WHERE TO VISIT
FRANCE
Normandy
To suggest Normandy purely due to its proximity to the UK is to do the area an injustice. Because although there’s no denying its closeness is one of the benefits for those who are anxious about camping abroad, there’s much more to it than that. To begin with, there are some beautiful unspoilt beaches that, thanks to everyone heading south, are often remarkably quiet in the summer.
Then there is Caen and Rouen, two major cities that are brimming with history, culture and a social side as exciting as anything Paris has to offer. There are plenty of attractions for days out. One favourite is
Mont Saint Michel Abbey, a medieval village that’s perched on the top of the rocky island. I
ts lively pedestrian streets and shops are exciting to explore while the scenery is simply breathtaking. Normandy might seem the easy option due to its closeness to home, but with so much to see and do, that’s simply not the case.
Vendee
On the Atlantic ocean in the Pays-de-la-Loire region of France, the Vendee is a great location for those who are feeling a little braver about driving on the continent but don’t want their holiday to be dominated by the travel. Just a day’s drive from France’s northern coast (less if you use the ports of Le Havre or Caen), it’s ideal for half term breaks yet thanks to its own microclimate that raises the temperature, it can be as warm as the south. The Vendee region enjoys around 2,500 hours of sunshine per year, almost as many as the South of France. The
beaches are long and clean although it’s worth noting the waves that roll off the Atlantic can be large, powerful and not always child friendly. The towns of La Roche-sur-Yon and Les Sables d’Olonne have a cosmopolitan feel. There’s no better feeling than spending a day on the beach before retiring to one of the many bars for a bière à la pression.
Dordogne
Situated in the southwest of France, the Dordogne region is one of the most beautiful areas of the country. There is unspoilt countryside to explore, beautiful châteaux to discover and ancient medieval towns to get lost in. There is also the internationally renowned Lascaux caves and its pre-historic paintings. Just 25 miles from the ancient town of Sarlat, the paintings are estimated to be 17,300 years old and they primarily consist of images of large animals. Another popular pastime is a canoe trip down the Dordogne River itself. You glide gently past Beynac, La Roque-Gageac and other small villages and see amazing areas of the river that are not visible from elsewhere. The hire of the canoe and equipment is reasonably priced and is suitable for small children.
Perigueux – the area’s capital – consists of an interesting medieval and renaissance centre with attractive boulevards and streets lined with medieval houses to explore, it boasts endless boutique shops and gorgeous cafes and restaurants.
