geoff Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I'm planning my second continental trip. Once I'd figured out the French road system and signs [and then bought a sat nav] we had a fantastic time last year so we've decided to spend even more time this year and would welcome any suggestions about sites and tourist spots. Got the ferry booked for 4 weeks, we love using aires and stellplatz and if it seems suitable we go wild. Got the Aires guide and Im considering geting France Passion too. Last year we only spent 3 nights out of 21 on a commercial campsite but we got free train and bus passes from the campsites so in effect we ended up camping free. We're going to start by revisiting the Moselle Valley, then onto Luxembourg. After going to Hotton Cavern last year we'd like to visit the other caverns in the area too. From Luxembourg we intend to travel inland across northern France to Le Havre and then follow the coast back to Calais so that we can dine at the fishing villages The suggestions we got last year were so good that we went to 90% of the sites that were reccomended and only found one that we did'nt fancy. That was the aire in Rheims, it was next to the ring road and too noisy for us- we just prefer villages to towns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Not really a place to visit, but unless you have reasons for visiting Le Havre, I'd suggest you don't. Pretty, it aint! If you want pretty, stay the other side of the Seine, and go to Honfleur. Trouble with Le Havre, is that between us, the Americans, and the Germans, there wasn't much of it left by the end of the war. Then the rebuilding was carried out in brave new world style by some quite well renowned modernist architects, whose work is very un-compromising and, as a result of too much exposed concrete, has weathered very badly. Like Rouen and Caen it used to be quite an attractive place. The poor old French paid a very high price for their liberation, one way and another. I'm still a bit amazed they speak to the Germans at all and, when you look at the sheer destruction we and the Americans wrought, humbled that, by and large, they recognise us as friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 Cheers. I was using Le Havre as a point to aim for. I'll aim further south as Honfleur has been recommended by Michele too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panagah Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 I can thoroughly recomend Luxembourg. There is a nice site with good access to the city by bus the name of which escapes me. Try Eurocampings and it will be there. There is an aire in Luxembourg but I have yet to use it. If visiting Luxembourg don't just restrict yourself to the City itself. Thre are other very nice areas. The place to avoid is the triangle where if you played twister you would be in Belgium/France and luxembourg. This is the most horrible part of Europe I have seen. I have also done this route before which was nice, France- Holland- Belgium- Luxembourg- Germany through to the black forrest and then back up the east of France throught the forests of the vosages mountains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 I would be interested to know the name of the site which gave train and bus concessions please. I would suggest the old part of Rouen to visit too. As a retired historian it is full of interesting places to visit and I think I am right in saying that the tall ships are due there sometime this spring. Monet's garden is lovely and not too far away either. A site I sometimes use is at Pont de l'Arche just outside Rouen which is on the river where you can watch the shipping on the Seine and on the Eure. You can easily walk into the town which is old, interesting and quiet. Restaurants are good value and there is a good vet there too for anyone coming back to England. I can recommend some good aires further south but not that far north and I am not sure that you will have much luck with France Passion in that area of France. They tend to be in the wine growing areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted March 18, 2008 Author Share Posted March 18, 2008 The sites that give free passes are around Freiburg. It appears that all the sites in the area give them upon request as part of a tourist promotion. Its possibly a concession that applies to all Germany as when I was in Breisach I was offered a free transport pass at the local Toursit Info office.Its not widely advertised and they seemed surprised when I asked about them. They hold a limited number of them so its best to book it in advance. You pay a deposit of 50 euros which is refunded when you return the pass. Its ideal if you stay on stellplatz ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Thanks for that but no plans at the moment to visit Germany. Will keep in mind though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffersonCampervan Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 The camping in Kassel also gives you a transit pass good for as long as you are booked at the camping. Very handy this past summer to get to all the Documenta sites. Stellplatz adjoining the camping would have been cheaper, tho - but I liked my site right on the Fulda. Makes me wonder if this is more common in D than we realize. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niton Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Here are a few Aires which we have stayed on which may be of interest to you, working westwards from north of Epinal at Thanon-les-Vosges dept. 88 by the side of the canal. In the Cmampagne region there are two Aires we enjoy. Marevil-sur-Ay on the canal a few miles east of Epernay. The other is up in a wine village Villers-sous-Chatillon. Moving west again there is an Aire south of Amiens which we have used several times at Conty dept 80 Somme. north of rouen there are two we have used at Cleres and Montville. If you then travel west along the river Seine you will come across some marvelous Aires some on the riverside. A popular Aire is situated at La Mailleraye-sur Seine and another Jumieges but not by the river. The bridges over the Seine are now free as they have been takenover by the department. There are also three ferries which cross the Seine which are free but cannot take Motorhomes. Ideal if you wish to explore on bikes. Lastly Saint Nicolas de Bliquetuit again by the river, small and quiet. If you then come back along the coast you have plenty of choice. Here are a few: Dept 76- Etretat; Yport; Fecamp; Veulettes sur Mer; St. Valery en Caux; Veules les Roses; Dieppe; Le Treport. Dept 80-Ault-Onival; Saint Valery sur Somme; Le Crotoy (2); Cayeux sur Mer; Fort Mahon-Plage. Some of the sites make a charge for staying overnight. The best site I have found for information is www campingcar-infos.com I hope this is of some use to you. Regards, Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 Thanks. Sounds like you like my kind of site next to water. Are you a crab too ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 Thanks. Sounds like you like my kind of site next to water. Are you a crab too ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niton Posted March 21, 2008 Share Posted March 21, 2008 We love being next to water in our 'van but have found from experience that it is quieter inland next to rivers, canals and lakes than by the sea. Also sites by the sea are by their nature more commercialised and therefore tend to charge more for overnight stops and servicing your 'van. This is the beauty of being so flexible with a Motorhome you can choose easily where you wish to go and where to stay. Even during a trip you can soon change your mind and zoom off in another direction. Rivers and canals have more appeal for us and the french have a great network of cycleways. Enjoy your trip it should be good. Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 Hi geoff I totally agree with the aires niton has suggested-we have stayed on all those I think except Amiens. In the village of Cleres there is a superb bird sanctuary and it is only coppers to go in. The aire there is free including electricity but you may need a longish lead. It's a really nice spot to start or finish a trip and there are a couple of nice restaurants too. Theres also Deuville up on the coast-don't be mislead by the small aire, you can now park opposite the yacht club on the quayside and it is a superb sight to wake up to. Good large market in Trouville (Just over the river bridge by foot) on I think Mon & Thurs-Tourism office is very helpful too Enjoy your trip Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usinmyknaus Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 La Mailleraye-Sur-Seine is an excellent, very large aire but a tip is to park in the half near the entrance if possible as at the far end on the left is the village sewage treatment plant which can be a bit noisy and in hot weather, smelly. Aire is very close to the Gendarmerie and they patrol it regularly which is good for the nervous in our fraternity. There is an excellent boulangerie an easy walk round the corner on the right with a more up-market one further on on the left. River walks are OK and you will be surprised at the size of ships going past your van. There is a handy small supermarket on the way back to the main road and it had cheap diesel when last we called in - the car park is small but there is space in the roads nearby if necessary. This aire is mega popular with the French at weekends so can be full in good weather. When I found the aire chock-full I asked a French couple who had parked their 7.3 metre van parallel to the river to turn end on to let me in and they happily obliged. If you are at all nervous of using aires this one is an excellent introduction to the concept. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted March 28, 2008 Author Share Posted March 28, 2008 Spinner, Did you get my message ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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