With its combination of haute cuisine, great campsites and spectacular countryside, camping in France is the ideal choice for a food lover who enjoys the great outdoors as much as a three Michelin starred meal.
Few countries can boast a culinary tradition to compete with France, which is regarded as having the best chefs and finest cooking in the world. Numerous cities and towns in the country are famed for their local cuisine or the quality of their restaurants, so if you are a gourmet who is intent on camping in France, make sure you camp near to one of these gastronomic centres...
Paris
Paris, of course, is a great destination for lovers of good food and fine wine. Although the very best French restaurants are to be found in Lyon, years of immigration and multiculturalism have given Paris an unparalleled level of culinary diversity, and there are restaurants for all tastes in this city. Visit Paris for a flavour of everything French cuisine has to offer, then head out into countryside to sample the produce at its source.
Vannes
Brittany is well known for its unique culture, and this extends to its food as well. There are certain dishes that are unique to the region, and it is best to sample them locally. The charming market town of Vannes is the perfect place to try out traditional Breton cuisine, which includes the best crepes in France, a wide variety of seafood dishes and sweet pastries, and the famous Breton cider. The coastal landscape of Brittany also makes it an excellent place to go camping in France, and for a holiday that combines great food with a scenic location, it is hard to beat a visit to Brittany!
Roquefort
This village is located in the beautiful Ardeche region. Famous as the home of the blue cheese of the same name, Roquefort is naturally a great place for cheese lovers, especially because of the unique and traditional way in which the cheese is produced. If you come to Roquefort, don t miss out on a visit to the local caves where the cheeses are aged!
Dijon
It is most famous as the producer of the fiery and delicious Dijon mustard, and a visit to the city will be a chance to sample some unusual condiments (such as fruit flavoured mustard) at the traditional shops that are scattered throughout the city.
Camping in France near Dijon will also place you amidst the wine lands of the Burgundy region, allowing you to combine beautiful scenery, top quality cuisine and, of course, some of the very best wines in the country.
Lyon
If you go to just one place in France to sample the cuisine, make sure you go to Lyon. Renowned as the gastronomic capital of the country, it is home to the very best chefs and restaurants that France has to offer. The best way to experience the food here is a visit to one of the many bouchons; traditional restaurants which will serve you local wine and local cuisine.