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Home >European Touring
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Touring
European Countries
2007
tour Western France, the Pyrenees and Northern
Spain
2006
tour Slovenia via
Bavaria, Germany, Dolomites and Lakes in Italy and French
Alps
2005
tour Auvergne,
Jura and Alsace in France, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche and Lakes in Italy
2002 tour
Provence, Camargue and
Dordogne in France
2001
tour Bourgogne, Alps and Drôme regions in
France
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European
Campsites European
Aires 2005 European
Aires 2006 European
Aires 2007
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We have travelled quite extensively across
Europe in recent years mostly in our motorhome but occasionally taking
shorter fly-drive holidays. From reading our travel logs it can be seen
that we prefer to tour the open countryside and discover small towns and
villages rather than the larger cities. We feel that we see more of each
country's everyday lifestyle and like to visit local shops and markets
rather than restaurants. Although we study maps and guide books before we
set off we frequently change our plans and end up in the more remote
places away from the main tourist traps. That is the beauty of extended
holidays which we can now take since we have both retired!
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a site water tap in France
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France is
Camping-Car heaven with
about eleven thousand
sites both municipal and privately owned and ranging from basic to luxury
and also plenty of "Aires" where you can usually park
overnight, normally with a small charge for the water and waste supply points
and even electric hookups. In some places you can stay for one night free in
a town or village square. The Autoroutes around the cities (generally toll
free) can be busy and overnighting on autoroute aires is not recommended
for security reasons, but
we found that the most interesting journeys are along the N and especially
the D
roads which are generally quieter. |
Piano Grande Umbria
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Italy
is an interesting mix of old and new, smart and scruffy (both people and
buildings!). The areas we have visited include Tuscany, Umbria and the
Marches, Venice and the Lakes. We also passed through the Dolomites. Organised campsites are generally large and
expensive but there are lots of Arees di Sosta. The autostrada (tolls) and
main roads are busy with many lorries but there are plenty of small towns
and villages and good countryside off the beaten track. |
Lake Bled, Slovenia
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Slovenia newly in the EU is a mix of old and
new. The capital Ljubljana is a bustling city. To the north west there are
the Julian Alps and picturesque Lake Bled. Elsewhere there are caves,
castles and old and modern spa resorts.
There are large forests and agricultural and wine producing areas.
Apiculture (bee-keeping) is also widespread. There are a few dozen
campsites all privately run varying from large resort sites to a few
basic farm sites. We are only aware of three official motorhome stopovers.
English is spoken widely |
Brienzersee near Interlaken
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Switzerland is expensive for touring with high site fees
and fuel costs. There are few lay-bys especially on the minor roads up the
valleys. We found the campsites in the main tourist areas to be mostly large and
crowded with very small pitches. For the best views and access to the
mountains a Swiss pass for use on the railways and cable-cars is
essential |
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Neiderau Austria
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Austria has a mix of small and large sites depending on the popularity
of the area as a tourist destination. Pitch sizes are usually
similar to in Switzerland but some sites have larger marked pitches.
We have recently stayed at some lakeside sites that have luxurious
amenities. The main roads are generally good and parking in towns not usually a problem.
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Castille de Loarre Spain
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Spain
we found to be a country of contrasts ranging from the mountainous
Pyrenees, the green (and often damp) North Atlantic coast and dry high
level plains. The architecture is very mixed with magnificent old churches
and monasteries and drab industrial towns but sometimes with hidden gems
such as old hilltop castles. We have only toured Northern Spain in our
motorhome but have visited the Costas on short fly-drive holidays when
even in a couple of weeks we have explored the more rusgged counrtryside
just a few miles inland from the coast. We found the Spanish side of the
Pyrenees less accessible with very long north-south valleys make touring
off the beaten track more difficult.
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