Camping by the sea in the South of France

Camping by the sea in the south of France promises dreamy Mediterranean beaches, glamorous coastal towns and idyllic landscapes. What could be more fulfilling than climbing out of your caravan in the morning, admiring the glistening sea with your first cup of coffee and playing with your feet in the still cool sand? In the south of France, camping travellers will find a multitude of excellent pitches right on the beach, surrounded by fragrant pine forests and blooming lavender fields.

Holiday destinations

One of the most popular holiday regions in France is undoubtedly the beautiful Côte d'Azur on the Mediterranean. Travellers can expect paradisiacal white beaches and crystal-clear water here. The sophisticated coastal towns of the region exude pure luxury. Saint Tropez, for example, is a favourite summer destination for many celebrities. Just 1.5 kilometres from the famous Pampelonne beach, the Yelloh! Village Les Tournels welcomes its guests and delights them with its fantastic pool area.

Monaco with its legendary casino and Cannes, the venue for the film festival, also attract visitors with their magnificent beach promenades and impressive yachts. One of the most culturally appealing cities in the south of France is the Italian-influenced city of Nice. The cobbled old town enchants visitors with its colourful flower markets, medieval buildings and charming cafés. Nice also hosts the country's most extravagant carnival every year.

The Languedoc-Roussillon region also offers wide sandy beaches and many hours of sunshine. The western part of the French Mediterranean coast stretches from the mouth of the Rhône to the Spanish border and is home to popular seaside resorts such as Argelès Plage, La Grande Motte and Séte. Travellers can spend the night directly on an 800 m long, fine sandy beach at Camping L'Espiguette near the town of Le Grau du Roi. This is a perfect starting point for exploring the picturesque natural landscape of the Camargue with its bulls, white horses and flamingos.

Top tips

• The three Corniches: Travelling by motorhome, driving through Mediterranean landscapes and enjoying the view of the azure Mediterranean - a dream for every camping holidaymaker. A trip along one of the three coastal roads, known as the Corniches, between Nice and Menton is particularly worthwhile. The Basse Corniche runs directly along the sea and connects inviting coastal towns and paradisiacal capes. The slightly higher Moyenne Corniche offers wonderful views of the sea and leads past the ancient mountain village of Èze. The upper coastal road, the "Grande Corniche", offers a panoramic view of the Côte d'Azur, including Monaco.
• Musée et Institut océanographique de Monaco: If you want to learn more about the underwater world of southern France, you should visit the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. The temple perched above the sea is home to exciting aquariums and is recognised worldwide in the scientific community.

Activities and excursions

Holidays at a campsite by the sea in the south of France offer a variety of impressive excursion destinations and are ideal for active holidaymakers.

Sunbathing and water sports on the most beautiful beaches on the French Mediterranean coast

Probably the most famous beach in France is the enchanting Plage Pampelonne near Saint Tropez. Its beach restaurants are frequented by celebrities, the sand is very fine and a wide range of water sports such as jet skiing and windsurfing can be practised. The Plage Mala in Cap d'Ail is a true natural paradise. The small bay with its turquoise-blue water is somewhat difficult to access by land, which is why it is often deserted. However, it is easily accessible by water taxi. The island of Porquerolles offers wonderful diving spots and sunken shipwrecks, while divers can also see rays, barracudas and sunfish in the waters around the neighbouring island of Port-Cros. The hidden bays on the steep coast around Cassis are a fantastic destination for sun worshippers. The so-called Calanques are best reached from the sea and promise romantic hours. Plage Espiguette near the fishing town of Le Grau du Roi is a fantastic, unspoilt sandy beach. The dune landscape creates a sense of adventure. The water quality here is also excellent.

Experience nature while hiking in the south of France

Hiking fans can embark on wonderful tours in the southern French provinces. The Calanques mountains promise exciting coastal hikes with their steep cliffs over 300 metres high and small bathing bays in picturesque fjords. A hike around the town of Grasse is a feast for the senses. The city of scents is surrounded by landscapes full of roses, violets and blossoming lemon and orange trees. The hiking trail across the wild and romantic peninsula of Saint Tropez is also very popular. Relaxing beach walks are also possible in the Camargue National Park. The wetlands in the Rhône delta are home to countless water birds.

Events

A varied programme of events to suit all tastes awaits travellers in the south of France all year round.

January

• Circus festival in Monte-Carlo: acrobats from all over the world show off their skills in the ring of the Chapiteau de Fontvieille. Spectators are immersed in a fantastic world and experience an unforgettable show.

February

• Carnival in Nice: The largest carnival celebration in France has been taking place since the 13th century and offers two weeks of parades, flower parades and processions.
• Lemon festival in Menton: The Fête du Citron, which is dedicated to citrus fruits with flower fights and parades, is a real folk festival. The whole town is decorated with the fruit. The festivities end with a huge firework display.

May

• Cannes International Film Festival: One of the world's most important film festivals has been attracting the stars of the film scene to the Côte d'Azur since 1946. The best film is awarded the Palme d'Or, the most important prize in the competition.

June

• Montpellier Danse Festival: The largest dance festival in Europe attracts thousands of spectators every year who are impressed by the contemporary dances.

October

• Les Voiles de St-Tropez: This sailing regatta has been held in the Gulf of Saint Tropez for over 25 years. In addition to the exciting competition, visitors also appreciate the opportunity to see the world's most expensive yachts in action.