Our campsites in Avignon and Provence.

During the Middle Ages, and particularly through the 13th century, Popes used to stay outside Rome for varying lengths of time. None of the cities of residence, however, became a new capital of Christendom in place of Rome. At the dawn of the 14th century, Rome was a troubled city, torn by the struggles of rival clans. Since the schism between the Eastern and Western churches, the great Italian city was also out of step with the Catholic world, of which France and England were the main powers. When Pope Clement V moved to Avignon in 1309, he had no plans to make it a new religious capital. But Avignon had some attractive assets. In opposition to its Italian rival, the city enjoyed the profound peace that reigned in Provence and it offered the advantage of bringing the Pope closer to the kingdoms of France and England. He therefore settled there permanently and was followed by his six successors until 1376 (John XXII, Benedict XII, Clement VI, Innocent VI, Urban V and Gregory XI). After the death of Gregory XI, the Catholic Church went through a troubled period. Supported by England, Italy and the German emperor, a pope regained his seat in Rome, while France and Spain kept Clement VII in Avignon. His successor, Benedict XIII, gradually lost all his support and fled from Avignon in 1403. Rome then regained its status as the capital of Christendom. For almost a century, the Pope lived in Avignon with his court. The city experienced a demographic explosion and grew from 6,000 to 40,000 inhabitants, becoming one of the largest cities in Europe. From this period, it inherited an exceptional architectural heritage. Throughout the 14th century, the city was transformed and adorned with Gothic monuments. The emblem of this is the Palais des Papes, which you must visit during your camping holiday in Avignon.

Visit the Pope’s Palace during your camping holiday in Avignon

The Palais des Papes is the main legacy of the pontiffs in Avignon. It is essentially the work of two popes, Benedict XII and Clement VI. They built this monumental palace in less than 20 years. With its 15,000 m² of floor space, it is the largest Gothic palace in the world. In volume, this palace represents 4 gothic cathedrals! In total, your visit will take you through 25 rooms of the palace, from the great ceremonial halls to the pope’s private flats. Don’t miss the terraces from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Rhône and the pink tiles of the old town of Avignon. To decorate what was to be the masterpiece of its time, the popes brought in some of the greatest artists of the time, such as the Italian painter Mattéo Giovannetti. In addition to its refined architecture, the palace offers priceless frescoes. In addition to your visit, you can discover the palace with a digital tour in augmented reality on a tablet, the Histopad. To better understand the Palais des Papes and the history of Avignon, extend your visit with the Petit Palais museum, one of the most beautiful European museums of medieval art.

During the Avignon Theatre Festival held every year in July, the courtyard of the Palais des Papes hosts prestigious theatrical creations.

Along with the bridge of Saint Bénezet, the Petit Palais, the cathedral and the ramparts of Avignon, the Palais des Papes is a unique architectural ensemble that has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dominating the city, the Basilica of Notre-Dame des Doms, which adjoins the Palais des Papes, completes the picture. It can be seen from afar, topped by its golden virgin. Considered one of the masterpieces of Provençal Romanesque art, it is an unmissable visit during your camping holiday in Provence.

The price of the visit to the Palais des Papes is 12€ (Ticket Palais + Bridge: 14.50€).

discover the famous Pont d’Avignon from your campsite in Provence

The Saint Bénezet bridge is one of the other emblematic sites that have contributed to Avignon’s reputation. Started in the 12th century, its construction was spread over several centuries. It spanned the Rhône and had 22 arches for 920 metres. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during a flood in the 15th century. Only the part of the bridge that is visible today remains, consisting of 4 arches.

The medieval charm of Avignon

If the city of the Popes has prestigious monuments classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, it is also worth visiting for its old town. Sheltered by 4.3 km long ramparts, the historic heart of Avignon has retained its medieval charm with its narrow cobbled streets with eloquent names such as the rue des teinturiers. The old town of Avignon is dotted with pretty little shady squares where the art of living in the Provençal style is expressed better than anywhere else. Of all the squares, Place Pie is the liveliest with its bars and restaurants whose terraces stretch out under the plane trees. Avignon’s religious heritage did not end with the departure of the Popes. The history of the city is written in the stone of its churches. As you stroll along, you will discover Gothic or Baroque chapels at the corner of an alley. So many hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, such as the Chapel of the Black Penitents or the Chapel of the Grey Penitents. Well hidden on a small cobbled square, Saint Peter’s Basilica is often revealed by chance to the visitor who feels lucky to discover it while contemplating the lacy stonework of its façade.

Camping in Provence during the Avignon Festival

Every year in July, Avignon celebrates theatre and the performing arts during its prestigious festival. Created in 1947 by the director Jean Vilar, this festival takes place in the courtyard of the Popes’ Palace, in the cloisters and in the schoolyards. Actors, musicians and dancers put on a show to the delight of the tens of thousands of spectators who flock to Avignon for the occasion. Every year, Avignon welcomes about forty for the official festival and many more for the OFF festival. Avignon is then agitated by an incredible artistic abundance. But, let’s face it, this is not the best time of year to visit Avignon. If you don’t like the crowds, you’d better choose another time.

Our campsites in Avignon

A selection of campsites for caravans, tents and motorhomes around Avignon.

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Charming towns and villages to visit during your camping holiday in the Périgord

What stands out the most when listing the towns and villages of the Périgord is the incredible richness of this territory. With no less than 10 villages classified as the Most Beautiful Villages in France, the department has a unique heritage. The highlight is the Dordogne valley. Within a few kilometres, no less than 4 listed villages await you, nestling in the meanders of the river, so close that they sometimes seem to be watching each other: Domme, perched on the heights, offers an unrestricted view of the Dordogne, La Roque-Gageac, which stretches along the river, or Castelnaud and Beynac, dominated by their castles. So many jewels that make the Dordogne a splendid necklace. And if these four villages were not enough to make you happy, they are only a few minutes away from Sarlat. With 66 listed monuments in an area of 11 hectares, Sarlat is in the record books. Roofs of lauze, cobbled streets and blonde stone buildings make up the decor of this perfectly preserved Renaissance town. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover it during your camping holiday in the Dordogne.

However, the Périgord is not limited to the banks of the Dordogne. With its 44 listed monuments, Périgueux seems to want to compete with Sarlat. Although the city boasts a Roman history with its Vesunna museum, it is the cathedral of Saint-Front, with its white stone and Byzantine domes, that best symbolises the city. To the north of Périgueux, don’t miss Saint-Jean-de-Côle, which is one of the 10 listed villages in Périgord, and Brantôme, whose abbey, steeped in history, is the pride of the Périgord Vert.

The Dordogne, from one castle to another

In addition to the listed villages, the Périgord has a myriad of castles that bear witness to the region’s glorious history. From your campsite in the Dordogne, there is bound to be a castle to visit. Of all these, the castle of Puyghuilem is one of the most surprising. With its Renaissance architecture, this elegant building is more reminiscent of the castles of the Loire. The castle of Hautefort was once a stronghold before it became a residence with a French garden in the 19th century. Once the property of Josephine Baker, the château des Milandes is also famous for its formal garden, which is now used as the setting for a bird of prey show. On the edge of the Agenais region, the château de Biron has watched over the borders since the Middle Ages. When you visit it, you will no doubt recognise the setting for cloak and dagger films such as D’Artagnan’s Daughter. When one speaks of Monbazillac, one thinks above all of the wine. Whether you like wine or not, the Château de Monbazillac alone is worth a visit.

camping in nature

Of course, the Dordogne has a rich heritage to discover from the campsite where you spend your holidays. But the Dordogne also has beautiful green hillside landscapes where the Vézère, Dordogne and Dronne rivers meander. In the north of the department, the Parc Régional du Périgord Limousin is located. It is an area of plateaus and hills suitable for hiking and cycling. In all seasons, the region enchants the nature lover, whether in spring when the orchids bloom or the mushrooms in autumn. Among the treasures of this region where water is everywhere, go for a walk to the Saut du Chalard waterfall or to the Tourbière de Vendoire. This 65-hectare peat bog is an island of preserved nature. Educational trails invite you to discover these surprising landscapes.

the dordogne in prehistoric times

The heritage of the Périgord does not date back to the Middle Ages, but much earlier. Indeed, the Dordogne is one of the world’s leading centres for prehistory and cave art. The most famous site is of course the Lascaux cave. This cave, discovered in the 1940s, is one of the most beautiful decorated caves in the world. In order to preserve the original, a facsimile was built to welcome the public. In 2016, a new version opened its doors in Montignac with Lascaux IV, International Centre for Cave Art. During your camping holidays in the Dordogne, don’t miss the opportunity to discover this fantastic site using all the latest technologies to immerse yourself in prehistory. Several campsites in the Dordogne allow you to stay close to Montignac to facilitate access to the cave. Lascaux is not the only prehistoric site in the Périgord. The Vézère Valley has one of the largest concentrations of prehistoric sites in Europe. Fifteen of them have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among the must-see sites in the Vézère valley, the Roque-Saint-Christophe, a limestone wall with dwellings, and the National Museum of Prehistory at Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, which will give you a better understanding of this period.

canoe trip and balloon ride

Canoeing and hot-air ballooning are two of the great classics for discovering the green, hilly landscapes of the Dordogne. There are many rivers where you can go canoeing. The Dordogne, the Vézère and the Dronne are just some of them. Ask at the reception of the campsite where you are staying during your camping holiday in the Périgord for the best addresses for a canoe trip. As the sun descends over the Dordogne valley, it’s time for the hot air balloons to come out. It is a superb spectacle that colours the Perigordian sky every evening. If you have the opportunity, take a ride in one of these hot-air balloons. You will discover the Dordogne, its listed villages and its castles from another angle.

Gourmet Dordogne

More than any other region in France, the Dordogne is associated with gastronomy. Black Périgord truffles, foie gras, confits, ceps and walnuts are all delicious Périgord specialities. They can be tasted in restaurants, of course, but also on the traditional markets. They are of course washed down with Bergerac wines. The Bergerac vineyards, in the western Dordogne, produce delicious red wines such as Pécharmant, but also rosés and whites, as well as the famous sweet wine of Monbazillac.

To learn more about truffles, be sure to visit the Musée de la Truffe in Sorges.

The campsites in the Dordogne often have a restaurant where you can taste recipes based on the emblematic products of the Périgord. Take advantage of your holidays in the Dordogne to go and eat there. And if you are looking for something a little more gastronomic, the campsite managers will be able to show you their best gourmet addresses around the campsite.

Our campsites in Dordogne

A selection of campsites in the Dordogne for holidays in a tent, caravan or motorhome.

The post Camping in Dordogne, between Nature and Heritage appeared first on Emplacement de camping pour caravanes, tente et camping-car.

Campsites in Brittany between Rennes and Saint-Malo

Like the rest of Brittany, Ille-et-Vilaine has a sumptuous coastline consisting of the Emerald Coast which stretches from Cancale to Cap Fréhel. It owes its nickname to the colour of its waters with their emerald reflections. However, as beautiful as this coastline is, Ille-et-Vilaine is also distinguished by an incredible heritage, of which Saint-Malo is the jewel. This fortified city is a tightrope walker between land and sea. From the Grand Bé, the island opposite Saint-Malo, which is accessible on foot at low tide, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city. In addition to Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine is full of sites rich in history, such as the beautiful city of Rennes, the capital of Brittany, Fougère, a fortified town that houses nothing less than the largest medieval fortress in Europe, and the elegant seaside resort of Dinard with its Belle Epoque style. So many places to visit during your camping holiday in Brittany in Ille-et-Vilaine.

Camping in the Côtes d’Armor

The Côtes d’Armor is distinguished by some beautiful natural sites such as the Cap d’Erquy – Cap Fréhel. The latter is one of the most beautiful places in Brittany. At Cap Fréhel, the pink sandstone cliffs are 70 metres high. The GR34 links the Cap d’Erquy and the Cap Fréhel. A superb walk not to be missed during your camping holiday in Brittany in the Côtes d’Armor. Off the coast of the Côtes d’Armor, the island of Bréhat awaits you for a walk or bike ride. This island, which was the first natural site classified in France in 1907, is a small natural paradise where the agapanthus blooms. It can be reached by boat from Ploubazlanec. In the east of the Côtes d’Armor, the Pink Granite Coast offers the visitor rocks with pink hues and surprising shapes. A real open-air museum which can be discovered by walking along the customs path.

Campsites in Finistère, facing the ocean

At the tip of Brittany, Finistère faces the ocean. If one discovers cities with a Breton character such as Concarneau, Douarnenez or Quimper, the main asset of Finistère remains without any doubt its rocky and steep coasts which defy the waves of the Atlantic. The Pointe du Raz is without doubt the most emblematic site. More than anywhere else, Finistère deserves its name: the end of the land. Sculpted by the winds and the ocean, this gigantic 70-metre high rock juts out into the water like a gigantic stone ship. It is without doubt one of the most spectacular sites in Brittany. It alone justifies choosing Brittany and Finistère for your next camping holiday. But don’t forget the Crozon peninsula with its vast expanses of heathland or the bay of Morlaix with its many islands and islets.

Campsites in the Gulf of Morbihan

With Carnac and its alignments of menhirs, the charming port of Saint Goustan in Auray or the peninsula of Quiberon where the magnificent landscapes of the Côte Sauvage stretch out, the Morbihan is not lacking in interest, like the other departments of Brittany. However, it is the gulf that gives it its name that justifies a camping holiday in Morbihan. This inland sea of changing colours offers new landscapes at every moment of the day. A string of 42 islands has been scattered around. Some of them, such as Ile aux Moines and the wildest, Ile d’Arz, offer beautiful walks to holidaymakers.

A selection of campsites in Brittany

A selection of campsites in Brittany for your holiday in a caravan, tent or motorhome.

The post Camping in Brittany with your caravan, tent or motorhome appeared first on Emplacement de camping pour caravanes, tente et camping-car.