Camping in Pays de la Loire

The Pays de la Loire in western France fascinate visitors with their breathtaking natural landscapes and diverse sights. They are therefore ideal for camping with children as well as for a relaxing cultural holiday for two. Thanks to its location between Brittany, Normandy and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the region can also be perfectly integrated into a round trip along the Atlantic. The departments of Mayenne and Sarthe are particularly attractive destinations.

Special features of camping in the Pays de la Loire

Cultural and nature holidays are not mutually exclusive in the Pays de la Loire, but can be wonderfully combined on a camping holiday with the whole family. Several hundred campsites attract visitors to idyllic river valleys directly on the green banks of the Loire, in the green hills or on the wide sandy beaches and wild rocky cliffs of the French Atlantic coast. Whether in rustic wooden cabins, camping areas with spacious pool landscapes or on small campsites with just a few pitches - the campsites in the Pays de la Loire know how to impress with their versatility. In between, medieval castles, historic old towns and varied nature reserves are waiting to be discovered.

You don't just have to stay in a traditional tent or motorhome. A camping holiday in a mobile home or rental accommodation for several people close to the river or a town is incredibly attractive and varied.

Campsites in the Pays de la Loire

For travellers in France, there is a wide selection of campsites in the Pays de la Loire. Directly on the banks of the river, on the hills overlooking the vast countryside or in the neighbourhood of a town that lines the coastline. When travelling by river, campsites can be booked for one night or several days. Rental accommodation or a mobile home would be an excellent choice. Several people can sleep comfortably in this attractive alternative to a tent or motorhome.

How to get there

The Pays de la Loire region in the west of France is easy to reach from Germany via the motorway. Take the A4 motorway to Paris, where you change to the A10 towards Chartres. From there, the A11 motorway takes you through picturesque fields and meadows to Le Mans in the north-east of the region. Just under 100 km further on, the motorway reaches Angers and then follows the course of the eponymous Loire to Nantes, the capital of the Pays de la Loire, another 90 km away. From Saarbrücken or Trier, Le Mans is around 600 km away, from Karlsruhe, Mannheim and Mainz it is a good 100 km more. Along the route, you can make a stopover in the coronation city of Reims or the French capital Paris. The UNESCO-protected Chartres Cathedral is also worth a visit. When travelling, it is important to note that French motorways are generally subject to tolls and that tolls also apply on the route described here.

Destinations in the Pays de la Loire

In addition to the major cities of Angers, Le Mans and Nantes, a number of smaller towns captivate visitors with their royal mansions and imposing defences, while the historic spas of La Baule and Le Croisic attract sun worshippers to the Atlantic coast. Many towns along the river boast a rich history and are ideal for a one-night stay or more. The harbour towns exude a very special charm.

Nantes

The capital of the region is home to a historic old town centre, whose street cafés exude a touch of Parisian flair, as well as the former residence of the Breton dukes. The Machines de l'île are a particular highlight, transporting visitors to the dream worlds of Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci. Here you can stroll among mechanical fantasy creatures or be carried across the island on the back of a 12 metre high elephant.

Saumur

In the heart of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Nature Park, the small town of Saumur will delight you with its romantic half-timbered houses in the shadow of an imposing castle. Lovers of fine wines will be delighted by the neighbouring wine-growing region, while the nearby cave village of Rochemenier and dolmens from the Neolithic period make for exciting excursion destinations.

Guérande

Situated on a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean, the town known for its salt production is surrounded by the sea to the west and the Brière Nature Park to the east - perfect for a varied camping holiday in the Pays de la Loire. The town centre is surrounded by a 1,434 m long wall. If you are travelling in early June, you should definitely include the Fête médiéval, an annual medieval festival with singing, dancing and equestrian performances, on your itinerary.

Activities and excursions

Nature and history enter into an unmistakable liaison in the Pays de la Loire. There are also a number of exciting festivals and the odd romantic insider tip.

Puy du Fou historical amusement park

Knights, Vikings or toga-wearing Romans - the multi-award-winning Puy du Fou amusement park is not just great for children. Visitors explore reconstructed villages from different eras and are amazed by a variety of live performances, including spectacular gladiator fights and fast-paced chariot races in the ancient amphitheatre.

24 Hours of Le Mans

For motorsport enthusiasts, the oldest endurance race in the world, which has been held in Le Mans in the Sarthe department since 1923, is reason enough to travel to the Pays de la Loire. But even amateurs fall under the spell of the fascination of racing when the field roars past them.

Romantic boat trip in the Marais Poitevin marshes

On the border with Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Marais Poitevin, the largest marshland in France after the Camargue, offers idyllic natural landscapes. Also known as Venise Verte (Green Venice), the region enchants visitors with its winding canals, which can be explored in traditional punts.

The department of Mayenne is known for its impressive castles. Laval Castle, Sainte-Suzanne Castle and Lassay-les-Châteaux are all well worth a visit.

Gastronomy

The culinary specialities of the Pays de la Loire, all made from high-quality local produce, live up to France's reputation as the number one gourmet nation in every respect. On the Atlantic coast, fresh fish and seafood adorn the plates, including the famous oysters from Vendée and mussels from Aiguillon. Freshwater fish from the Loire can also be found on many menus. They taste particularly delicious in a buttery white wine sauce and with a little fleur de sel from the Guérande salt marshes. A dry Muscadet white wine from the growing regions south of Nantes goes well with them. A cider from Mayenne and a Cointreau directly from the distillery opened in Angers in 1849 are also temptations that should not be resisted when camping in the Pays de la Loire.

Best time to visit

Between May and October, the Pays de la Loire offer wonderful weather conditions for visiting cultural sights and taking long walks through the picturesque countryside. Thanks to its location on the Atlantic Ocean, the climate is mild all year round and the region is spared the heatwaves of southern France in the summer months. Nevertheless, temperatures consistently climb above 20 degrees Celsius from June to September. The Pays de la Loire is therefore perfect for a pleasant summer holiday without sweaty T-shirts. As the Atlantic Ocean takes a little longer to warm up, a beach holiday is only recommended from July onwards. The warmest month to visit is August.