We've got 10 nights booked in the Vendee and then another 9 nights before needing to be back in Calais.
So....where should we spend these spare nights??
Have visited Brittany, Loire and Normandy in previous years and at the moment Brittany is a favourite as long as weather forecast is good. Knowing Brittany it won't be.
Loire is lovely but we've visited a couple of times, and the same with Normandy.
We don't really want to drive too far, about 5-6 hours max from Vendee. We like interesting countryside, quaint/ interesting towns and villages, rivers or lakes for swimming, and good weather lol!
I've looked at the area around Limoges and Angouleme but I'm not sure if there's enough to keep us entertained for a week? Any thoughts??
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Brantome is a lovely town, worth a visit.
We've just come back from France, from the Dordogne we went to the Gironde estuary, there's some interesting towns there though we didn't get to Talmont which someone on here recommended. We did stay at Parthenay, that's an interesting old town with a nice campsite. Surgeres is nice, Airvault sounded interesting in the guide book, also Thouars. Have you been to Fontevraud Abbey, that was interesting too.
Or thinking outside the box, as the weather was nice, we spent a few nights on the Channel coast for a change.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I recommend Hautefort, its a small village in Northern Dordogne, Chateau and Museum of Medicine in the village with Lake Coucou near by and Loisirs de Rouffiac for swimming and watersports . Its within striking distance of Montignac,Sarlat, Perigueux and all the well known tourist must do's, at a push Bantome and Ourdane sur glare are doable. Few campsites within the area but I totally
recommend http://lagrenouillevacances.com/en/index_en.html an
amazing small cl type site with welcoming hosts, spotless facilities, swimming pool and free wifi!
------------- Dec- Bath Marina
Dec- Chertsy ccc
Dec- Oxford ccc
May- Apple Orchard Forest of Dean
July- France TBC
Aug- La Grenouille Hautefort
9 days spare - personally I'd head for the Dordogne south of Sarlat between Beynac and Montfort even if it meant doing it in two legs with an overnight stop near Angouleme / Brantome. That would allow you 6 days in the Dordogne with another two overnight stops on the way back north.
That area has everything you're asking for in the way of scenery / villages etc - and you can swim safely in the Dordogne river in places - the spot by the adjoining campsites Soliel Plage & La Bouysse de Caudon being the best IMHO.
You might try the Venise Vert area ... not far from where you are ... see my review of the campsite at Arcais, with info on what to do locally ... it's a brilliant area ... Or, slightly north of, but within reach of the Dordogne ... and in the centre of the 'caveman' area, have a look at my review of Le Pigeonnier.
Thanks everyone. Will definitely look more at the area around Brantome. Oradour is somewhere that we probably would like to visit if in the area.
We do like the Dordogne and have stayed near Sarlat before, so we might end up somewhere around there. I ve always liked the look of Port de Limeuil, so that might be an option, although it's a little further than we originally wanted to travel. Mmmmm lots of ideas to mull over.
On our recent trips, we've stayed twice at Camping Lac de St Cyr near Chatellerault. It's sited in a leisure area, with a lake, nature reserve and golf course, and close to Futuroscope (well worth a visit). Poitiers didn't look great, though it has history and shopping; but Chauvigny and La Roche-Posay are worth visiting. It's a little off the main trail, but worth exploring if you want deep France.
As an aside, it seems to be the motor caravan centre of France - there were four huge sales places between the campsite and the motorway.
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: Where after Vendee?
