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There are two routes for this race. The first, starting in Belley, is a 75km loop with a positive altitude difference of 1,716 metres that crosses the Col du Grand Colombier halfway along the route. The second, also starting from Belley, is a 110-kilometre loop with a positive vertical drop of 2,723 metres and an ascent of the Grand Colombier at the 75ᵉ kilometre mark. Both races start from Belley at 9am. Registration fees are €30 for the short course and €40 for the long course. In addition to participation in the race with individual timing, registration includes refreshments along the route and a meal at the finish.

Our camping pitches in the Ain

A selection of campsites with pitches for caravans, tents or motorhomes near Belley in the Ain to stay during the race.

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Located just a few hundred metres from the pointe de la Torche, camping la Torche is the perfect holiday destination for surf enthusiasts looking to challenge the Breton waves. What’s more, Mathilde, the owner of the campsite, will take you to discover the best surf spots in the region. La Torche, of course, but also other lesser-known spots. Thanks to her, you’ll know everything you need to know to make the most of the waves in Finistère. This outing is free, but is aimed at people who already have an intermediate level of surfing. Don’t hesitate to contact the campsite to find out about the conditions for taking part in these discoveries of Brittany’s surf spots.

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The Multivan is one of VW’s campervans. Unlike the California, however, it does not have a pop-up roof. So German van fitter SpaceCamper decided to give it one. This pop-up roof is surprisingly large. When open, it reaches a height of 2.6 metres and, more importantly, has a span that is almost as wide as the vehicle’s rear-view mirrors. This width allows it to accommodate a 200 cm x 140 cm transverse bed and 700 litres of storage space. Because this pop-up roof doesn’t have to be closed when you’re driving. According to the team behind this new pop-up roof concept (we haven’t had a chance to see it on the road yet), you can drive at speeds of up to 120 km/h with the roof up. However, we won’t have the chance to try it out for a few months yet, as this pop-up roof prototype is due to be distributed from 2026 onwards.

Between the pop-up roof and the roof tent

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At first glance, the design of this pop-up roof is surprisingly similar to that of a roof tent. At 2.6 m high, it’s not far off the height of a van, to which you add the height of the roof bars and a roof tent. Unlike the roof tent, however, the SpaceCamper Roof is accessed from inside the vehicle, via the VW Multivan’s 80 cm x 100 cm sunroof. This eliminates the need to climb up the outside ladder of a roof tent. A plus when it rains. An advantage over a roof tent. The other advantage is that the roof can be folded down. While it’s great to be able to drive around with the roof up, so you don’t have to stow the bed, the SpaceCamper Roof can be folded down. This reduces the height of the vehicle from 2.6 m to 2 m, giving you access to underground car parks or car parks where vehicles taller than 2 metres are not allowed. It’s also great for those who drive long distances and want to reduce fuel consumption. When the camping season is over, the SpaceCamper Roof, like the roof tent, can be dismantled and stored until the warm weather returns. Although we have only seen a prototype for the moment, we are impatient and curious to see this new concept arrive on campsites in France and elsewhere.

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Camping holidays in the land of prehistory

Ariège has 6 caves worth visiting. Not all have been inhabited by man, but the Grotte de Niaux, the Grotte du Mas d’Azil and the Grotte de la Vache bear witness to human occupation dating back 14,000 years, to the time of the Magdalenians, hunter-gatherers who were the last people of the Palaeolithic period. The Salon Noir room in the Niaux cave is the masterpiece of this period. Its walls are decorated with highly realistic black line drawings of animals. The cave was not inhabited, but was used as a sanctuary, so people came especially to the cave to paint the animals they had seen in nature. There are no fewer than 100 representations of animals in the cave, 80% of which can be seen in the Salon Noir. Unlike other great prehistoric caves such as Lascaux or the Chauvet cave, when you visit the Niaux cave you are not visiting a facsimile, but the original cave. Not far away, the Grotte de la Vache is the perfect complement to the Grotte de Niaux. This cave was occupied by humans when the Salon Noir was covered in cave paintings. We can therefore imagine that the men who decorated the Niaux cave, or at least their contemporaries, lived in the Vache cave.

The Mas d’Azil cave was once inhabited by man. Numerous prehistoric remains have been found there, including paintings and tools. An interpretation centre provides a better understanding of the period thanks to the excavations that have been carried out in the cave. The Mas d’Azil cave is one of a kind. A river runs through it, as does a road that you can take by car.

If your dive into the prehistoric caves of Ariège has left you wanting to find out more about our ancestors, then a short diversions to the Parc de la Préhistoire in Tarascon-sur-Ariège is in order. In addition to its 2,500 m² of museum space, this park is a fun visit for families, with workshops that will put you in the shoes of Cro-Magnon men (lighting fires, flint knapping, hunting, wall painting) or archaeologists (learning excavation techniques).

If you want to know everything there is to know about prehistory, be sure to visit these caves or the prehistory park during your camping holiday in Ariège.

A stroll in Cathar country

Around the turn of the millennium, many deviances of Christianity were born in Europe. Among these deviances, Catharism left a profound mark on Ariège. Born in France in the 12ᵉ century, this movement claimed to be Christian and New Testament, living in poverty and working with their hands, like the apostles. They also denounced a church that was too rich and linked to the powerful. After several decades of condemnation, Pope Innoncent III launched a crusade against the Cathar heretics. In just over 30 years, the Cathars were exterminated in south-west France. The symbol of the crusade against the Cathars is the castle of Montségur. Occupied by a Cathar community, this hilltop castle became the headquarters of the Cathar movement in 1232. After a siege lasting several months, it was the last Cathar stronghold to fall in 1244, and more than 200 Cathars were burned there. Today, you can visit the remains of the castle, still perched on its hilltop, and enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

As well as the castle of Montségur, there are other Cathar sites worth a visit on your camping holiday in Ariège, in particular the castle of Foix. Standing atop a rocky outcrop 60 metres above the town of Foix, this perfectly preserved medieval castle is very distinctive, with its ramparts and three towers. Although the castle was never associated with Catharism by the Church and its crusaders, the Counts of Foix maintained good relations with the movement. Today, the castle offers a real immersion in medieval Ariège. During your visit, you will discover rooms that appear to have remained unchanged since the 13ᵉ century, as well as siege weapons (trebuchet, catapult, etc.) outside the building. There are also workshops where you can try your hand at activities from the period, such as crossbow shooting, blacksmithing or stone cutting.

Medieval towns and villages near your campsite in Ariège

The castle is not the only attraction in Foix. Its old town is a plunge back into the Middle Ages, with its narrow streets, covered passageways, covered market, fountains and half-timbered houses. It is not the only testimony to this period. With its covered market halls and colourful half-timbered houses, Mirepoix is one of the other jewels in the Ariège crown. Every year in August, this small town comes alive during the international puppet festival, with its many shows and festivities. A different way to enjoy the town. If, however, you prefer a quieter time, avoid these few days, which attract thousands of people to Mirepoix. As well as its medieval towns, the Ariège is home to a number of villages with authentic charm, such as Saint-Lizier and its bishop’s palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Camon, the only village in the Ariège to have been named the most beautiful village in France. So many places not to be missed during your next stay in a caravan, tent or motorhome at one of the Ariège campsites.

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Campsites around Auray – Saint-Goustan

The rich history of Saint-Goustan

It was in the 13ᵉ century that the Dukes of Brittany decided to found a port and a castle at Saint-Goustan. Two districts were then created: the port and the fortress overlooking it, both linked by a bridge. The port was named Saint-Goustan in honour of the patron saint of sailors and fishermen. While the fortress has now disappeared, the port and bridge have survived and changed little since the 16ᵉ century with their cobbled streets and half-timbered houses. It was during this period that the port experienced its hours of prosperity. Wine and grain traffic made it Brittany’s third-largest port. One of the highlights of Saint-Goustan’s long history is the fact that Benjamin Franklin landed in Auray when he came to ask for France’s support in the American War of Independence. A quay now bears his name in memory of that moment. For lovers of antiques, this quay hosts a number of second-hand markets and craft fairs throughout the summer. Ask at the reception of the campsite where you are staying in Morbihan for the dates.

Saint-Goustan, a port with medieval charm but still very much alive

Although the fortress of Saint-Goustan no longer exists, the district has retained its dual identity. On the left bank of the River Auray, the Loch ramps, built over the ruins of the castle, lead to the upper town. From here, you’ll have an uninterrupted view of the port of Saint-Goustan. It’s the ideal place to take a great photo of your camping holiday in Morbihan. At the foot of the upper town, the four-arched stone bridge built in the 15ᵉ century will lead you to Place Saint-Sauveur. This curved cobbled square, lined with timber-framed houses, is the heart of life in Saint-Goustan. As soon as the fine weather returns, the terraces of bars and restaurants take over. It’s the ideal place to eat and enjoy the view of the harbour and its old sailing ships. But beware of the success of these restaurants. They often sell out in high season. We advise you to book in advance to be sure of getting a seat. Behind the square, steep cobbled streets criss-crossed with steps lead up to the heights of Saint-Goustan and the church of Saint-Gildas. Take your time wandering these narrow streets and admiring the medieval houses.

Touring pitches in Auray – Saint-Goustan

A selection of campsites with pitches for your holidays in a tent, caravan or motorhome in Auray in Morbihan.

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A caravan made in the UK

Campod is a manufacturer of mini-caravans based in the UK, not far from Gloucester. These caravans are compact (4.3 m long, 2 m wide and 2.34 m high) and light (750 kg to 800 kg depending on options). Designed in fibreglass with large windows that make them very bright, these round-shaped caravans are very attractive. Available in a range of colours, Campods caravans have added a new variation to their colour palette this year. At the Birmingham show, the brand presented a variation on its caravans inspired by British designer Laura Ashley. The floral decoration, in true Laura Ashley style, can be applied both inside and outside the caravan.

Sold for £29,950 in the UK, this 100% British caravan is unlikely to be seen in France. It is possible, however, that it will be on French campsites next summer.

Discover Campod caravans : www.campodcaravans.com.

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