winning tip: Camping with cascades, Occitania
If you want to fall asleep to the hypnotic rhythms of waterfalls, Campsite Les Cascades is for you. At the foot of the Cascades du Sautadet, an hour’s drive north of Avignon and not far from Orange, this four-star site is nestled in a lush, green area of unspoiled nature. You can also splash around with the children in the swimming pool or in the paddling pools, spend a nice day on the beach of the river Cèze or stroll to the nearby villages. There are cottages, glamping tents and tented lodge safaris to choose from. There’s also plenty of sport to do, including football, table tennis and canoeing – the locals even bought us a glass of wine for our hopeless attempts to try the classic French game of pétanque one night!
Pitches from €23, campinglescascades.com
Gayle
Perfect French Village, Occitania
The four-star Le Camp de Florence campsite in Gers is located near the village of La Romieu, considered one of the most beautiful in France. Among the most famous buildings is the impressive Collégiale St Pierre, a 14th-century church with a cloister and a tower. The campsite’s restaurant serves excellent food and wine inspired by the Gascony landscape and there is a superb tropical-themed swimming area for families. The staff is so accommodating and goes the extra mile. Highly recommended – I’ll be back!
Debbie Murray
Visions of Gauguin, Brittany
For a relaxed camping experience, stay with Campsite du Quinquis in the coastal town of Le Pouldu in southern Brittany. While there, visit the stunningly beautiful village of Pont-Aven nearby. The village is famous for its picturesque landscape, which has attracted numerous artists, most notably Paul Gauguin. Stroll along pretty river banks and visit the many small galleries while soaking up the bohemian vibe. Camping du Quinquis offers you the perfect base to explore the Breton countryside, coast and culture.
Alexa Hickey
Stargazing on the beach, Brittany
It’s rare for a family to stay in a three-star hotel just once Camping de la Plage, near La Trinité-sur-Mer in southern Brittany. Its appeal lies not only in its direct access to the beach, but also in the communities that gather on the premises every year. In the evenings, children whiz on bicycles through the secured avenues while adults meet over a glass of wine; munchies in plastic bowls Merguez sizzling on grills. Teenage friendships I’ve made here have spanned over two decades and I can’t wait to introduce my own son to sand castles, swimming and star gazing in this French home.
Jemma Saunders
Lush terrain, Vendée
Fancy camping in a French chateau? Then five stars La Garangeoire, in the grounds of a beautiful old castle, is for you. It is hidden in forests and meadows, just a few minutes by car from Vendée beaches such as the Grand Plage in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. This spacious campsite is surrounded by lush green countryside, with four fishing lakes and opportunities for cycling, canoeing and horseback riding. Pitches are very spacious, all are on grass with hedges to provide privacy. There is a swimming pool and a welcoming little restaurant serving local dishes such as squid salad at fair prices.
jasmine
Take me to the river, Dordogne
Swim in the pool early in the morning Camping Le Capeyrou while the spectacular cliff-top Château de Beynac looms above the morning mist, then stroll along the riverbank to the village pretending to be Juliette Binoche in Chocolat. Go to either Beynac Castle or Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. Have a picnic on the Dordogne River beach and swim, watch tourists in kayaks and Gabare (traditional flat-bottomed fishing boats). We used to drive a