Suggestions for the east of france

[D.ten]

This will be our 6th year in France this summer and we are considering the east. We have a month to roam and are pretty flexible but have a few basic requirements:
1. Needs to be warm (we live in the Scottish Highlands)
2. Good cycle routes for the family
3. Good swimming options for the kids.

We have only traveled through the east on our way back from the Alps so we don't really know the area. Any suggestions gratefully received.

 

[EX51SSS]

This will be our 6th year in France this summer and we are considering the east. We have a month to roam and are pretty flexible but have a few basic requirements:
1. Needs to be warm (we live in the Scottish Highlands)
2. Good cycle routes for the family
3. Good swimming options for the kids.

We have only traveled through the east on our way back from the Alps so we don't really know the area. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Hmmmmm? Well anywhere south of the border is usually warmer isn't it?
Anyway, yes we've been going to Eastern France for a few years now.
We travel through various towns and villages towards the Champagne region. Lack during Der is a nice are (Giffaumont Champaubert) , Pont a Mousson (the Aire, if you want an Aire is sited on the banks of the Moselle which is between Metz and Nancy. We've found that Eastern France is a beautiful area and we also have relatively easy access to Germany (Lake Titesee) and Luxembourg. Administration by the Captainiere and has toilets and shower block. (close to McDonald's for wifi access although I think there's wifi on site but possibly not yet).
Everyone will have differing opinions but after spending quite some years doing Brittany/Normandy and the coast also the Loire (which we really like) and the Enchanted forest etc, we had a trip to visit Paris and enjoyed it as the Aire was at the exhibition centre at Le Bourget airport. However, we went the following year and Aire wasn't open so we hightailed out of Paris and ended up going East and now we go Eastern France as we find it so much nicer but beauty in the eye etc
Have a lovely time wherever you go.

 

[D.ten]

Thanks very much, I'll get google'in today...

 

[icantremember]

The Alsace area has some great vilages and towns

 

[D.ten]

Thanks

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[StitchesnFluff]

Keyserberg is a gem as is Metz

 

[Shropshire lad]

Have a look at Lac d'Orient close to Troyes. Great area for cycling and superb beaches around the lakes.

 

[hilldweller]

East of France, that would be The Rhein. Definitely worth a visit. You don't get better cycling, cycle for miles on the banks then get a boat back. Swimming in it, not a good idea.

 

[moulin 87]

Jura mountains, a very pleasant area to explore...Follow the Doubs....Easy to pop into west Switzerland which is also worth a visit...

 

[D.ten]

thanks all, we love Troyes so will check out the Lac d'Orient and the rest.

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[magicsurfbus]

The Amneville leisure complex just north of Metz includes indoor ski-ing and other such novelties that might amuse the offspring. Free overnight MH parking too.

At Strasbourg there's Camping Indigo with good public transport links to the centre though it's very much a historic city trip rather than a leisure spot.

The lakes east of Troyes would be good for cycling. Free overnight parking near Mesnil-Saint-Pere but no services.

Dijon is a very stylish city with easy bike access from the Municipale camping. Lac Kir and Dijon 'Plage' (a beach for dipping in the Lac) are close by, again with cycle tracks.

If you wander a little bit west of Lyons in the direction of Clermont-Ferrand you've got the volcano range that includes Puy du Dome, which has an aire. You can cycle up that if you're barking mad, but the electric train is easier. Nearby is Vulcania, a volcano themed visitor attraction with its own aire. Le Puy en Velay has a rather unusual pilgrim chapel on top of a volcanic plug which is worth half a day of your time. The devout ascend the steps on their knees.

Vallons Pont d'Arc is a good starting point for exploring the Ardeche, including the Gorge and the Pont d'Arc - there's an aire in town and campsites everywhere, plus a river to swim in. Cycling's maybe not that good though due to the narrow winding roads along the gorge. Good bus services though. Also down there is the Caverne Pont d'Arc which is a huge reconstruction of the nearby cave where 34,000 year old paintings were discovered. If you've any regard for history don't miss that.

Below that, in the deep south there's Avignon, Arles, Nimes, Uzes, Pont du Gard, the Camargue salt marshes (hot as Hell in summer), Saintes-Mairies de la Mer, and Aigues Mortes, all with their own unique appeal.

 

[clanjones]

Sisteron in Provence has a lovely municipal camp site with a pool, good cycling as well and is a great jumping off point for other town either north or south.

 

[hilldweller]

Sisteron in Provence has a lovely municipal camp site with a pool, good cycling as well and is a great jumping off point for other town either north or south.

Now you mention it we've found a few municipal sites that are town swimming pool first and campsite second.

 

[maison]

Visit Burgundy. The wine villages Nuits St George, Mercurey, etc are pleasant.

The vineyards from Beaune southwards are populated with pretty villages and, Beaune itself is well worth a visit. Google the Hotel Dieu, an old preserved hospital building with fantastic tiled roof.

Further south in Burgundy, there is also the Voie Verte, an old railway line converted to smooth tarmac for cycles, horses and skaters. No motor vehicles allowed. Part of the Pilgim's Route to Santiago de Compestella. Cycle tracks also follow the Canals.

The town of Cluny is also very pretty with a Saturday market and is a centre for all things equestrian. Regular horse shows where the horses have their own set of traffic lights to cross the road after performing to reach their open air showers.

 

[FIDGET]

thanks all, we love Troyes so will check out the Lac d'Orient and the rest.

Hi , nice free aire at Geraudot on the Lac D'Orient

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[DavidG58]

A long way down, but at some point in your travels get to the Gorges Du Verdon, north of Nice, south east of Lyon, possibly my favourite part of France

 

[FIDGET]

Nice free aire with services, at GPS 48.569115, 4.702625
on the side of the Lac du Der , cycle track around the lake ,also nature reserve.

 

[D.ten]

Brilliant, thanks very much, ive got some planning to do...

 

[Dizzy Izzy]

I am watching this thread with interest as we are thinking of heading East for our first trip.

 

[FIDGET]

Another aire you might like is CatillonsurSambre nice canalside aire 5 euro's from memory but just cross the road is a lorry park that's free.

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[rod_vw]

Another aire you might like is CatillonsurSambre nice canalside aire 5 euro's from memory but just cross the road is a lorry park that's free.

The lorry park now marked as exclusive for camping cars although I don't think it will stop some lorries! There is now a small landscaped area at the far end but no other facilities other than bins. This info is valid as of Aug 2016 when we visited.

Rod

 

[Minxy]

If you like a bit of adventure then I can recommend a canoe trip down the Ardeche, there are various companies who do them with varying lengths ... we did one from the Pont d'Ardeche to St Martin d'Ardeche, I think it was about 28km in total! The company we went with were at St Martin so we were taken from there to the Pont - we stayed at St Martin next to the river and it was a 30 second walk to the bus in the morning, it also meant there was no rush to get back to St Martin to catch a bus back.

Lac d'Orient is great too, there's a car park which you can stay in overnight next to the play area ar Mesnil st Pere (trangular one on right):

 

[D.ten]

That sounds spot on and the canoeing would be great with the kids, thanks.

 

[rod_vw]

There is a useful transit Aire at Chavannes-sur-l'Étang 47.63301, 7.01843 see Google maps link. This has services plus wi-fi and a rustic Boulangerie within easy walking distance. You may be charged €8 ish if the tourist office is manned. We've used this spot a number of times when travelling in or out of Germany / France.
If you are moving on south then a supermarket is available on the eastern outskirts of Belfort just before you join the motorway (Free southbound, toll northbound!).

Rod

 

[FIDGET]

That sounds spot on and the canoeing would be great with the kids, thanks.

Hi @D.ten ,
I canoed down the Ardeche from Vallon pont d'arc, I did the short (half day canoe journey) really great fun , but they didn't explain thoroughly where they would pick me up at the end of my trip (I don't speak french they didn't speak english),so had to wing it as there was no signs on the side of the gorge eventually found it.Good job they insisted on me wearing a lifejacket !!! they didn't explain that there was a couple of mild bits of white water ( a little bit bumpy) before you get to the Pont d'Arc, needless to say on the last one I took the wrong line thru & ended up in the drink . So a bit of care needed!!

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[D.ten]

Cheers for that, we have done a wee bit of canoeing so can handle mild whitewater, only mild though...

 

[2spritelyislanders]

I am watching this thread with interest as we are thinking of heading East for our first trip.

Watching too, we're off at the end of March for 2 months Our trip is going to start by visiting Dunkirk, then the Menin Gate. After that we're thinking of heading south following the French border so we can hop over it when we fancy. We've got 2 dogs (with passports) and reading info on various Fun threads think that will be pretty straight forward
Just bought Camper contact App, ordered Camperstop from Vicarious Books, have All the Aires 2016 and Mitchellin map plus lists of Aires compiled from Fun so have everything we need, or have we ............

 

[magicsurfbus]

Lac d'Orient is great too, there's a car park which you can stay in overnight next to the play area ar Mesnil st Pere (trangular one on right):

View attachment 144195

That's the one we used. No MH services but very handy for a short stay.