Camping and joie vivre in France

Christian and I have been to France many times, not only because we often visit the country for transit to Great Britain, but because there are always beautiful regions that we want to explore.

We have already travelled to Burgundy, Jura, Alsace, Brittany, Cote Opal and the like and are always fascinated.

It all started when we found a small but really nice campsite on the northern side of the Pyrenees, which we really liked. I should also mention that the campsite is in a really great location and then the French had a long weekend with Ascension Day coming up. That didn't spoil our fun, we took a spot, were asked how long we wanted to stay for, and then everything was no problem. I really like that, it's so uncomplicated when you don't have to make a booking straight away and even pay a deposit.

It's nice when things go that way!

In general, camping is a popular thing in France. There are all kinds of people here who travel on foot (pilgrims) with vans, camper vans, tents and sometimes even caravans. This time there were a lot of tent campers, because thanks to the river there were also boat tourists who travel in canoes and make a stopover, and there were also anglers and the like. Thanks to the Way of St. James, which also accompanied us in Galicia, Asturias and the Basque Country, there were of course pilgrims here too, but it rounds off the event nicely.

I like to differentiate between campsites. Christian and I have three favorites: Camping municipal, Camping a la ferme and aire naturell. The other campsites, some of which are huge, are not really on our list because dogs are often not allowed there or you have to make a reservation. Ultimately, however, we only want a toilet, shower and the occasional water. We are not interested in the rest, so there doesn't have to be anything like that with a pool, entertainment and the like.

The first type, municipal camping, is an official campsite in the village, often very simple, sometimes outdated, but always spacious and relatively inexpensive. The campsite in Sauveterre below the castle was one such municipal campsite.

The second type of camping a la ferme has been on the rise in Europe in general since Covid. It is camping on a farm, whether with cattle breeders, dairy farmers or wine growers. The facilities are simple, often there is no fixed pitch, but in the middle of a meadow, but that's all rather nice for me, because most of the time you have a lot of peace and quiet here. Electricity and/or a shower are often a nice bonus here...

Aire naturell is a bit like camping on a farm, it is an early, older form of camping with private individuals who offer space and the like, often simply in their large garden, but not expensive. We tried it for the first time in Rosheim in Alsace and found it exciting. It doesn't have the comfort of a large campsite, but it is often close to beautiful sights and the people who camp there with you are very relaxed.

I have the impression that there is no need for the washrooms, the pool, etc. that are responsible for the stars a campsite has according to the ADAC camping guide. I prefer the personal touch, when the boss can give you tips on a great restaurant or a better bakery.

This brings me to a fascinating aspect of French culture, because we have eaten a set menu twice now and have loved it every time. Today, it was our wedding anniversary, Christian had found a bistro/brasserie that was open on a Monday, which is a rarity. What can I say, I think that here in France you can close the shop very quickly if you don't deliver good and sometimes sophisticated cuisine. Today in Montesquieu at Volvestre we ate really well and enjoyed everything that was served to us, it was a great wedding anniversary meal.

In general, enjoyment is important in France, and you quickly notice this when you see the queue of people at the bakery, when they accept the long wait for their daily baguette or a little something from a patisserie because they think the product is particularly good. Markets here also have their own flair! We had one in Carnac, tomorrow we want to go to Montesquieu, I'm really excited!