Camping in Hauts-de-France

Visitors can experience idyllic surroundings in the middle of nature when camping in Hauts-de-France. The region in the north of France borders the waters of the Atlantic, the English Channel and the North Sea and offers camping for the whole family with refreshing bathing fun. As the eighth largest region and with five departments, guests can experience a varied holiday with a pure sense of freedom, including naturist camping.

Special features of camping in Hauts-de-France

Close to the border with Belgium and criss-crossed by many rivers, guests can enjoy a relaxing camping holiday in Hauts-de-France. In the hinterland, holidaymakers discover the municipalities of Oise, Aisne and Somme by motorhome. Lots of greenery and nature characterise the French region and entice you to go on long walks and short hiking excursions. In the north, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and the nearby campsites on the Atlantic Ocean are fascinating, where families in particular can enjoy a variety of mountain hikes and swimming. At the outermost tip, Great Britain can be seen in the distance in good weather. Around the city of Lille in the Pas-de-Calais department, those interested in culture will also get their money's worth at the campsites in Hauts-de-France.

Getting there

Motorhome drivers can largely reach their destination from Germany to the north of the country via motorways. Guests travelling from Cologne to the Hauts-de-France region have around 330 km to cover and, depending on traffic flow, can reach their destination in less than four hours.

The quickest route takes visitors from the city in North Rhine-Westphalia over the Severinsbrücke bridge onto the A4 motorway towards Aachen. Shortly afterwards, motorhome drivers cross the border into Belgium and continue along the motorway towards France. At the Belgian town of Liege, holidaymakers turn off onto the E40 or alternatively the E42, which delays the arrival time by around a quarter of an hour. However, guests can take this fork in the E40 with a detour to the historic city of Brussels and take a break there. The final stretch across the border with France is about 61 kilometres away. Those who take the E42 route pass the Wildlife Park Naturel Régional Scarpe-Escaut Parc with camping facilities and have already arrived in France in Hauts-de-France.

Destinations in Hautes-de-France

Cultural attractions are centred around the most populous city of Lille in the Département Nord and around Dunkerque. The remaining towns and villages are very rural in character.

Lille: music and museums

Lille is the most populous city near the campsites in Hautes-de-France. It lies on the border with Belgium and is located in the idyllic Deûle Valley. Together with Genoa, Lille was the European Capital of Culture and has its own orchestra, the Orchestre National de Lille. Museum enthusiasts will find more than nine of these art institutions in the city, including the remarkable Charles de Gaulle Museum and the Musee Palais de Beaux Arts.

Important architectural monuments include the Palais Rihour, which dates back to 1453, and the Citadel of Lille. The fortress was designed between 1667 and 1673 by the architect de Vauban in a pentagonal layout. It was commissioned by Louis XIV. The arms of the River Deûle run underground through Lille.

Dunkerque: high in the north

Just 10 kilometres from Belgium in the historically interesting West Flemish language area of French Flanders, the French port city is located on the southern North Sea coast. It is the most northerly city in the country. Dunkirk's landmarks are the Tower of the Liar, Tour du Leughenaer and the Belfry Saint-Eloi, both dating from the 15th century. If you find your way up to the top of the Belfry, you can visit the carillon of 50 bells on the floor below.

Activities and excursions

The region invites you to hike along historical trails or go on tours. If you want to visit neighbouring England, it's not too far away.

Travelling well on foot or by bike in Hauts-de-France

Mont Saint-Frieux in the Pas-de-Calais department is well worth a visit with its varied landscape of dunes, chalk hills and views of the coast. The Frieux bears the name of the monk who once warned the population from above of the Viking raid in the Middle Ages. The Somme department offers a beautiful 11 km cycle tour along the towpath. Ride your mountain bike to the Saint-Pierre water lily park in the town of Amiens and return to the starting point near Blangy-Tronville.

Excursion to the English neighbours

Visitors can cross the English Channel from Calais to Dover by car ferry - or alternatively take the tunnel. Some providers offer comfort on board. In addition to ample seating on the outside deck and shopping facilities on the ship, there is also plenty of entertainment for children. After around two hours of travelling, visitors can expect a different language and landscape. Dover is also world-famous for its ceramics, which make a lovely souvenir to take home.

Gastronomy

Flemish-French - this combination is also reflected in the cuisine of Hauts-de-France: The carbonade, a delicacy made from braised beef with onions, flavoured with brown sugar and beer, comes from Belgium. The savoury mussels with chips are also a traditional dish from the north coast of the English Channel to the interior of Flanders. At Lille's flea market, the seafood is so popular with locals and holidaymakers that the landlords place mountains of empty mussels in front of their doors as a sign of their expertise. The lamb from the salt marshes of the Bay of Somme is particularly tender and Maroilles is the oldest cheese in France. It tastes particularly good with baguette and a bottle of red wine, but is also all too popular for flamiche, a savoury cheesecake.

Best time to visit

The climate in Hauts-de-France is oceanic and temperate. The sunniest month is August, when temperatures reach a maximum of 22 degrees. Inland, however, temperatures are generally a few degrees higher than on the coast near Dunkerque or Calais, so temperatures can drop to zero degrees on the Atlantic in winter and a strong wind blows on some days. If you use the campsites in Hauts-de-France as ideal starting points for hiking and cycling or as a culture lover, you will experience a beautiful, blossoming landscape from June to September - ideal for spending time outdoors.