For those who like to incorporate city visits into their camping holidays, France offers a number of exciting destinations. Camping near a major city can give you the best of both worlds – the relaxation of spending your evenings under canvas in the countryside along with easy access to the attractions and sights of a city.
For most, of course, Paris is still the Mecca of France, however there are many other cities that are well worth visiting on a camping holiday in France. Here are four interesting cities where you can blend excellent camping together with city sightseeing.
Bordeaux
Wine lovers on a camping holiday in France will naturally gravitate towards Bordeaux, the principal city of one of the country s major wine growing regions. If you time your visit right, you ll even get the chance to be in the city during its famous Fête du Vin at the end of June and the beginning of July, an annual festival celebrating the very best of Bordeaux s wine.
But the city has more to offer than just fine wines – the charming 18th century buildings make it a lovely place for walking and architectural highlights in the city include the Grand Théâtre and the Cathédrale Saint André. If you need to get away from the bustle of the city, head over to the beautifully designed Jardin Botanique.
Cannes
Cannes becomes the centre of the film world every May with its International Festival, but it has plenty to offer visitors at any time of the year. Situated in the sunny Côte d’Azur, Cannes boasts a range of attractions, ranging from the designer boutiques on the promenade to the luxurious yachts that are moored in the Old Port. Chic, trendy, and boasting a gorgeous beach, Cannes is the ideal destination for fashionistas, beach lovers, and celebrity spotters.
Grenoble
Known as “The Capital of the Alps”, Grenoble is located just at the foot of this famous mountain range. The most dramatic sight in Grenoble (apart from the mountains that loom in the background) is La Bastille, an ancient fortification that overlooks the entire city. Visitors can also catch a cable car from here up into the mountains for some stunning Alpine views. Other notable sights in the city include the excellent Museum of Grenoble, filled with ancient antiquities, and the Palace of the Parliament of Dauphiné.
If you choose this area for a camping holiday in France, you ll get access to both Grenoble itself and the mountains that surround it – an outstanding combination!
Dijon
It may be most well known in the UK as a brand of mustard, but the city of Dijon has much more to it than that! The fine Renaissance architecture of the old town is a pleasure to walk around, and the city s cathedral is unmissable. The city is a gastronomic centre and home to some of the finest restaurants in the country. Gourmets will be in heaven here, especially since it is the capital of Burgundy, another very important wine region.
As can be seen, there s more to French cities than just Paris, and each of the examples we’ve given have excellent campsites only a short distance away.