To understand camping in France, one first has to look at some of
the differences between the UK and France culturally. A large number of
people in the UK do have home holidays, or to use the more recent term,
staycations. However, most people do prefer to travel abroad and
holidays in sunnier climes such as Spain are the most popular. This is
not to say that the weather in the UK is inclement, but as recent
summers and winters would testify, it is certainly unpredictable.By contrast, in France the percentage of people who holiday within France is much higher. Perhaps this is because they have a warmer climate and as such do not yearn for two weeks of lying in the sun. Another possibility is that there is a deeper, cultural difference.
So what type of holiday is the preferred choice in France? Well it may come as a surprise but camping is highly regarded in France and is almost an institution. For a few weeks in the summer, the French people en masse go to the country or coast and enjoy the delights of the Plein air. This has lead to a large number of camping sites throughout France, from Brittany in the North West to the Cote d'Azur in the South. Other popular areas include the Vendee, Dordogne and the majestic Alps.
There are other interesting contrasts between the French camping sites and their UK holiday park counterparts. The surprising thing is that the French sites have a shorter season. Most holiday parks in the UK open at Easter, when the weather can still be cold and unpredictable.
The parks then remain open until half term at the end of October. In comparison the French parks open in mid May and close in September. Partly this is cultural in that the French do not wish to holiday outside that period. Another reason may be that the more unsettled weather in the UK has lead companies to invest heavily in indoor pools and entertainment complexes. This is something that many of the French campsites do not have.
This is not to imply that UK Holiday Parks are superior to their French counterparts. France is a larger country than the UK, with one result being that land can be less expensive. As such, some of the camping sites are built with more space between the caravans. La Pachcaid near St Tropez in the South of France is a fine example of this. The caravans are located in terraces among the pine trees with shrubs used as a boundary. This gives more seclusion and privacy than you would normally find in a similar UK park. The outdoor swimming pool complexes in France, such as La Pachcaid are also very impressive and as good as you will find anywhere in the UK.
In terms of accommodation, the French camping sites are similar to the UK offering a range of caravans, lodges and chalets. However, rentable tents do seem to be more common. Other more unusual accommodation types are tree houses or even Gypsy caravans.
To conclude, French people do have a more positive attitude to camping than their counterparts in the UK. This is reflected in the French camping sites which are well worth exploring and enjoying.
If you would like to stay at a camping site in France see Holiday-Parks.com
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