Hi, we're driving from Calais to Moissac, Tarn et Garonne, midi Pyrenees, in a few weeks and intend to stay off the Toll Roads, enjoy the scenery and camp for a couple of nights en-route. Do any members have a route including campsites with swimming pools they would recommend? One that has caught my eye on the way down is Château Cantaloupe near Le Mans, while Château Gandspette looks a good option to stop overnight prior to returning. We would be hoping to drive apx 4/5 hrs each day. We've never driven in France before, so would welcome any suggestions and advice. Kind regards Mike.
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We have a route, but it doesn't go near to Le Mans - we use the autoroute from Calais towards Boulogne, then come off just before the toll booth and take the N road towards Abbeville. Then we join the A28 which is free, towards Rouen. We take a route alongside the Seine on the east bank - avoiding Rouen centre, and then via Pont de l'Arche, Evreux, Dreux, Chartres, Orleans, (paying a small toll to avoid the city centre), Vierzon, then the free A20 as far as Brive, then we come off and use the N road which runs parallel and will take you down as far as you want then take one of the cross-country routes towards Moissac.
We use sites generally without a pool, but there are alternatives with pools and municipal sites often have access to the local municipal pool free of charge - Chateauroux for instance, and Vatan sites both have free access to the very nearby municipal pool. I don't know when you're going but if it's in high season it may be difficult to arrange one night overnight stays at some of the larger commercial sites with pools.
Email me at valdaathome at gmail.com and I'll send you out a pdF version of the route, with pictures of the Rouen junctions, and overnight stop suggestions (not always with pools).
If you're going outside of the main peak season (towards the latter half of August) then have a look at the ACSI Card website, where you can benefit from some discounted sites using an ACSI Card. If your main site isn't on there, though, it may not be worth it for just a few overnight stops.
Hi I can't recommend a route but highly recommend Château Cantaloupe near Le Mans we stopped a couple of years back on our way back from La Rochelle loved way the pitches were just set out around a large tree on lush grass, nice pool and woodland for mountain biking. I believe it's a Les castels site.
------------- where ever i lay my hat thats my home
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Route Calais to Moissac avoiding Tolls
