If you are looking for places of interest to visit while on a camping holiday, France has countless stately homes and castles. Here are just two châteaux close to Paris that deserve a visit.
Château de Versailles
Although Paris is a bustling urban centre, the Camping les Etangs Fleuris site in Touquin, and Camping la Croix du Vieux Pont at Berny Rivière means the city is also well provided for in terms of quality sites for camping. France’s capital, with all its sights and culture is within easy reach of these rural havens, making them ideal places from which to discover Paris.
The sights of Paris are almost too numerous to mention: from the long arcades of the Louvre gallery, with its iconic glass pyramid and famous Da Vinci paintings; to the tree lined Champs Elysees avenue with its glamorous buildings; the Eiffel Tower; and the white, hilltop Sacre Coeur; and not forgetting all the cafes, museums and parks there’s just so much to see. There is, however, more to see in the region than just the city. Just a thirty minute drive from the very centre of Paris, Versailles is so near that it would be a shame not to visit this icon of France. Camping les Etangs Fleuris, Touquin is about an hour away by car, or you can take the train out from the city to the Versailles Rive Gauche station.
The size and grandeur of this stunning building is enough to make you catch your breath as you approach. It is a historical museum, show garden, castle and art gallery rolled into one. Visitors can explore the opulence of the King s apartments, the hall of mirrors (properly called the Gallerie des Glaces) and Marie Antoinette s private chambers. There is plenty to learn about French history from this palace, and more rooms and hallways than your legs will bear to walk around.
But if you are visiting Versailles as part of a holiday camping in France, you will probably be a fan of the outdoor life, in which case the gardens at Versailles have plenty to offer. There are long avenues and pathways between sculpted lawns with statues, fountains, and cascading waterfalls. In fact, the grounds are so expansive that there is too much to explore in one day.
Palace of Fontainebleau
The Chateau at Fontainebleau, located in a forest by the same name, is also within an hour’s drive of the Touquin camping site. France’s monarchs, from King Louis VII to Napolean have made this their home, and it now houses an American school of the arts.
In medieval times it was considered a hunting lodge, but was redeveloped by progressive generations of French rulers, each expanding the palace and leaving their stylistic mark on the buildings. Fontainebleau is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protected because of its combination of architectural styles and its historical importance.
The ornate interiors feature high ceilinged wood panelled halls, inset with murals, detailed carvings and paintings. There are chandeliers and gold leaf to be found throughout, colourful curtains and carpets, and antique furniture.
The park around the palace is dense and green, decorated with classical statues and ponds.
It’s a beautiful place to take a stroll, and makes for a pleasant venue for a day out while camping in France.
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