Looking for quiet/pretty gems (campsites, municipals) W France - **motorbike**

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Since 2005! 2000+ nights so far...
Hi

We've had many hundreds of nights in campervan in france, and have even cycled to the Med a couple of times, and amazing how often we stop somewhere for a coffee or whatever and then say "oh - been here before!"

But this year, we're giving van and legs a rest, and taking the motorbike, 2-up, with tent and camping gear and bumbling down the west ish coast and back up again a bit further inland. We're putting dots on a map of things we remember and things tipped to us, and will join the dots up nearer the time to get a basic route.

Will be campsites, some nice ones on the beach of course, but also looking for little gems, municipal ones in a pretty place, or quiet riverside ones with a bar nearby.... Also looking for any must see places even if they are just ride past.....

Roll on the sun :)

Thanks

france.jpg
 
We stayed on an aire in Arçais in between Damvix and Coulon. Nice grassy area in beautiful area - Marais Poitevin.
 
We loved it here in October 2017. We pulled in for lunch in aire opposite and then stayed for 5 days!

Small municipal campsite in Saint Léon sur Vézère, by the river, quiet and shaded.
45.0112, 1.0888 (lat, lng)
N 45° 0' 40" E 1° 5' 20" (lat lng)
Right by river
1563F5D9-96E0-4EEC-95CE-02B16D502FC6.jpeg

Cafe
899063E6-9B4A-493E-A2AC-A19A6687CB6C.jpeg

showers and toilets in Marie
local boules tournaments
16165C6F-9CA4-4CA3-9ED8-22464D1A0BFF.jpeg

cycling races - just local, pull out your chair and join in !
47AD24A8-3FE0-4CCD-A37F-FB7D835A92AD.jpeg

caves and canoeing
43B1DDE7-CF64-4219-8E14-2C655AD39D89.jpeg

2CV rally
587608FA-5740-4BB3-A3E0-950769BF34B9.jpeg
 
For my 70th birthday I had a 3,200 mile camping adventure for two months from Dieppe and wandering through France to Spain and Andorra and back on my 70 yr old 350cc Matchless.

Marigold at St Emilion.JPG




There was a delightful, clean facilities and peaceful municipal site at Putanges le Lac, beside the river Orne. It was a case of turn up, pitch and a lady from the Mairie called to collect the (very minimal) charge of (I think) 8 euros.
(After Putanges my route took me mostly further East than your intended area).

Approx 10 mls South of Falaise.
500m from the town square restos and shops.

1676925167134.png
 
Last edited:
We stayed on an aire in Arçais in between Damvix and Coulon. Nice grassy area in beautiful area - Marais Poitevin.
Aires generally aren't suitable for tent (as would need toilets, showers too etc). Is this different?

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We loved it here in October 2017. We pulled in for lunch in aire opposite and then stayed for 5 days!

Small municipal campsite in Saint Léon sur Vézère, by the river, quiet and shaded.
45.0112, 1.0888 (lat, lng)
N 45° 0' 40" E 1° 5' 20" (lat lng)
Right by river
View attachment 718638
Cafe
View attachment 718641
showers and toilets in Marie
local boules tournaments
View attachment 718639
cycling races - just local, pull out your chair and join in !
View attachment 718642
caves and canoeing
View attachment 718637
2CV rally
View attachment 718640
Just the sort of place, thanks - added to our map
 
Aires generally aren't suitable for tent (as would need toilets, showers too etc). Is this different?
There were certainly a couple of tents when we went. There’s a toilet block outside the barrier but didn’t go in so not sure if there’s a shower.

There are a few smaller sites in the Marais Poitevan as well as the large ones.

It’s certainly an area worth exploring …

6B496EBE-EA6A-4652-87EB-43B69C87586E.jpeg 525A80E5-E1AA-48B4-A952-BC74FE69F7F0.jpeg C770CFF2-5FDC-4BE6-A778-A65B036C5B89.jpeg
 
This is a nice little site in your area of interest:

Municipal site or aire available next door. Overlooking lake and walking distance anlong river into old Parthenay.
The site manager makes an amazing pizza!
 
There were certainly a couple of tents when we went. There’s a toilet block outside the barrier but didn’t go in so not sure if there’s a shower.

There are a few smaller sites in the Marais Poitevan as well as the large ones.

It’s certainly an area worth exploring …

View attachment 718676 View attachment 718677 View attachment 718678
Thanks, yes I think its an area we've been to/through, but always continued to coast - some nice pics - so deffo a slow bumble through even if is not located for overnight for us. Thank you :)

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Have a look at the municipal at La Roche Bernard. Right next to the River Vilaine. Not as nice as Annie’s stop, but lovely all the same.
 
This is a nice little site in your area of interest:

Municipal site or aire available next door. Overlooking lake and walking distance anlong river into old Parthenay.
The site manager makes an amazing pizza!
Thanks, noted!
 
Aires generally aren't suitable for tent (as would need toilets, showers too etc). Is this different?
Some of the camping car park aires are ex municipal campsites and some of them seem to offer tent camping in high season from the details but it may vary and you would need to look at their info individually.

We always like Bouchmaine , just down from Angers, the aire there has a camping spot next to it with access to toilets and showers, otherwise there is a nice campsite in Anger itself,
 
There is a lovely campsite on the Gironde peninsular, its acsi from memory, we stayed there a few years ago with friends who had a tent , sorry can’t remember the name but it was on the estuary will go and see, think it might have been Les gabarrey Pauillac ?
 
Dont know if its helpful or not, but somehow I have a google map of all the ACSI sites in Europe (at least thats what I think it is)
1676971550049.png

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Hi

We've had many hundreds of nights in campervan in france, and have even cycled to the Med a couple of times, and amazing how often we stop somewhere for a coffee or whatever and then say "oh - been here before!"

But this year, we're giving van and legs a rest, and taking the motorbike, 2-up, with tent and camping gear and bumbling down the west ish coast and back up again a bit further inland. We're putting dots on a map of things we remember and things tipped to us, and will join the dots up nearer the time to get a basic route.

Will be campsites, some nice ones on the beach of course, but also looking for little gems, municipal ones in a pretty place, or quiet riverside ones with a bar nearby.... Also looking for any must see places even if they are just ride past.....

Roll on the sun :)

Thanks

View attachment 718492
Why are you missing out all of Brittany with some of the most spectacular coastlines in France.
 
Dont know if its helpful or not, but somehow I have a google map of all the ACSI sites in Europe (at least thats what I think it is)
View attachment 718736
Thanks, I have databases of all ACSI sites and other sites, so we won't be stuck, but after more personal recommendations that are lost in the noise :)
 
Why are you missing out all of Brittany with some of the most spectacular coastlines in France.
Same reason we aren't going to Italy, or Spain, or Thailand, or Scotland :) We want to do roughly the area marked :) We have had 4-5 weeks cycle-camping around brittany a couple of years ago and have had a while in the campervan there too, but this time its not the area we want to cover.
 
Some of the camping car park aires are ex municipal campsites and some of them seem to offer tent camping in high season from the details but it may vary and you would need to look at their info individually.

We always like Bouchmaine , just down from Angers, the aire there has a camping spot next to it with access to toilets and showers, otherwise there is a nice campsite in Anger itself,
Nice spot, and yep seems to be a few spaces for tents - added to map, thanks

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We really liked the municipal campsite at La Fleche nr Angers. Lovel Sunday market and 5 minute walk to the town. Nice bistro nearby.
 
Dont know if its helpful or not, but somehow I have a google map of all the ACSI sites in Europe (at least thats what I think it is)
View attachment 718736
This is probably a bit far over for you but Moncontour in the vienne is very quiet. We spent a couple of nights there because wehav a house in the village and needed to get the electricity switched back on, it was municipal but was taken over , could be municipal again. Lots of room lots of trees good showers etc. short walk to a coop and a boulangery. Nice bar in village and a very good but a bit expensive bistro on the site. It was 25e a night last year.
 
This is probably a bit far over for you but Moncontour in the vienne is very quiet. We spent a couple of nights there because wehav a house in the village and needed to get the electricity switched back on, it was municipal but was taken over , could be municipal again. Lots of room lots of trees good showers etc. short walk to a coop and a boulangery. Nice bar in village and a very good but a bit expensive bistro on the site. It was 25e a night last year.
Looks very pretty, but yep, too far over :( Thanks though
 
activecampers - what motorcycle will you be touring on?

Little Suzuki v-strom 650xt. Bought it last year @ 1yo. Not ridden for 15y or so, so need to practice a bit :)
Would prefer to cycle camp, but wifey can't cycle at the moment, so bought this as a sort of gap-filler. She loves getting on the back, so we've got all new gear, excellent headsets so we can talk as we ride etc.
(Need to mix up camperanning, backpacking and other bits to stop trips becoming samey!)

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Baie D’Unis at La Tranche sur Mer. Great site and lovely people. Reme will look after you, 5 mins max into town. 👍
 
The town of Saintes is worth exploring if you are interested in Roman ruins. There is an impressive amphitheatre as well as other monuments. Camping au fil de l'eau is well placed with a level walk along the riverside into town.
 
The town of Saintes is worth exploring if you are interested in Roman ruins. There is an impressive amphitheatre as well as other monuments. Camping au fil de l'eau is well placed with a level walk along the riverside into town.
Looks great, thought we'd been there but dont recognise the pics. Added, thanks
 
Just remembered Brouage . Well worth a stopping off for an hour or two if your route takes you within striking distance. It's an old citadel enclosing an interesting village. The place has a lot of history and there's a good walk on the ramparts with views across the marshes. There isn't a campsite right there although motorhomes can just stopover in the carpark outside the main entrance gate, Porte Royale I think it's called. Plenty of campsites heading south along the coast and the bridge to Ile d'Oleron (also well recommended) is not too far off.
 
If Confolens fits in your area, Les Ribieres site there is cheap, near the town and very well cared for.

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