Recommended activities to do near Tour de France campsites
Spend the days with your family doing fun-filled activities and enjoy everything that France has to offer.
Follow in the ‘footsteps’ of your cycling heroes
With thousands of miles of dedicated cycle routes throughout France, you and your family can enjoy a bike ride just like the professionals. Choose from numerous traffic-free paths, such as the La Scandiberique route, which travels from the Belgian border all the way through France to Spain, and witness the smile on everyone’s face. Remember to fill up your water bottle before setting off!
Enjoy a stroll around a nearby château
Take a day trip to a local château, of which there are many across the country. Often only a stone’s throw from any campsite, check out a castle such as Château de Fougères in Brittany, which has stunning architecture your whole family will be in awe of. Make your family feel like royalty with a great day out and remember to bring your camera.
Go wild swimming in a river
France is famous for its gorgeous coastline, so it’s easy to forget the stunning waterways that lay inland. Why not visit a river near your Tour de France route campsite, such as Le Cher in Chenonceaux, where you can enjoy a picnic with your family before dipping into the slow-moving, family-friendly stream? If you or your child aren’t the strongest of swimmers, bring a life vest to be on the safe side.
Step back in time in a local town
France is full of history, so why not plan a day trip to a local town and take a step back in time? Check out Saint-Malo in Brittany, which was an important port town in the Middle Ages, or Espelette in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques, which is quite literally peppered in history due to its cultivation of peppers. These towns are also great places for you to buy gifts for loved ones.
Stretch your legs on a walk with your family
Never more than a short journey away from your campsite, regional parks are a great day out for you and your children. From Le Perche Regional Natural Park in Normandy to Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park in Aquitaine, there are thousands of acres of nature for you and your family to explore. Remember your sun cream, as it can get hot out there!
Try out some local cuisine
A trip to a French campsite on the Tour de France route wouldn’t be the same without trying out some of the local delicacies. From moules-frites (mussels and chips) in Calais, to foie gras in the southwest of France, you and your family can’t miss the opportunity to try some famous French foods in the areas that are famous for making them. Remember your camera, as these meals need to be seen (and tasted) to be believed.
Enjoy a day at the ocean
Beautiful beaches are often not far away from many of France’s top campsites. Take a break from watching the cycling and head out for a day at a beach such as Plage de Miramar, which is a superb, family-friendly beach in La Londe-les-Maures. Build sandcastles with your children and make memories to last a lifetime. Lifeguards operate on these beaches, so be sure to stay within the flagpoles that mark the areas they monitor.
Take in a World Heritage Site
France is full of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so you’ll never have to travel far to find one. Check out Palais des Papes in Avignon, or Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, and wow your family with some amazing architecture. If you have a selfie-stick, now could be the chance for a perfect family photo.
Benefits of staying at Tour de France campsites
Reap the rewards that a camping trip offers and return from your holiday ready and raring to go.
Create a long-lasting bond with your family
Back at home, it can be hard to get any good quality family time with work, school and socialising getting in the way of being with those that you love the most. Camping provides you with the freedom and space to enjoy time with your children and create memories that’ll last forever.
Enjoy a safe and secure environment
One of the benefits of a camping holiday is that you can relax safe in the knowledge that you are in a secure environment. Whether you are all enjoying the supervised swimming pool or your kids are off having fun at the children’s club, you can rest assured that they are being looked after.
Enjoy the physical and mental benefits of camping
Not only does a Tour de France campsite offer physical benefits, such as cycling and many other sporting activities, but there is also the mental well-being benefit that Mother Nature provides. You’ll go back home feeling re-energised and ready to take on anything.
Take part in activities as a family
With lots of activities to choose from, such as cycling, walking and tennis, there will be loads of opportunities for you and your family to spend some quality time together and have fun as a family. These are the moments that matter and make everyone smile when they look back on them years down the line.
Meet like-minded campers
Campsites provide a great place for you to meet like-minded individuals who have a love for family time and the great outdoors. Your children will also find it easy to make friends with other children who have a love of camping.
