France - Paris, Rocamadour, and more

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by Jim and Emmy Humberd

6 of our 101 Campsites in France

We have visited, or at least driven through hundreds of cities, towns, villages and places of scenic beauty in France. We do not recommend travel only where we traveled, or try to see only what we have seen, we give commentary, not itinerary.

Our first (of nine) visit(s) to Paris was spent on the banks of the Marne River, on the south side of the city. After a ride on the Métro, our first sight of central Paris was the Arc de Triomphe, as we climbed the steps from the subway station.

For several years we enjoyed the Paris-Ouest campsite, located on the Seine River, in the Bois de Boulogne, a 2,224 acre park on the west side of Paris, just a mile or two from Tour Eiffel, and Arc de Triomphe. The campsite was a short walk from games of Boule and soccer, and near where many people were strolling, picnicking, fishing, and enjoying themselves.

When we arrived at the campground where the causeway leaves the coast, there were still two kilometers of awe and wonderment as we continued to the Outer Gate of Mont-St.-Michel. As may well be imagined, the view from the window of the RV, as this magnificent structure is illuminated by the rising or setting sun, is a transcendent travel highlight.

Clinging dramatically to the top of a 1640 feet cliff, the castle dominates the scene at Rocamadour, France. Half-way down, at Place St.-Amadour, there are seven sanctuaries, and one more elevator ride, or 216 steps, leads down to the colorful confusion of gateways, old houses and stores on Rocamadour’s main street. The campground is but a few steps from this view.

Avignon’s Municipal Campsite is on the island in the Rhône River. The floodlit panoply, from our window, that includes the Palace of the Popes, le pont d’Avignon, and the city wall, is one of the more spectacular sights of a vacation trip. We weren’t too far from civilization — the McDonald’s and the Häagen-Dazs store are just across from each other on the main street, just a couple of blocks from the Palace of the Popes.

We climbed to the top of the Pont du Gard and enjoyed the glow of sunset on the old stone structure, then spent the night in the nearby parking lot with many other RVs. The next morning we again drove across the Pont du Gard. Why is that so exciting? Well, who else do you know who has done that?

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