Camping in Guérande

The idyllic town of Guérande welcomes its guests in the west of France on the peninsula of the same name. The municipality, which borders directly on the Atlantic Ocean, is part of Brittany, which is very popular with holidaymakers due to its maritime landscape. If you want to combine camping by the sea with excursions to historical sights, Guérande is the perfect place for you. The picturesque old town is home to medieval buildings that are particularly captivating in the evening with their atmospheric lighting.

Special features of camping in Guérande

Popular campsites in Guérande are located on the outskirts of the town in a quiet location, so that guests can enjoy pleasant nights. Nevertheless, it is not far to the historic centre of the municipality and you can easily go sightseeing on foot or by bike. Families with children or active campers look forward to the opportunity to take advantage of the sports facilities.

The sites have well-maintained swimming pools with shallow areas for children and fun slides. There are also tennis courts and mini golf courses. Campers can also meet up in the catering facilities, which serve delicious fast-food dishes as well as fresh fish creations. Modern sanitary facilities and bike hire stations round off the comprehensive programme of the campsites in Guérande.

How to get there

Holidaymakers, for example from Aachen in the west, travel around 870 km to reach the natural campsites in Guérande. The route leads right across Belgium and through the north of France. The length of the journey can vary depending on the location of the holiday home in Germany. At the height of larger cities, traffic jams can occur due to the slip roads. A little more time should be allowed, especially when travelling through Paris.

Campers travelling by caravan from a more southerly region, for example from Munich, drive around 1,300 km until they reach western France. You cross the German-French border at Baden-Baden, from where it is only 960 kilometres to Guérande. If you don't want to cross Paris, follow the A31, A5 and A10 motorways, which run parallel to the A4. The Forêt d'Orient nature park near Troyes is an idyllic place to rest along this route. The wooded area is ideal for stretching your legs and enjoying a picnic to fortify yourself for the rest of the journey.

Top 5 sights

• City wall: The historic city wall covers a length of over 1,400 metres. Visitors can discover the four city gates on a walk.
• Saint-Aubin: The collegiate church was built between the 12th and 16th centuries and impresses with several small towers.
• Musée du Pays de Guérande: Inquisitive visitors can learn more about the history of the French municipality on a tour of the Musée du Pays de Guérande.
• Marais Salants: A visit to the salt garden will teach you more about the extraction and importance of white gold.
• Porte Saint-Michel: The city gate dates back to the 15th century and forms the entrance to the historic centre of Guérande.

Top 2 insider tips

• Weekly market: If you want to get to know the regional cuisine in Guérande, you should visit the local weekly market on Wednesdays or Saturdays, where seasonal produce is on offer. The fish market is held here on Mondays and Thursdays.
• Au Gré des Marées: Guests can feast on fresh oysters and shellfish in the maritime-themed restaurant Au Gré des Marées, an insider tip for gourmets. You choose the langoustines or lobster yourself. They are then served with homemade sauce and white wine. In sunny weather, visitors make themselves comfortable on the restaurant's terrace.

Activities and excursions

In addition to historical sights that campers can discover while sightseeing or visiting a salt garden, holidaymakers can look forward to a varied sports programme and excursions to the Brière Regional Nature Park when camping in Guérande.

Well-kept golf course in Guérande

Sporty campers in Guérande pay a visit to the local golf course to hone their swing on the lush green meadows. The right equipment is available from an on-site shop. Beginners take the opportunity to try out their new clubs directly on site with a professional trainer. Experienced athletes can also take a look at the events calendar to take part in a competition.

Pure relaxation in the Brière Regional Nature Park

Founded in 1970, the Brière Regional Nature Park offers residents and holidaymakers a paradisiacal landscape that invites you to linger. Lagoons, salt marshes, rivers, marshland and pastureland are spread over around 50,000 hectares.

A popular way to unwind is to take a boat trip through the species-rich vegetation. Animal lovers have the opportunity to observe one of the agile otters in its natural habitat. Stoats and pintail ducks also feel at home in the nature park.

events

May

• Medieval Festival. The spectacular medieval festival takes place in Guérande every year in May. Visitors marvel at talented showmen, buy handmade souvenirs and savour hearty dishes. There are also musical performances with medieval instruments.

July - August

• La Voix des Orgues. Every Friday in July and August, the collegiate church of Saint-Aubin hosts an organ concert. Various talented church musicians perform classical pieces at the La Voix des Orgues music festival.
• Fête des Métais: In July, the inhabitants of Guérande celebrate an exuberant folk festival with a craft market and many concerts. The grand finale is the impressive fireworks display in the night sky.

November

• Festival du Livre en Bretagne du Guerande: Culture vultures and reading enthusiasts meet at the book festival in Guérande to attend readings and listen to expert discussions of the latest works at conferences.

December

• Christmas market: Families with small children and romantics are drawn to the contemplative Christmas market. The square is surrounded by small stalls that exude the scent of mulled wine and French pastries. The programme is rounded off by musicians playing traditional Christmas carols.

Gastronomy

Thanks to its location on the coast, the town in the Pays de la Loire enjoys a varied cuisine characterised by fresh fish dishes. Visitors to the town can stock up on delicious langoustines, crabs and mussels at the weekly fish market and prepare them on the barbecue with lemon and garlic at the campsite.

Guérande gained national fame in the Middle Ages thanks to the high-quality salt that is extracted from the peninsula's salt fields. The popular fleur de sel still characterises the cuisine of the locals today, who use it to refine light to hearty dishes. If you fancy something sweet, visit one of the local boulangeries, a bakery that offers French pastries such as the succulent apple tarte tatin.

Best time to visit

Due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Guérande has an oceanic climate. The summer months of July and August are ideal for swimming. During this time, temperatures rise to 25 degrees Celsius. With nine hours of sunshine a day, July is ideal for long days by the sea.

For sightseeing and excursions into nature, holidaymakers use the months from May onwards, when the sun shines seven hours a day and temperatures already reach 18 degrees Celsius. If you like hiking and want to see the colourful trees, come camping in Guerande in September to go on adventurous tours at 18 degrees Celsius. Frost or snow is not to be expected all year round, as temperatures do not fall below freezing even in winter.