Journey to France

[Moonraker 2]

In recent years, in May, I have explored north east France, venturing into Belgium and a bit of Germany. This year I want to travel south West, but not necessarily sticking to the coast.
Without going seriously off topic ( like my last post) could you just suggest one place you have enjoyed down that side of France, and perhaps the central region.
That's if I can get the fuel to go!!!

 

[Jo001]

Fontaine de Vaucluse - after rains, the water gushing out of the spring that is the source of the river Sorgue is seriously impressive.

Edited - I got my South West and South East mixed up. Ignore the above.

Brantôme is nice.

 

[GMJ]

@barryd has travelled very extensively in France so may be worth dropping him a line.

We are doing a tour of the perimeter of France in late Aug through to the end of Sept. One place we are staying is Cognac and have booked a brandy tour as Mrs G is partial to a drop. We are then going on to the Pyrenees, to places that Barry advised on.

Bordeaux is well worth a visit. We stay at the Yelloh Camping Du Lac* which has a bus stop outside to take you to the tram which goes directly into the city. Steve (@marchie on here) uses an alterative campsite so he may well advise on that. Alternatively you can cycle if you have bikes. It's about 7km on a cycle way right into the centre I believe. One tip if you go, jump on one of those tourist trains as they will take you around all the sights which we then used to inform/choose our visits to places.

*Good site; HS pitches; cracking restaurant.

 

[alcam]

@barryd has travelled very extensively in France so may be worth dropping him a line.

We are doing a tour of the perimeter of France in late Aug through to the end of Sept. One place we are staying is Cognac and have booked a brandy tour as Mrs G is partial to a drop. We are then going on to the Pyrenees, to places that Barry advised on.

Bordeaux is well worth a visit. We stay at the Yelloh Camping Du Lac* which has a bus stop outside to take you to the tram which goes directly into the city. Steve (@marchie on here) uses an alterative campsite so he may well advise on that. Alternatively you can cycle if you have bikes. It's about 7km on a cycle way right into the centre I believe. One tip if you go, jump on one of those tourist trains as they will take you around all the sights which we then used to inform/choose our visits to places.

*Good site; HS pitches; cracking restaurant.

St Emilion in Bordeaux region is worth a visit .
You can park virtually in the town

 

[Norfolk NewBoy]

We liked parking on the quayside at Fecamp (west of Calais but not exactly "West"). A free aire with views over a town which contains the Benedictine "factory". It was open foc when we visited (Heritage weekend) and is very interesting although the "modern art" gallery in the basement confirmed my belief that I'm a philistine.

 

[TJBi]

Depends what you like; I enjoy the Bassin d'Arcachon/Lège-Cap-Ferret area, with Atlantic beaches, pine forests, the sheltered Bassin...

 

[Jo001]

Depends what you like; I enjoy the Bassin d'Arcachon/Lège-Cap-Ferret area, with Atlantic beaches, pine forests, the sheltered Bassin...

And the Dune of Pilat is around there I think.

@Moonraker 2 You might be interested in Atlas Obscura (website or app) which shows interesting places around any selected area.

 

[Sidders]

If passing thru tours, thursday morning used to be the flower market where all the buyers for paris flower shops used to purchase there flowers , the whole of tours is closed down and pedestrianised for it, jan and i have done it several times it is early start 5am

 

[GMJ]

We liked parking on the quayside at Fecamp (west of Calais but not exactly "West"). A free aire with views over a town which contains the Benedictine "factory". It was open foc when we visited (Heritage weekend) and is very interesting although the "modern art" gallery in the basement confirmed my belief that I'm a philistine.

We are off there in late August.

I was brought up for my later childhood in Barry which is twinned with Fecamp, so I thought we'd pop in and have a look around.

 

[barryd]

I think it boils down to what you like. We are big into scenery, mountains and lakes so it has to be the Pyrenees top of the list.

The Pyrenees National Park | Lourdes Tourist Office

Discover the Pyrenees Created in 1967, the Pyrenees National Park is one of France’s 11 national parks. This place of extraordinary landscapes, where

en.lourdes-infotourisme.com

Head for Gavarnie and east or west of there you can't go wrong.

For somewhere a bit further north we have done a couple of off season visits to Lac de Vassiviere. Plenty of Aires and free camping spots all around the lake

Vassivière Lake | Tourisme Creuse Limousin

We look for it, we sense it, we catch a glimpse of it… And here it is, in a wild green setting ! Suddenly, in the Limousin moutain, in the thousand streams

www.tourisme-creuse.com

If its pretty towns and villages you like then there is the Dordogne from Bergerac to Sarlat. The Lot is worth exploring as well. Similar but not as busy.

 

[marchie]

I think it boils down to what you like. We are big into scenery, mountains and lakes so it has to be the Pyrenees top of the list.

The Pyrenees National Park | Lourdes Tourist Office

Discover the Pyrenees Created in 1967, the Pyrenees National Park is one of France’s 11 national parks. This place of extraordinary landscapes, where

en.lourdes-infotourisme.com

Head for Gavarnie and east or west of there you can't go wrong.

For somewhere a bit further north we have done a couple of off season visits to Lac de Vassiviere. Plenty of Aires and free camping spots all around the lake

Vassivière Lake | Tourisme Creuse Limousin

We look for it, we sense it, we catch a glimpse of it… And here it is, in a wild green setting ! Suddenly, in the Limousin moutain, in the thousand streams

www.tourisme-creuse.com

If its pretty towns and villages you like then there is the Dordogne from Bergerac to Sarlat. The Lot is worth exploring as well. Similar but not as busy.

Limousin has lots of lakes, Barry, and lots of dairy herds because it does rain a lot ... Makes Scotland look quite arid

Dordogneshire - at least there will be no language difficulties, other than refreshing the cockney rhyming slang ...

Steve

 

[Tonybvi]

We hate the Dordogne. Beautiful scenery, good climate, some great Aires but far too many British people there! We made the mistake of going into a French supermarket in the Dordogne but its shelves were stocked with every British favourite imaginable and the custom must have been over 80% Brits. Nothing against Brits (after all we are Brits) but when I go foreign nothing gives me greater pleasure than mixing with the local people. I admit it helps in France that we lived there for a few years and speak the lingo, although a bit rusty now.
Discovered the Vercors Plateau a few years back - I would recommend that as well as the area around Mount Ventoux, plus of course Brittany.

 

[barryd]

I have to admit on last years trip I got a bit bored after the Alps and Pyrenees. I used to love the Dordogne, Lot and that whole stretch of Southern France but it seemed a bit boring after all that. The bike playing up spoiled it most though really. If there is a fuel shortage or it looks a bit iffy this year I wont be that bothered if we end up staying in the UK.

 

[Moonraker 2]

Thanks for some ideas. The Pyrenees is OUT, my little van does not like hills, and nor do my knees. The Lot and the Dordogne may seem less interesting but I think should suit me. If anyone else has a town or landmark please do put it forward.

 

[Jo001]

Thanks for some ideas. The Pyrenees is OUT, my little van does not like hills, and nor do my knees. The Lot and the Dordogne may seem less interesting but I think should suit me. If anyone else has a town or landmark please do put it forward.

I have plotted the Plus Beaux Villages for Organic Maps or Maps.me - if you'd like the file, message me your address.

 

[mark61]

Certainly wouldn't call the Dordogne less interesting. Personally I prefer the Pyrenees, especially the Spanish side, purely because I love mountains and mountain roads, but outside of that the Dordogne etc are at least as interesting and in some respects more interesting.

Sweet spot here, bit north of Dordogne, lovely village, plenty of walks, it is hilly, but obviously not mountainous.
I know its a campsite, but pretty rustic, and pretty cheap, can't remember exactly but 1 in a van, no power was less than 10 euro.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RVkrKhgijwvgGF5S7

 

[barryd]

Thanks for some ideas. The Pyrenees is OUT, my little van does not like hills, and nor do my knees. The Lot and the Dordogne may seem less interesting but I think should suit me. If anyone else has a town or landmark please do put it forward.

If you want the proper twee touristy Dordogne the stretch from La Roque-Gageac to Sarlat is the kind of central hub of all that. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie on the Lot is a proper chocolate box village but not good for your knees. Cahors down the road is a nice town. Loads of Aires of course.

 

[marchie]

Thanks for some ideas. The Pyrenees is OUT, my little van does not like hills, and nor do my knees. The Lot and the Dordogne may seem less interesting but I think should suit me. If anyone else has a town or landmark please do put it forward.

There's a fair few prehistoric sites in the area [though at Lascaux 2 there were signs to be vigilant, because thieves knew when tours started and finished, so could time their break-in to the minute]. There is a 5 star Dutch-owned campsite, Camping Le Paradis at St-Leon-sur-Vezere [eye-wateringly expensive but eco everything] within walking distance of one prehistoric settlement so no car par thefts to worry about; the site is handy for Sarlat and surrounding villages

Steve

 

[Jo001]

at Lascaux 2 there were signs to be vigilant, because thieves knew when tours started and finished, so could time their break-in to the minute