Campsites are open in France for Motorhomes

July 8, 2020

Good news! The campsites are now open in France to Motorhomes for the season and Sally went to visit the beautiful town of Autun. Just a fifty minute drive away from its more famous sister town of Beaune, in the scenic Morvan National Park.

Detail summary

Campsite address:
Camping de la Porte d’Arroux
Rue du Traite d’Anvers – Les Chaumottes
71400 Autun

GPS 46.9647029, 4.293947
Telephone:+33 (0)3 85 52 10 82
email: autun@orange.fr
Website: www.aquadis-loisirs.com/camping-de-la-porte-d-arroux/
Open from March to November
Price per night with electric hook-up €20.50 for a couple

Welcome to Autun

The town of Autun

This campsite is easy to find coming from Paris / our Depot in Veron. It’s just over two hours away from us and a perfect place to start a relaxing break to ease you back into the slower pace of life in France. As you drive up and see the town of Autun appear in front of you, nestled in the side of the hill with its distinctive cathedral at its centre, you see the old ruined stone doorway and the campsite is just to the right. It saves having to scramble through the quaint little town in your motorhome before arriving at your destination.

The site itself is very well kept this year by Campsite manager M. Denis and his young assistant, Nelly. I received a very warm welcome from them and I booked in without a reservation. The campsite does usually get busy during the high season so I would just email ahead to let them know you’re coming. Although M. Denis doesn’t speak very much English, he is incredibly patient and I always like to think half the fun of being in France is getting by with acting skills, miming, lots of smiling and gesturing to make the point so just have a go and enjoy.

With just under 100 emplacements in two areas, the campsite is small enough to be quiet and friendly but large enough to have plenty of space and not be too close to your neighbours. Most of the emplacements are very private with tall hedging in between them and there are electric points available with each one avoiding the need for long leads.

There are two shower / facilities blocks that are impeccably clean and well maintained; a small shop for all those little bits a pieces; a bakery ordering facility for your croissants and pain au chocolate; plus easy access to the fresh water motorhome service area point at the entrance. This site gets lots of stars in my book. I can definitely recommend it as a place to stay for a few days.

Unfortunately, this year the restaurant that is usually open on site was closed, however, the excellent news is that the town centre is only a pleasant 20-minute stroll away with an excellent restaurant just next to the Cathedral.

Restaurants outside the Cathedral in Autun

For lunch, I went to Le Petit Rolin Creperie next to the fountain in front of the Cathedral (If you go, its the one with the yellow parasol umbrellas)! And, it was so good, I went back again the next day. They did a fabulous vegetarian three-course menu for €19 of a melon rose and parmesan cheese starter then roasted mediterranean vegetables on a crispy pancake followed by a delicious sorbet in a fruit smoothie. The second time, I tried the crêpe norvégienne – smoked salmon and crème fraiche with a wedge of lemon on a savoury pancake for just over €9.50. I’d have gone back again if I could but, it was time to leave. It was very easy to become a regular at that place.

On the walk back down to the campsite you pass the little roadways sided with houses brim-full of geraniums and fuchsias. I came across a great little brocante shop owned by Willem Somers and his wife. Willem is Dutch and so speaks perfect English, (as well as Dutch, French, German, etc…)

La Baronne du Broc shop front

The shop is called La Baronne du Broc, and you can find it at 13, Grande Rue Chauchien, Autun. If you want to check it out, they have a Facebook page just search for La Baronne du Broc. I picked up an old cast iron, iron that makes a great doorstop for just €15 although I do also have my eye on a couple of Tiffany styled lamps I saw in there. Again, I shall be going back! And Willem wanted me to let you know that he’s also an estate agent, so if you fall in love with the area and want to buy a property – typically for France, you go speak to the local antique shop keeper and not the estate agent. The good thing about Willem is his English would come in handy for navigating through the house buying process. Here’s Willem’s estate agency website for you  www.immobilierautun.fr

If you carry on walking down the pedestrianised cobbled street, you will come to the market place. I understand the market is here on Fridays and is worth a visit. The tourist information office is also near the market place so it’s a good place to stop and pick up information about the local area and festivals or events that are happening nearby. This is tourist information office website in English for you https://www.autun-tourisme.com/home

I only stayed for a weekend but could have enjoyed a few more days in this stunning part of the world.

Add it to your itinerary and say ‘hello’ to M. Denis for me. Tell him Sally sent you and I’m sure you’ll have a very good and informative friend.