Holiday parks in France

Bob Atkinson
( Travel Expert)

Canvas Holidays - Luxury mobile home and camping holidays across 10 European countries.  Great base for exploring the region, trying a new activity or using the first class facilities on-site.  Ideal for families and couples alike.

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Brittany & Normandy

The Celtic culture of Brittany and the calm of Normandy are firm favourites with Brits. The journey time is short as there are a variety of port gateways direct from the UK in the region itself, so it is ideal for those who want a short journey on arrival in France.  Brittany has excellent sandy beaches, a relaxed and quiet pace of life, great food and a general feeling of relaxation.  There are no major busy cities and it is a great place just to explore quietly at your own pace or simply flop by the beach.  The Normandy coast is more like our Kent coast, with cliffs, beaches and coves.  Inland there are forests and beautiful countryside including many orchards that support the Calvados brandy makers.  In fact food and drink is one of the main reasons for many visiting the region with the local cuisine heavy on locally caught fish and dairy products.  Don't forget to visit Bayeux to see the famous tapestry.  Most caravan and holiday park sites are located near the excellent beaches.

Vendee & Charente Maritime

This region is on the Atlantic coast and has everything from ancient walled cities such as La Rochelle to idyllic quiet islands such as the Il de Re.  The beaches are long and sandy and the surf is great for anyone who enjoys watersports, however, be prepared for the water to feel a little 'fresh' until well into the summer months.  The coastal resorts are fairly well developed with excellent facilities, shopping and lots of activities and the areas are great for cycling, walking and exploring the countryside and coastline.  For the culture vultures there are a large number of archaeological sites as well as a range of small local museums explaining the history of the area.  Food and drink dominates with cognac being made locally; sea food is a speciality, especially oysters, and all tastes are catered for in the many cafes and restaurants.  The bulk of the holiday and caravan parks are on the coast close to the beaches, although some do sit inland in the countryside.

Acquitaine

Also encompassing the area of Messanges, this is the South West corner of France and takes you up to the Spanish border and the Pyrenees Mountains.  This corner of France is quiet and sleepy, although you wouldn't think so when rugby is played as the sport has a huge following in this part of France.  Again, it is on the Atlantic coast and the beaches are sandy, long and with great surf for those who enjoy the water.  Villages tend to be sleepy little places and the pace of life is definitely slower than many other areas.  Many of them are medieval and still retain a lot of their character and buildings. There are lots of vineyards (Cognac is famous in the northern areas, Bordeaux for wine) across the countryside as well as forests such as Les Landes, which is great for walking and cycling.  The resorts are strung along the coast with Biarritz being the most famous with its casino, grand sea front buildings and surfing competitions.  It is also easy to visit the Pyrenees and enjoy the mountain scenery if you base yourself fairly south.  To take advantage of the beaches - many of the caravan and holiday parks are located close to these, although there are some further inland.

Languedoc & Cote D'Azur

The Mediterranean coastline is famous for its sun and the resorts spread from the Spanish border near Perpignan all the way to Italy.  There are lots of great sandy beaches and coves along this stretch and you may think with all the glamour that is attached to places such as Nice, St Tropez and Monte Carlo that a caravan or holiday park holiday would not fit.  However, you would be wrong and there are many sites dotted across the entire South coast to enjoy.  Languedoc is quieter with easy access to the mountains and beaches and great to enjoy the outdoors and activities from sunbathing to mountain biking.  There are many medieval villages dotted around in the hills. The Riviera is great for busy resorts and lots to see and do as well as the outdoor life more commonly associated with this type of holiday.  Inland you can visit Provence with its beautiful countryside and pretty villages.  The Camargue is also worth a visit with its marshlands and famous horses.  The city areas of Marseille, Nice, Monte Carlo and Monaco are also well worth exploring, each with their own character.

Sites are either coastal or inland and may require a short journey to the beaches, especially on the Cote D'Azur where land prices are far higher close to the coast itself.

Other Regions

You will also find sites in a number of other regions such as the Loire, Burgundy, Massif Central, Paris area, the French Alps, Picardy and the Auvergne area.  Our companies list the locations they serve on their sites with easy to follow maps and guides.

Who do we recommend?

With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of choice as well as some that are more specialist.  Browse our list below to find the right company for you then click through to their web site for more information and how to book.  It could not be easier!

Further guides on Holiday Parks