photographs taken by John James of jj99 for the website  "www.jj99.co.uk" photographs are in albums grouped under "French Touring Holidays""European Touring Holidays""Self drive tour of California""Short breaks with Tonbridge and Malling Ramblers Association""HRH Prince Charles""Chelsea Flower Shows""Alternative Fashion Show,London""KATS walking group trwinning with Actif Hainalt Marche, Valenciennes"

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French Caravan Tour 2015

A six week tour towing our caravan starting on Sunday 16th August and ending on Sunday 27th September using ACSI card or Camping Cheques

where possible. ( both offer off peak site discounts)

Total Mileage 1655-- (plus 567 miles touring from campsites= 2071 miles grand total)

This year we started by driving direct from Calais to Chartres. Our planned route was Chartres -Chateauroux- Beaulieu sur Dordogne, Beaulieu su Dordogne- Cahors -Cordes su Ciel- Palau del Vidre and returning via Issoire - Nevers & Chartres before heading for Calais and home.

We reserved site at Palau del Vidre to ensure that we got our preferred pitches

 

The link to a Google Photo Album for this tour is available on request

A summary chart giving details of mileages travelled and campsites follows the photographs

Please e mail your comments and suggestions about this site to :- info@jj99.co.uk

Home to Chartres 276 miles

Coffee stop on D90 en route to Chartres via Rouen

- a damp start but it did get better

Before we left home we picked a plentiful supply of tomatoes which lasted for several weeks

 

St Adrien at Belbeuf just south of Rouen where a chapelle is built into the face of the chalk cliff - we had lunch here - the car park is large and there is usually plenty of space

     

Chartres to Chateauroux 131 miles

- Lunch at Aire des Gite de Loups and tea at Aire du Grande Meaulnes

 
Coffee at Lamotte Beuvron
 
 

Chateauroux to Beaulieu sur Dordogne 160 miles

   
 
Beaulieu sur Dordogne to Cordes sur Ciel 84 miles
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cordes sur Ciel to Palau del Vidre - 211 miles -

 

 

 
Sunday is Market Day in Collioure

The pool and new reception building at Le Haras, Palau del Vidre

New Decorative Steel / Glass artwork on site at Le Haras, Palau del Vidre

 

Le Haras, Palau del Vidre

Mobile wine press -on site at Le Haras

 

More Decorative Steel / Glass artwork on site at Le Haras, Palau del Vidre

Old horse drawn plough -on site at Le Haras

 

Palau del Vidre following major prunning to the trees in the square

Palau del Vidre

At Palau del Vidre Locally sourced fresh figs

 

Shrine to Sant Galdric

 

The road back to Le Haras from Palau del Vidre

 

Facade retained but shop closed years ago

Port Argeles

ND Consolation at Port Argeles

Port Argeles

 

The Promenade at Argeles sur Mer

 

Palau del Vidre to Issoire - 265 miles

Heading north up the A75 tea stop at the Aire de Garabit overlooking the Viaduct

The Garabit Viaduct (Viaduc de Garabit in French) is a railway arch bridge spanning the River Truyère near Ruynes-en-Margeride

 

Issoire just off the A75 -cross this roudabout to get to the Municipal Campsite

 
 
Issoire to Nevers - 127 miles

Hotel de Ville, Dampierre

Dampierre sur Loire

Just after Gien, Dampierre was a convenient and pretty place to stop for coffee

The entrance to the campsite at Nevers

The campsite is situated on the River Loire next to the old stone bridge leading to the town

Nevers - Echaugette tower with the tower of Cathedral Saint-Cyr et Saint-Julitte behind there is a blue tourist route marked on the pavement guiding you around the historic town

Nevers - this tower in next to the Faience Earthenware Museun

The ancient 12th century church of Saint Genest has been restored during the past couple of years

 

Pont canal du Guetin takes the Canal Lateral across the River Loire 15km from Nevers

 

at the Bec d'allier' -the confluence of the Loire and Allier

Apremont sur allier -a 'Plus Beau' Village a short drive from Nevers - the gardens here are well worth a visit

The path to the green route is well marked

Walking back from the 'green' path

the green route - a path alongside the river

Nevers to Chartres - 162 miles
     

Chartres cathedral from the big wheel

Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière ... It is a blue Virgin against a red background and is described as “the most beautiful stained-glass window in existence.

 

Chartes - just friends

Enjoying a Grimbergen by Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Vegetable Market

 
 
 
Chartres to Home -285 miles
 

l

and a shady spot back at home

 
Summary of route and campsites

 

Miles

Campsite

Home to Chartres

276

Camping des bords de L'Eure Municipal
9 rue de Launay
Within walking distance along the river to Chartres
Nearby supermarket

Chartres to Chatearoux

131

Camping du Rochat Belle Isles

www.aquadis-loisirs.com ---------------------17 Rue de Rochat FR 36000

Chateauroux to Beaulieu sur Dordogne

160

Les Isles .........info@campinglesisles.fr

Beaulieu sur Dordogne to Cahors

57

Camping Riviere de Cabessut

Not CCard or Cheque CASH only

1180 Rue de la Riviere, Cahors 46000

     

Cahors to Cordes sur Ciel

56

Domaine le Garissou. Les Cabannes

A few miles from the pretty historic town of Cordes sur Ciel

CChqs from 22/8

Cordes sur Ciel - Palau del Vidre 163 Le Haras Camping Cheque
1 Ter Avenue Joliot Curie, Domaine Sant Galdric
Free WiFi within range of most pitches
Swimming Pool
15 min drive to Collioure - Argeles is even closer

Palau del Vidre to Issoire

268

Camping Municipal du Mas  5% ACSI Discount
63500  Rue du docteur Beinfait
Close to A75 - supermarket nearby
Mobile baker visits in the morning
Free Wi Fi

Issoire to Nevers

121

Camping de Nevers,Cheque or Card
58000 Rue de la Jonction

Riverside site overlooking cathedral
Free internet connection in reception

Nevers to Chartres

162

Camping des bords de L'Eure Municipal

 

 

9 rue de Launay
ACIS out of season

Chartres to home

285

17 miles lost!!

Total Mileage excluding 'in & about'

1655

 

mmm
 
 

At Palau del Vidre Locally sourced fresh figs