Overwintering in France

[Guest Richard & Chris Manning]

We have been overwintering in Spain in recent years but although we will be visitng again sometime in January we would like to return to France for a couple of months (say within Jan/Feb/March period). Does anyone know of any site suitable for a long winter stay where dogs would be accepted and where the climate is reasonably kind - we don't mind cold nights but would like to warm our bones during daylight hours. We were thinking coastal or certainly S of France but all suggestions would be appreciated.

[Guest PeteC]

It is cols and snows in S France in Jan Last time we passed through to Spain we met daytime temps of minus 7C Why not try Italy??????????

[Guest Brian Ramsden]

This may be true inland, but on the coast snow is very rare, especially on the Côte d'Azur. Nyons claims it has only snowed there 5 times in the last 50 years - but admittedly we were there on the 6th! The weather is better than in Italy at that time of year.Try Camping La Bergerie, Hyères - Camping.bergerie@tiscali.fr - but they may be closed mid Jan to mid Feb. Over in the West, try Camping Les Cerisiers at Ceret which is open all year and in walking distance of a town which doesn't "die" in the winter. Phone 00.33.4.68.87.00.08

[Guest bb]

The Loire valley has a mild winter climate, we stayed on a farm a few years ago, and the farmer told us that snow was virtually unheard of, and even frost was unusual. You could try Camping de la Touche, nr Ligeuil 02 47 91 94 61 ownde by a young English family.

[Guest Richard & June Chitson]

We stayed at camping Villenue Ferme between Antibes (wonderful town with the best takeaway food you could wish for) and Cannes last October, site open all year nice size pitches(hard standing) site has small shop and a wonderful heated indoor swimming pool (closed nov for maintenance), a french Canadian couple we met have used this site over winter and recommended it to us. Weather is cold at night but mild (compared to England) during the day. You can cycle either to Cannes or better still Antibes and it is of course motorcycle heaven everybody seem to use one. There is a big supermarket (with security guards and dobermans!! about a mile turn left onto the main road. We enquired about staying over winter whilst we were there in October and they had availability. There is a coast road to get to it you turn right on main road for app 1 mile, there is an underpass only suitable for cars or flat top vans or of course motorcycles/cycles, to reach the coast road with motorhome you have to travel app 3 miles to roundabout then double back on yourself using of course the coast road. Hope this helps any further info contact us. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Richard & June

[Guest Roy Hamilton]

My daughter had a penpal who lived in Chinon (Loire Valley), when visiting the family some years ago I asked if the winters were cold and did it snow, I was told that it used to snow but did not now since the nuclear power station had been built! When you see the size of the water cooling system you could understand why.

[Guest berti]

not to be negative buti seem to remember reading in mmm letters some time ago that the cote d'azur, montpelier, narbonne areas were where many gypsy travellers overwintered leading to problems with safety / security. does anyone know if this is correct? apparently also problems with lots of doggy **** in port grimaud ,nice and other built up areas along here. cleaners hose the streets down but the motto is 'watch your step '. happy chappy berti