Family vacations at La Grappe Fleurie campsite in Beaujolais

Okay, I have a confession to make. When my husband asked me to go camping with the kids this summer, I was… let’s just say… a little hesitant. Not that I have anything against camping, of course, but with Théo (5) and Inès (3), “quiet” vacations are sometimes a relative notion.

We thought a lot about what we really wanted: a quiet place, not too big, where we could take a breather without getting lost in a huge tourist complex. A campsite that would help us discover the region, because we didn’t know Beaujolais at all. And above all, a place with real services, because let’s be honest, at our age we’re no longer heroes.

We finally put down our suitcases (and our tent!) at La Grappe Fleurie campsite, in Fleurie, in the heart of the Beaujolais vineyards. And let me tell you: we were right on the money.

Right from the start, we knew

I still remember the moment we pulled up to the campsite entrance. We hadn’t even finished taking the bags out of the trunk when Inès and Théo had already spotted theplayground and were running off in their direction, shouting. I looked at my husband and we smiled. That kind of moment when you say to yourself: it’s okay, the vacations are really starting.

The campsite is really on a human scale – 89 places, 2 hectares – and that changes everything. You don’t feel swamped by an army of caravans. The pitches are spacious (between 90 and 105 m²!), well separated by hedges, and ours were semi-shaded: perfect for July. The reception team was adorable and available, without being in our way. The tone was set.

The pool: our headquarters

With two children under the age of 6, the question of water space is crucial. And La Grappe Fleurie has it all. The pool is covered and heated, and open all season long, which means we never hesitated even on days when the sky was a little overcast. There’s also a waterslide (Théo went down it dozens of times, literally) and a fun paddling pool for toddlers – Inès was forced to use it every evening.

We returned there almost every afternoon after our outings. It was our decompression ritual. For that reason alone, I recommend it.

Outings: Beaujolais like you’ve never seen it before

This is where camping really made the difference for us. We didn’t know the area and didn’t want to spend our vacation googling “what to do with children in Beaujolais”. The campsite offers organized or recommended tours, and frankly we just had to follow the program.

Camping evenings: we’re not out of the woods yet!

In the evening, frankly, we had no desire to leave the campsite. And that’s a good sign, isn’t it?

The campsite also offers free wine tastings twice a week (Tuesday and Friday evenings) – a real plus for adults. And there’s entertainment throughout your stay: quizzes, games, concerts, laser games… plenty to keep everyone busy.

Room service and spa: unexpected luxury

What really blew us away was the level of service. We didn’t necessarily expect this at a tent campground.

Room service (well, “tent service” 😄 ) – dishes cooked by a partner, delivered directly to the site – we took advantage of it several evenings. What freedom to be able to decide at 6pm that you don’t feel like cooking or going out. We also booked thewellness area: sauna, hammam, Jacuzzi overlooking the vineyards, and massage. We took it in turns to look after the children, but it was a real moment of relaxation that we thoroughly enjoyed.

The surrounding area: plenty to do

We didn’t see everything, but here’s what we noted (and we’ll be back for the rest!):

In a nutshell