With the 2023 Rugby World Cup taking place just over the English Channel, we're expecting bumper bookings on many campsites throughout this rugby-crazy country
Camping has always been a popular way to visit France, and with the 2023 Rugby World Cup taking place just over the English Channel, we're expecting bumper bookings on many campsites throughout this rugby-crazy country.
Every year our assessor team inspects around 600 sites throughout France, so if you're lucky enough to have tickets to watch your home nation playing or if you're going to enjoy the atmosphere in the fan zone, then we've got you covered. Below we pick out some of our favourite campsites close enough to the host cities to use as a base for your Rugby World Cup experience in 2023.
England are hoping to replicate their 2003 World Cup victory.
Make sure to book early, as we're predicting pitch availability to be scarce especially around match days, with many sites likely to impose a minimum stay period. We've also noticed a post-pandemic trend of campsites moving to a dynamic pricing model (similar to how airlines increase their seat price as the plane fills.) Expect pitch prices to be higher than you might have experienced in previous years.
Countdown to the Rugby World Cup 2023
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The Home Nations - 2023 Fixtures
England play in Pool D, along with Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Chile with matches taking place in Marseille, Nice and Lille.
Wales face Australia, Fiji, Georgia and the winner of the final qualification round in Pool C; their matches are being staged in Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Nantes.
Scotland are playing their Pool B matches in Marseille, Nice, Lille and at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, Paris. They are competing against South Africa, Tonga, Romania and Ireland!
Also in Pool B are Ireland, who will be playing their match against Romania in Bordeaux and against Tonga in Nantes; they face South Africa and Scotland in the Stade de France.
Pool A contains New Zealand, France, Italy, Uraguay and Namibia with matches taking place in Lille, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Saint-Etienne and at the iconic Stade de France.
Map of Recommended Campsites
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Bordeaux is undeniably one of France’s ‘must see’ cities and now it has a superior campsite. Adjacent to the exhibition centre and beside Bordeaux Lac, the site opened in 2009 and is open all year. The facilities and accommodation are of top quality. There are 119 touring pitches, some on well kept grass, others, primarily for motorhomes, have hardstanding. Some have electricity, water and drainage. Within the 14-hectare campsite, there are also 175 well-equipped chalets and mobile homes (3 specifically with accessible facilities) to rent. The site is arranged around five attractive, man-made lakes and set amongst tall trees.
Ferme des Saules is a family-friendly site, half a kilometre from the Belgian border and 20 minutes' drive from Ypres. Guests are welcome to wander the farm during opening hours to meet the chickens, goats and pony, or you could work your appetite up further with a pre-dinner game of boules while the children enjoy the playground or trampoline. The site is a few kilometres from Bailleul for foodie options at its restaurants, bistros, bars and speciality shops. You can reach the town within a 5 minute drive, a 15 minute cycle or a 45 minute walk. The site has 34 pitches of which 20 are for tourers. The bollards 6 amp take a 2-pin connector, so do not forget your adaptor. The site also has a cottage, hut, gîte, mobile home and 'Cozy Nest' available to rent.
This is a short stay, city site just off the A6 autoroute and within easy reach of Lyon centre. Kept busy with overnight trade, the reception and the café (in July and August) is open until quite late. There are 239 separate numbered plots, all with 6/10A electricity. Those for caravans and motorhomes are mostly on hardstanding's and are on a slight slope, while those for tents are on a flatter grass area. All have shade.
Camping de Ceyreste is located on the edge of an extensive pine forest in the heart of Provence, a five minute drive from the beach of La Ciotat and its beautiful bay, Le Golfe d’Amour. There are about 170 shady pitches, most terraced, of which about 50 are for touring units, all with electricity connections (6/10A), sink and water supply. The remainder are occupied by seasonal caravans and a range of mobile homes to rent.
Nantes Camping is a modern, well equipped site with several types of pitch and different types of accommodation to rent. It lies within the city limits in a peaceful, park-like setting with mature trees. It has 86 flat, good sized pitches for touring units. Some are on grass, some on hardstanding, some are both. All have 16A electricity, water connections and drainage with taps nearby. There are 41 tent pitches on separate grass areas, all with electricity and water to hand. The campsite also has 79 accommodations to rent, made up of cottages, chalets, canvas and wood tents.
Camping la Camassade is a beautiful rural site set on a hillside in Provence, just 10 minutes drive from the medieval village of Tourrettes-Sur Loup. The site occupies a 100-year-old Olive Grove; the 40 pitches are spacious 100 m2, and all have electricity, although a long hook-up lead may be required for some pitches. This is a no-frills site, and you really are in the French countryside.
This spacious, attractive and extremely well cared for site, between Lyon and Valence in the Rhone Alpes, is enhanced by a variety of trees planted by the original owner over 30 years ago. The 192 large, level and grassy pitches (75 for touring) are arranged in groups, partly separated by neat hedges, all with water and 10A electricity. Many of the pitches are used for mobile homes and chalets, with a group at the back is used by weekenders. This is an excellent site for both short and long stays and the resident French director and his wife, who speak excellent English, have spared no efforts in ensuring that this continues to be a most attractive and comfortable site.
Huttopia sites are rather different; when the French owners visited Canada and experienced ‘back to nature’ camping, they were so impressed that they decided to introduce the idea to France.
If the South-West of France your next holiday destination. If you plan to discover the Cathar country or the area around the Canal du Midi with your caravan, motorhome or tent this could be the perfect site on which to stay with your family or friends. It is situated between Carcassonne and Toulouse. This is a small site where you could recharge your batteries and enjoy a well-deserved rest in an idyllic setting where nature and serenity have been preserved. The 13-hectare site has 30 pitches with 8amp electric hook-up point, you can choose between a sunny or shaded pitch with or without electricity. Water taps nearby and each pitch is perfectly delimited by hedges. The site also has 11 mobile homes available to hire
Rob has been involved in the leisure industry since completing a BTEC in Travel & Tourism in 1993. Previous roles have included the promotion of tourism in Yorkshire and running a motorcycle touring company in the Australian Outback.
He is the General Manager at Alan Rogers Travel Group, responsible for the ongoing development of the Alan Rogers website and the publication of the Alan Rogers Guides and 'Destinations' magazine.
Rob has owned several caravans, and he regularly travels with his wife and young daughter in their VW Transporter, complete with a Tentbox roof tent. A keen cycling fan, Rob can often be found in a field in Belgium during the 'Spring Classics' season.
The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup is set to be a groundbreaking event, showcasing the best of women's rugby on an international stage. Hosted across various iconic venues in England, this tournament promises thrilling matches and a celebration of the sport's growth and development.
Camping is a popular choice for travellers exploring Switzerland, especially with the upcoming 2025 Women's UEFA EURO Tournament. We expect a surge in bookings at campsites throughout the country.
Camping is a popular way to visit France, and with the 2024 Paris Olympics taking place just over the Channel, we're expecting bumper bookings on many campsites throughout this sports-mad country.
