I'll second La Vallee des vignes, found it hard to fault last July. Nice owners, good bar / restaurant on site, excellent facilities and a short walk into a little village, didn't see a proper local restaurant but must have been one somewhere around.
------------- Kate
Trailer tent, caravan and too many tents!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Fierbois would have been my recommendation - we love it. However, to my mind its very kids oriented - pools teaming with them, play areas, kids on bikes, kids karaoking at night.
So, if I didn't have kids and not liking other peoples kids when I haven't got my own with me, it wouldn't be my first choice for an 'adult' break.
That being said, presumably all sites in August are like that and it is a fantastic site, nice restaurant, pizzas are good, pools are clean and not TOO cold. Bar area is pleasant, shop didn't strike me as being extortionate - and you can walk to Catherine de Fierbois, though there isn't much there.
Chinon (on the Vienne rather than Loire) is a lovely town and has a municipal site just over the bridge to the south, ten minute walk max into centre. Haven't stayed at the site only parked up outside whilst on a day trip to Chinon which has lots of interesting back streets and impressive Chateaux 'complex' of the historic variety. Lots to see within close driving - Candes-St.Martin, Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, Azay-le-Rideau and the stunning gardens at Villandry. We have been trying to make a decision between staying there this year or maybe going to Amboise which has a municipal site in the middle of the River (on an island I hasten to add!), but now having read the reivews for Loches that too sounds promising. So many sites, so little time!
Why just visit one site? (Sorry just seen your original posting again, and realised you're going in late July/August - which does mean you have to book - we always go late May/June and then again late August/September which means no bookings required, so my apologies that this posting probably isn't relevant to your circumstances). Last year in two weeks we did an overnight stop at Lac de Panthier, then five days at Les Rivages in Millau, four days at Le Boucanet at Grau du Roi, and 4 days at Domaine de la Faurie in the Lot, with an overnight stop at Berny Riviere and Chateau du Gandspette.
We always include at least one new site each holiday - and if we like it go back again another year. This year both Berny Riviere and Domaine de la Faurie were new to us - and we'd happily go back to both. We didn't put our awning up once - we had fantastic weather for the whole holiday, with the exception of a storm at Boucanet - so I suppose that helps mobility.
We are off to La Citadelle on 5th August for 21 Nights, our 1st trip to France! We chose this site after spotting it in David Klynes website (thanks David great website), then noticed it was in the caravan clubs brochure, so thought we'd give it a go. Hope we like France , it will be a long 3 weeks otherwise!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Suggestions for loire valley??
