Camping holidays are attracting more and more families in search of nature, freedom and authenticity. And what could be better than staying near the ‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’ to combine relaxation, cultural discoveries and special moments with your children?
With their picturesque narrow streets, historic buildings, unspoilt landscapes and outdoor activities, these destinations offer the perfect setting for a family holiday full of memories.
Whether you’re staying in a tent, a campervan, a motorhome or a mobile home, here are a few suggestions for family holidays at nature campsites or club campsites with entertainment, just a few minutes’ drive from the‘Most Beautiful Villages of France’.
Why choose a campsite to explore the Most Beautiful Villages of France with your family?
Staying at a campsite close to France’s Most Beautiful Villages means, above all, slowing down and feeling free to organise your days as you please, adapting to everyone’s pace. In the space of a single day, you can take a dip in the campsite’s swimming pool and visit a medieval castle, take your children to the playground and browse the village craft market, plan a family nature walk and meet up on the café terrace… the possibilities are endless and there’s something for everyone!
The top 3 regions for family camping near Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Depending on your tastes and those of your loved ones, here are a few regions that are ideal for family camping around Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. From lavender fields to half-timbered houses, and from water sports to cultural tourism, each region offers a wealth of scenery and experiences to enjoy with your loved ones.
Occitanie is the region with the highest concentration of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. It is home to some of France’s most spectacular villages, often nestled amongst rivers, cliffs and lush green valleys.
It is also one of the most exciting regions for families looking for outdoor activities:
canoeing on the Tarn, the Lot or the Aveyron
hiking through gorges and valleys
swimming in rivers and natural lakes
caves and adventure parks
Among the must-see villages, Rocamadour (Lot) impresses with its exceptional religious heritage and its village built on the side of a cliff. Just a stone’s throw away, the campsites Le Relais du Campeur and Les Cigales welcome you and your family for a colourful holiday:
visit the sanctuary of Rocamadour
explore the ‘Forêt des Singes’ zoo, home to over 150 macaques living in semi-freedom
watch the eagles take flight at the Rocher des Aigles park
cool off at the Grotte des Merveilles in Rocamadour, or a little further afield at the Gouffre de Padirac
stroll along the scenic footpaths above the medieval town
From the Atlantic coast to the lush green valleys of Limousin, via vineyards, forests and its many charming villages, Nouvelle-Aquitaine offers the perfect setting for a family camping holiday. Its exceptional heritage, vast natural spaces and diverse range of activities appeal to young and old alike, whether you’re looking for days at the beach, bike rides or cultural discoveries.
For a getaway combining the seaside and historical charm, head to the Île de Ré, where two of theLes Plus Beaux Villages de France – Ars-en-Ré and La Flotte (Charente-Maritime) – invite you to slow down. Here, getting around is mainly by bike, along cycle paths that wind through salt marshes, beaches and villages decked out in flowers. Children love the long days by the water’s edge, whilst parents enjoy the local markets, bustling harbours and the Île de Ré way of life.
Nearby, several family-friendly campsites, such as Camping Les Peupliers or Flower Camping Le Bel Air, provide an excellent base from which to explore the island’s attractions. On the agenda for your stay:
exploring Île de Ré by bike along a network of cycle paths suitable for the whole family
explore the salt marshes and learn about the salt-making trade
enjoying the fine sandy beaches for swimming, games and water sports
strolling around the harbour at La Flotte and visiting its medieval market, one of the most famous in the region
explore the fortifications of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
go birdwatching in the nature reserves that are the island’s greatest asset.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: between hilltop villages and spectacular natural scenery
Provence charms families with its picturesque villages, sun-drenched landscapes and wide variety of outdoor activities. Here, life follows the rhythm of the sun: you can browse the Provençal markets, stroll through fields of lavender, cool off by the lakes or the Mediterranean, or go for a walk along the well-maintained trails in the nature parks.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) perfectly epitomises this atmosphere. Situated in the heart of the Verdon Regional Nature Park, this charming village enjoys a prime location, just a few minutes from Lake Sainte-Croix. To make the most of the region, choose a campsite ideally situated at the entrance to the lake: Le Moulin. For a little more comfort, the Rose de Provence Verdon campsite is the perfect choice, less than 20 minutes from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
During your stay, you can:
stroll through the narrow streets of Moustiers, visiting its weekly market or summer markets
pop into the earthenware workshops and their museum to learn about the unique history of this village of artisans
climb the 262 steps leading to the chapel above the village and get a closer look at the star suspended between the cliffs
make the most of the nearby Lake Sainte-Croix for a swim or a family picnic
hire a canoe or a pedalo there and set off to explore the Verdon Gorges
go for a hike in the gorges and admire the spectacular views of the cliffs and the turquoise waters of the Verdon
Plan your camping holiday near Les Plus Beaux Villages de France with ease
To organise your holiday with ease and find the perfect campsite, you can rely on Camping Direct, a platform specialising in outdoor holidays. Thanks to real-time availability and handy filters, it’s easy to choose the ideal accommodation, from a simple pitch to a fully equipped mobile home.
We also recommend several partner campsites you can trust. Located in one of the ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’, they uphold the values of our network.
Welcome to the three-star Au Gré des Vents campsite, your little corner of paradise! We offer spacious, shaded pitches and comfortable accommodation, with the village of Rochefort-en-Terre just a 15-minute walk away.
Here, you can unwind and enjoy your holiday to the fullest.
No matter whether you’re staying in a tent, a caravan, a motorhome or a fully equipped mobile home, you’ll find everything you need for a wonderful holiday.
You’ll love the heated swimming pool, which is perfect for a refreshing dip, as well as the children’s play area and pétanque court, which are great for having fun with friends and family. To top it all off, the campsite organises fun activities for all the family during the high season.
Set in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the Domaine de Verdagne offers families the chance to enjoy a holiday surrounded by vineyards and pine forests.
Whether you opt for a luxury treehouse or a comfortable mobile home, it's the perfect place to reconnect with nature and enjoy the gentle Mediterranean climate.
Nestled in the forest, the Domaine Oz’Arbres offers unique accommodation set in the heart of the Catalan countryside. Guests can enjoy treehouses, panoramic views of Prats-de-Mollo, and the opportunity to unwind amidst the mountains and nature.
This holiday village comprises fifteen chalets set in peaceful, unspoilt surroundings near the village of Sainte-Eulalie-d'Olt. The chalets offer stunning views of the Lot Valley.
A 4-star campsite just 500 metres from the village of La Romieu. Le Camp de Florence is a 10-hectare site set in natural surroundings, featuring a lovely water park, mobile homes, tents and pitch-only options.
Enjoy the views of the Loire from a cabin on stilts or one of the 116 pitches at this four-star campsite. Even better, the village of Montsoreau is only 100 metres away!
This 4-star family campsite is just a few minutes from the village of Limeuil. Whether you’re staying in a mobile home or a tent, you can enjoy 50 marked pitches and a heated swimming pool during the summer months.
For summer holidays, it’s best to book between six and nine months in advance, especially in popular regions such as Provence or the Dordogne. Travellers with more flexible dates may, however, still find availability outside the peak season.
What type of accommodation is best suited to families?
Mobilehomes are often the most comfortable choice for families with young children, thanks to their spaciousness, proper beds and wide range of facilities. Travellers looking for an experience closer to nature often prefer a pitch for a tent, motorhome or caravan.
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A few lovely motorhome sites
Learn more
The top 3 regions for family camping near the Most Beautiful Villages of France
Depending on your tastes and those of your loved ones, here are a few regions that are ideal for family camping around the Most Beautiful Villages of France. From lavender fields to half-timbered houses, and from water sports to cultural tourism, each region offers a wealth of scenery and experiences to enjoy with your loved ones
Occitanie: medieval villages, rivers and outdoor adventures
Occitanie is the region with the highest concentration of ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’. It is home to some of France’s most spectacular villages, often nestled amongst rivers, cliffs and lush green valleys.
It is also one of the most exciting regions for families looking for outdoor activities:
canoeing on the Tarn, Lot or Aveyron
hiking through gorges and valleys
swimming in rivers and natural lakes
caves and adventure parks
Among the must-see villages, Rocamadour (Lot) is a sight to behold, with its exceptional religious heritage and village perched on the cliff face. Just a stone’s throw away, the campsites Le Relais du Campeur and Les Cigales welcome you and your family for a colourful holiday:
visit the sanctuary of Rocamadour
explore the ‘Forêt des Singes’ wildlife park, home to over 150 macaques living in semi-freedom
watch the eagles take flight at the Rocher des Aigles park
cool off at the Grotte des Merveilles in Rocamadour, or a little further afield at the Gouffre de Padirac
stroll along the scenic footpaths above the medieval town
From the Atlantic coast to the lush green valleys of Limousin, taking in vineyards, forests and its many charming villages, Nouvelle-Aquitaine offers the perfect setting for a family camping holiday. Its exceptional heritage, vast natural spaces and diverse range of activities appeal to young and old alike, whether you’re looking for days at the beach, bike rides or cultural discoveries.
For a getaway combining the seaside with cultural heritage, head to Île de Ré, where two of the‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’, Ars-en-Ré and La Flotte (Charente-Maritime), invite you to slow down. Here, getting around is mainly by bike, along cycle paths that wind through salt marshes, beaches and villages adorned with flowers. Children love the long days by the water’s edge, whilst parents enjoy the local markets, bustling harbours and the Île de Ré way of life.
Nearby, several family-friendly campsites, such as Camping Les Peupliers or Flower Camping Le Bel Air, provide an excellent base from which to explore the island’s treasures. On the agenda for your stay:
exploring Île de Ré by bike along a network of cycle paths suitable for the whole family
explore the salt marshes and learn about the salt-making trade
enjoying the fine sandy beaches for swimming, games and water sports
strolling around the harbour at La Flotte and visiting its medieval market, one of the most famous in the region
exploring the fortifications of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
go birdwatching in the nature reserves that are the island’s greatest asset.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: from hilltop villages to breathtaking natural scenery
Provence charms families with its charming villages, sun-drenched landscapes and wide variety of outdoor activities. Here, life follows the rhythm of the sun: you can explore Provençal markets, stroll through fields of lavender, cool off by the lakes or the Mediterranean, or go for a walk along the well-maintained trails in the nature parks.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) perfectly epitomises this atmosphere. Situated in the heart of the Verdon Regional Nature Park, this charming village enjoys a prime location, just a few minutes from Lake Sainte-Croix. To make the most of the region, choose a campsite ideally situated at the entrance to the lake: Le Moulin. For a little more comfort, the Rose de Provence Verdon campsite is the perfect choice, less than 20 minutes from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
During your stay, you can:
stroll through the narrow streets of Moustiers, visiting its weekly market or summer markets
pop into the earthenware workshops and their museum to learn about the unique history of this village of artisans
climb the 262 steps leading to the chapel above the village and get a closer look at the star suspended between the cliffs
make the most of the nearby Lake Sainte-Croix for a swim or a family picnic
hire a canoe or a pedalo there and set off to explore the Verdon Gorges
go for a hike in the gorges and admire the spectacular views of the cliffs and the turquoise waters of the Verdon
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Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: between hilltop villages and spectacular natural scenery
