What’s your very favourite site/stopover in France?

[Tigertom]

Yes, on a warm, sunny day it’s pretty close to paradise.

There are just so many great places in France that we have several ‘favourites’.
La Mailleraye-sur-Seine in the north for when the weather is good in summer.
Sancoins in the centre. Lazy days beside the canal.
Lac du Pareloup as mentioned above.
In the far south, on the Med, Gruissan. Great for cycling, boat watching, catching the rays and meeting old friends.

Spoilt for choice.

Richard.

Anywhere in particular in the Gruissan area?

 

[tonyl]

French Med coast is generally windy in May and early June thats why they have the windsurfing competitions at Gruissan.

This was still April but we'd had gales and storms in the Valencia region for the previous week, so we weren't really surprised. We enjoyed it as a place to stop, with an excellent choice of restaurants in the 'port' area. I can recommend Le Stromboli for their food, drink and general welcome. Prices seemed high after being in Spain but portions were such that we took half of the main course pizzas away with us and they did another meal.

This thread was supposed to be about the absolute best aires but we also really enjoyed the following night's stop in Mende. Only a town car park by the River Lot but a really nice town, more prosperous than many, with an old area which is unspoilt and pleasant to wander around. Bread came from a shop which looked unchanged since the 40s or 50s and was a real challenge for teeth and gums! Intermarche close by if you don't feel up to the challenge. We had hail and rain in the evening, which obviously fell as snow nearby as we seemed to be above the snow line pretty quickly in the morning.

 

[Clarky]

Anywhere in particular in the Gruissan area?

The Aire des Quatres Vents (The four winds) at the marina, which is open all year.
There is also an Aire at the Plage which is only open in peak months.
We like the marina aire though as it is a little more sheltered from the wind and there can be some pretty rough storms, even though its the Med.
€9 per night inc. water and dump facilities and there are showers and toilets, although I have never ventured into them.
Video on how to find it here:-

 

[keithchesterfield2]

Anywhere overnight looking over a wide river or a sea view - and no Brits on site.

 

[Tigertom]

Thanks Clarky, I think we’ll take a look in a week or so. At the moment we’re making slow progress along the French side of the Pyrenees enjoying the great views and quiet roads.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[glenn2926]

no joke, gravelines, first stop and always the start of the holiday. usually the last as well to go into town and drown our sorrows at the end of the holiday.

We do the same. Definitely agree with you.

 

[Northernraider]

Calais

 

[EX51SSS]

I have to admit that probably my favorite Aire because I've been back umpteen times is Pont a Mousson.

 

[Reallyretired]

We have a lot of favourite places but advertising them to thousands on here doesn't seem to be a good idea if we want them to stay good places . Hate crowds.
Likewise we don't advertise our French vet who charged us just for the tablets, I think it's a special price for us though as we have known her for years. 12.60euro for two dogs.

 

[Hellski]

We have a lot of favourite places but advertising them to thousands on here doesn't seem to be a good idea if we want them to stay good places . Hate crowds.
Likewise we don't advertise our French vet who charged us just for the tablets, I think it's a special price for us though as we have known her for years. 12.60euro for two dogs.

By the tone of your words, you don’t appear to like us Funsters either

I can understand you not wanting to post your favourite places to the public, especially as posts can be read by non-members but if you have lots, it would have been nice to have offered to share a few to funsters via PM After all, you maybe surprised to find that your favourite place remains to be quiet, as one persons heaven may be a another’s hell

Thank you to the Funsters that have contributed to this thread, really useful to have a valued input

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Pierre Percee

 

[Khizzie]

Sainte-Suzanne for me.. Plus beau village.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Doussard

 

[deleted-member02]

Calais

You've got a point. Cite Europe is our most frequent stop, for convenience or usefulness it's hard to beat.

If looking for scenic stops, Plateau d'Assy probably rates as our favorite.
Campercontact 6866

 

[FIDGET]

Just been to my Belgium dealer and having a few days in France on me todd.
Just found this nice little Aire at Grenay, only 3 spaces free including services, EHU & WiFi.
Walking distance of a Aldi ( hard work carrying the beer & wine back). Frite van next door what more could you want.

View attachment 302842

Hi Lenny
Thats some posh frites van next door !!!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[rosalan]

Nersac for the night. Free lecky, water etc in nice village near Angouleme.
Not telling about our favourite stop.

 

[nicholsong]

We have a lot of favourite places but advertising them to thousands on here doesn't seem to be a good idea if we want them to stay good places . Hate crowds.
Likewise we don't advertise our French vet who charged us just for the tablets, I think it's a special price for us though as we have known her for years. 12.60euro for two dogs.

I somewhat agree with you about advertising, particularly those with limited space, but I am prepared to share those that have almost unlimited parking.

One example is Gavarnie in the Pyrenees. Bergues near Dunkirk for first/last nights for ferry is quite big, but is popular.

Sancoins, as mentioned twice above, has quite a lot of spaces, even on the services side of the canal, but if busy there is the other side.

Sancoins has the layout I prefer, where one is parallel to the canal or river so parked nose-to-tail with each having ones own space next to the water and not overlooked. We have other favourites like that but limited space so they will not be mentioned.

Geoff

 

[Marty Gilly and Pup]

I kind of get the theory that folk like to keep the best small aires ti themselves.
What I don’t get (with all respect) is why anyone posts that they know some lovely ones, but won’t share??? Why bother to post it?

Not attacking anyone and I’m very grateful for all the suggestions but it’s a little odd.

 

[fullfat]

I kind of get the theory that folk like to keep the best small aires ti themselves.
What I don’t get (with all respect) is why anyone posts that they know some lovely ones, but won’t share??? Why bother to post it?

Not attacking anyone and I’m very grateful for all the suggestions but it’s a little odd.

I can only assume they were the only child

 

[moulin 87]

If you think that's windy try wilding on top of Mont Ventoux (the windy mountain). Had to turn the van round to face into the wind a 2am.
Couldn't open a door on the windwood side, gas bottles covered in frost from wind chill and that was in summer, exciting night.

Definitely the windiest place we've stopped and cold!!! but the views during dusk were magnificent. We hid behind the only scrub oak we could find which wasn't as tall as the van...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DL42846]

Anywhere overnight looking over a wide river or a sea view - and no Brits on site.

What about the Germans?

 

[DL42846]

Aire Camping-car Park Langogne, Langogne. Site code 22499 on campercontact

 

[Grandchildren escapee]

Thank you for recommending Salles Curan. Have really loved a week here.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Laribal at Millau.

 

[hilldweller]

Chamonix.

There are unlimited sunny beach sites all over Europe, but not so many with the views and attractions you get in Chamonix.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[keithchesterfield2]

What about the Germans?

As long as they don't mention the War, I won't. ..


.

 

[WillH]

Châlons-en-Champagne, purely because of it's location on our route south or south east in France. Municipal site, close to autoroute, inexpensive, ticks all the boxes.

 

[anniej]

Just back from France had a lovely Aire at Neufchateau en Bray. 12e per night. EHU, toilets. 2e for shower. No time limit. Dieppe to Paris cycle path across the Rd.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Just back from France had a lovely Aire at Neufchateau en Bray. 12e per night. EHU, toilets. 2e for shower. No time limit. Dieppe to Paris cycle path across the Rd.

Is that the camp site Camping Sainte-Claire?

 

[keithchesterfield2]

Just back from France had a lovely Aire at Neufchateau en Bray. 12e per night. EHU, toilets. 2e for shower. No time limit. Dieppe to Paris cycle path across the Rd.

Five miles up the road at Mesnieres en Bray is a free Aire - for those wanting peace and quiet and have their own facilities - free water and waste disposal.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}