There are no 'best' areas which suit everyone. Each person likes different things. Almost all regions of France have beautiful countryside, villages, and plenty of things to do and see, and which you'll find the best depends very much on what you like doing and seeing.
We like wild countryside, fast flowing rivers, gorges, and wildlife,so we love the Gorges du Tarn, Ardeche and some parts of Provence. Others like the slower flowing rivers such as the lower parts of the Loire, the Dordogne and the Lot. Lots of people like the beaches of the Vendee, and others Brittany and northern France. We don't particularly like cities, where others love visiting historic buildings, galleries, and churches, so love campsites with good city access.
Because France has everything, and for the most part it's not necessary to book in advance except for the larger 'holiday' campsites, you can just meander around until you find areas and sites to suit you.
Val sums it up very nicely. Scenic walking or cycling paths can be found by most rivers and canals (now mainly leisure boats) if you like a walk or take bikes. When the sun shines - ie most of the time, it's almost all lovely.
------------- playing at tinkies
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Totally agree - its what you as a family like that is important. We live quite near the sea and love being near the sea on holiday (preferably walkable) so beaches of Vendee and Charente area suit us particularly well
Find the Med coast a little too busy for us but again we are all differemt
Me the Alps,wife a beach,no 1 son surfing the atlantic waves,daughter any shops,no2 son canoeing Ardeche number 3 son any where theres kids to play with.
Most of France is nice,just depends what the indivigual likes.
We just like a quiet, restful holiday in the countryside. As city dwellers we never visit cities when on holiday. As long as we are far south enough for warm but not too hot weather we are happy. We like to do a bit of sightseeing but mostly just take in the local villages, wander round the markets, vide greniers and brocantes. Lunch out and evenings relaxing on the patio with the BBBQ going and a gglass of wine. Fave areas for doing this are the Loire Valley, Dordogne, Correze, Limousin and the Lot. We have had equally wonderful holidays, camping and caravanning, in all of these areas.
We've been to most parts..but keep going back to the Loire as it ticks the most boxes for us. Far enough south to have reasonably nice weather (usually), unspoilt 'typically French' towns & villages. We love having a mooch around the markets, sampling cheeses/meats (occasionally buying some when I can get my weights right!) and then finding a little outdoor cafe & watching the world go by over a coffee or two. Evenings are most often spent on site over long leisurely bbq's with family, so we pick sites with large pitches (we stay away from beach-front campsites due to the often matchbox sized pitches).
Oh yes, the Loire for us...and we shall be there tomorrow
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
As ValA says there are no "best" areas it depends entirely on what you like best, Coast, Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, Cities, Beautiful Villages etc. etc.
Climate can also come into it as no matter where you go if the sun is shining it always looks better.
We have been to a lot of parts of France and many have their own charms. In general however we tend to prefer further south than the Northern parts (apart from Brittany which we do like very much).
This year we went to the Dordogne and the Pyrenees and were fortunate enough to see the Pyrenees at probably the most spectacular you could due to the late spring. The mountains even in early June were covered in snow which made for a magical experience for that time of year as normally there is no snow in June.
Whether we ever go back again to the Pyrenees is debatable (due to the distance involved) but we will forever be grateful that we were able to see them when they were so spectacular.
Memories colour what you regard as the "best" places in France or anywhere else for that matter and for us although we love the Dordogne and had a lovely time there, the sheer beauty of the Pyrenees whilst we were there will last in our memories for a very long time.
I've attached a few photos but as a photo can never give a true feeling (a photo can never give the depth of what your eye sees) it was even better than what the photo can show.
John
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We went to Millau on our last trip and in our opinion, if you like inland amazing scenery then the Gorges du Tarn (and the Dourbie and Jonte) can't be beaten, but each to their own. If you don't like it, you can always go on to the western Med. It's just a pity that it's such a long way from home.
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: best areas of france
and then finding a little outdoor cafe & watching the world go by over a coffee or two. Evenings are most often spent on site over long leisurely bbq's with family, so we pick sites with large pitches (we stay away from beach-front campsites due to the often matchbox sized pitches).
