Vixter Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 Hi everyone! We are planning a week touring in the Auvergne next month. We have never been to this part before, and are hoping to 'see the sights' and would much appreciate any information about campsites (preferably ACSI), aires, wild camping etc etc, plus any particularly interesting old towns with easy access & parking for a medium-sized motorhome. Just the two of us, no youngsters to be entertained so we're not looking for 'all singing all dancing' campsites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertandjean Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 Hi, First thing must say is that Auvergne is one region we have not really visited fully, always just called in a few places heading north or south. Hope to rectify this soon. In meantime here are some aires we have stayed on (or in one case freinds have stayed on) and we would visit again: St-Pourcain-sur-Sioule (dept 03) We have mentioned this one a few times (!!!) but it really is a five star aire. Well set out, river views etc and town is well worth a visit. This former camp site is one you should include if poss. P=free, S=2€, Hook-up if required,=2€/4hours. Lapalisse (dept 03) Nice enough setting by small river in residential area, but unlike St Pourcain is part of a car park. Small signs from N7; no parking Thurs am due to market. P=f; S=4€ Billy (dept 03) Nice little town. Parking here is just off roadside outside the nursery school, and is only allowed at week-ends and during school holidays. P=f, S= f (but we failed to locate the services!) Moulins (dept 03) This is a large historical town wel worth a visit. We have not visited the aire but reports on French web sites are very good. It is an old camp site and sounds a lot like the set up at St Poucain, indeed charges are same except parking is 2.5€/24 hours. GPS: N46 33 29.736, E 3 19 28.056 St Flour (dept 15) Old historic town with 2 aires. The one in the main town, top of hill, is in a very busy car park and we would not rec. staying there. The second is in the town at the bottom of the hill in a residential/commercial area. Access here is much better but it is too far really to walk to main town, but think there is a bus service. We found it O.K. for an overnight. Pradelles (dept 43) This private aire, Salaisons de Pradelles, come well rec by friends we trust on aires judgement. It costs 6€/night all in (inc hook-up) but is free if you buy items from farm shop. Aigueperse (dept 63) The old town here is nice to wander round. Aire is part of a car park but fine and lit all night. P=f, S=2€. There is a bus service from here to Clermot-Ferrand, but as we were just passing through each time we have stayed did not investigate fully; we intend to in future. Hope this helps and provides a starting point for futher ideas and more aires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixter Posted May 28, 2011 Author Share Posted May 28, 2011 Dear Robert and Jean, thank you SO much. I knew the guys and gals on the forum would come up with something! I'm off now to have a look at the map..... Vixter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minstrel Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 We haven't spent much time in the Auvergne but do go up the Puy de Dome. When we were there 2 years ago there was a bus at reasonable price to take you up, heavenly views. Several m/homes were obviously spending the night in the car park at the bottom. Clos de la balanede - under Riom in CC book but actually in Chatelguyon, has some hardstandings and it's a spa town, worth a walk around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 This is a pretty big area which includes the Massif Central one of our favorite bits of France. As has been said area around Puy du Dome is worth a visit and unique in France. The Puy du Dome you can ride up in a bus or better walk up one on the main foot paths. A couple of the smaller volcano's are also well worth a walk. Puy en Veley is a must see town if anywhere near it. Good small municiple site called camping de Bouthezard, easy short walk to town. It has several large volcanic plugs with various religious buildings built on top, plus a lot of old buildings. Area around Mont Dore is also great for walking, we stayed on an ACSI site here called Camping la Panoramique which lives up to its name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixter Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 Many thanks Minstrel and Rupert, this is all being written down and we will plan our route accordingly. Vixter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 We have always enjoyed Le Puy-en-Velay. Campsite in town, Camping de Bouthezard. GPS N45.05042 E3.88094. Salers is a fascinating town. Good municipal campsite withing walking distance. Camping Municipal le Muriol. GPS N45.14698 E2.49935 Vichy, if you want something a bit grander, is also in the Auvergne. Campsites in/near town. We used Les Beaux Rivages, which was fine. GPS N46.11555 E3.43006. Two others on same road, one closer in (Les Acacias), the other further down (Les Isles). Couple of very attractive villages. Lavaudieu. Free parking with some shade GPS N45.26291 E3.45615 (Entrance). Charroux d'Allier. Free parking with good shade GPS N46.18346 E3.16376 (Entrance). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixter Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 Many thanks Brian, good to hear from you! It's great to have personal recommendations. Vixter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Sorry, forgot to say hello Vixter! How rude. How's Brittany, windy and damp? :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixter Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 Cheek! Actually the only wind is generated by the Other Half, it's still very warm (8pm our time) with clear blue skies and lovely Bretagne sunshine. Takes some beating y'know!! V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian81 Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Last week stayed at the following (location and gps) all wild Saint Sauves d'Auvergne, 63 45.60821 2.68528 Pontgibaud, 63 45.83072 2.85009 Randan, 63 46.01635 3.35109 Abb de Sept Fonds, 03 46.54558 3.70391 Also stayed at the following in 08 above Mount Dore, 63 45.559 2.8134 etang de Farges, 63 45.7278 2.5454 Chateauneuf les Bains, 63 46.031 2.90635 Charroux d'Allier, 03 46.18327 3.1633 last is one of the plus beaux villages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian81 Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Last week stayed at the following (location and gps) all wild Saint Sauves d'Auvergne, 63 45.60821 2.68528 Pontgibaud, 63 45.83072 2.85009 Randan, 63 46.01635 3.35109 Abb de Sept Fonds, 03 46.54558 3.70391 Also stayed at the following in 08 above Mount Dore, 63 45.559 2.8134 etang de Farges, 63 45.7278 2.5454 Chateauneuf les Bains, 63 46.031 2.90635 Charroux d'Allier, 03 46.18327 3.1633 last is one of the plus beaux villages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixter Posted May 29, 2011 Author Share Posted May 29, 2011 Brilliant Ian, clearly there is plenty of opportunity for wild camping - are these places out the back of beyond or in towns or villages? Many thanks. Vixter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopesy Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 Hi, a couple of years ago we stayed for a few nights at a good municiple site i think it was called des Crouzets. It's on the outskirts of Le Mont Dore which is quite a nice little town. A quiet site with a supermarket very close by. Easy access to Puy de Sancy and we got the cable car up and a lovely walk down back to town. Everthing is within walking or cycling distance. When we got to the cable car station there were a few vans in the very large car park which appeared to have overnighted there but i don't know for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian81 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Vixter - 2011-05-29 10:31 PM Brilliant Ian, clearly there is plenty of opportunity for wild camping - are these places out the back of beyond or in towns or villages? Many thanks. Vixter They are mainly on fairly acessible routes as we have stayed in these places on our way to and fro from France to UK -suggest you google the GPS co-ords. . IMHO there isno need to use campsites as being France you can park and stay almost anywhere as long as it isnt expressly forbidden. There are plenty of aires and also if you want many more campsites seem to be open outside the mid June / early September timeframe. A good area is arround Puy Mary -worth a trip to the top. There are three roads up but MH's are restricited only being allowed in one direction in the morning and the other in the afternoon. If you have the time it is worth keeping off the motorways and more or less heading straight down sopping at places like Auxerre -free parking by the river. Bon voyage!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixter Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Ian & Hopesy, many thanks for that, more good stuff! Thanks to all who have contributed to this topic, we're delighted you were able to share your experiences with us. Happy motorhoming everyone - enjoy the summer wherever you are! Vixter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 Nice Aire at Orcines on the D941 it is outside the campsite only space for I think 6 vans each with own pitch divided by big rocks & its free,. Aire at the southern end of Lac Chambon next to the campsite hedged pitches €8 inc. electric, internet access 2€/24hr. Car park in Murol next to Tourist Office, in the village centre grass area on 2 sides, very convenient for the village Camping Cars not allowed to overnight in July & August. Pick up the Fromage Route map from a tourist Office has all the Aires marked on it. Plenty of places to wild camp we didn't have much choice we went in September most campsites were closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertandjean Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 lennyhb - 2011-06-02 5:43 PM Nice Aire at Orcines on the D941 it is outside the campsite only space for I think 6 vans each with own pitch divided by big rocks & its free,. Aire at the southern end of Lac Chambon next to the campsite hedged pitches €8 inc. electric, internet access 2€/24hr. Car park in Murol next to Tourist Office, in the village centre grass area on 2 sides, very convenient for the village Camping Cars not allowed to overnight in July & August. Pick up the Fromage Route map from a tourist Office has all the Aires marked on it. Plenty of places to wild camp we didn't have much choice we went in September most campsites were closed. Thanks for info Lenny. It is this sort of post that is helping make "Out and About" a great point of ref. for info re aires; a bit of a contrast with MMM sorry to say within which aires seem to be given scant mention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixter Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Thank you Lenny, and once again thanks to all of you who have posted. We are off on Sunday, so it's time to print off all this info and settle down again with the map. Vixter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I could be too late with this information but it might be useful to someone else. You can no longer go up the Puy de Dome as they are building a railway to go up on in future - local knowldege suggests it should be finished in 2012. You can no longer park overnight by the cable cars under the Puy de Sancy - pity that as it was lovely up there and free too. Now you have to pay for parking in the daytime! However, there is an aire up from Le Mont Dore which would be lovely and quiet but a long walk up to the cable cars particularly in the winter. There are several campsites in La Bourboule and there is a free (I think!) aire near the new swimming pool but this is really just like a car park. There are lots of other places but must dash now - will try to remember to post again later. If you were coming a little later in the year you could visit me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vixter Posted June 18, 2011 Author Share Posted June 18, 2011 Hi Patricia Thanks for the posting, unfortunately we are now back from our holiday but hope to return to the area again one day - a week is simply not long enough to explore such a beautiful place! The weather was not very kind, though we're sure that a lot of the rain was due to the high altitude of some of the spots we visited. But the scenery was indeed breathtaking - a great contrast to where we live in Brittany! It would have been nice to meet you, however if you are ever passing through the Morbihan just get in touch and we would be pleased to put the kettle on. The same goes for anyone else coming to this neck of the woods in their motorhome! Vixter xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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