edition. The site fronts on to a beautiful lake, with swimming, fishing and canoeing available. There is also a swimming pool on the site.
Paul
hi, the area around the town of Treignac, which is in the Correze region of the Limousin has many lakes very close. The nearest is about 6ms outside town and there is also a free motorhome park at the bottom end of the lake where there are toilets and water available. the lake itself offers a beach (real sand) a bar, play area, restaurant and a very well policed safe area for swimming with several life guards on duty all day. fishing is very popular in the whole area.
treignac itself is one of the plus beaux villes de france and is very lively in summer.
it is about 500 miles drive from calais with two tolls if you use the A roads, last month it cost me 60 euros for a class 2 vehicle (one way).If you can 'hit' Paris at the right time (late Sunday night is my fave)then it is a not too bad 8 hour drive.
hope this helps,
dave.
treignac itself is one of the plus beaux villes de france and is very lively in summer.
it is about 500 miles drive from calais with two tolls if you use the A roads, last month it cost me 60 euros for a class 2 vehicle (one way).If you can 'hit' Paris at the right time (late Sunday night is my fave)then it is a not too bad 8 hour drive.
hope this helps,
dave.
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