While the historic town of Millau squeezes itself within a meander of the River Tarn, it’s the local campsite that reaps the real rewards of the riverside location. Across a bridge from the town centre and set along a tree-lined bank where the River Dourbie converges, this family-orientated campsite has the best of both stretches of water. After all, why have one sunny beach on your doorstep when you can have two?
It’s a hop and skip from the waters edge into the shrubbery of the campsite, a combination of tall mature trees in regimented rows and younger greening bushes. The best of the pitches (and the ones you have to pay slightly more for) are on the riverside itself, where you can wake up, whack your bacon on the camp-stove and slide across the pebbles for a morning dip. The flow is slow and safe, even if the water has a bracing chill at times!
For the few that don’t spend all their time dabbling in the river, there is a heated swimming pool too. It’s a feature that reflects just how well endowed this campsite is in terms of facilities – there’s also a small grocery shop in the reception, free WiFi, a snack-bar, playground and boules pitch. In keeping with essential French custom you can, of course, order fresh baguettes and croissants each morning. No self-respecting French campsite would deny you that.
Across the Bridge, Millau has everything else you need, including a clutch of museums and a tourist information centre that will help you get your bearings. The real attractions of the region, however, are not the urban ones. Kayaking, canoeing and walking in the surrounding valley are top of the list and this is also France’s centre for paragliding. The campsite is, after all, in the centre of the Grands Causses regional natural park. So get out there and enjoy it!