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Hi there, wonder if anyone has any experience of this campsite.  Am not able to find any reviews on this site - but the alan Rogers guide has positive things to say about it.  We want to try this side of France for a change - the area looks stunning and we would like a change from the beach. 

I suppose that I have two questions really - I have only been able to find reviews of it in Dutch - is it predominently Dutch, or is there a nice mix of nationalities?  Nothing against the lovely Dutch people but we have had experiences on the Vendee when our children have felt a little outnumbered ... My other question is - where would anybody recommend as an overnight stop en route from Calais?

Thank you in advance!

We've been a couple of times - once just after it opened for the first time.  Initially it was a municipal site, run by the Mairie in Dompierre les Ormes, in order to attract more visitors to the village, so we were made extremely welcome in the little local shops and restaurants.  It's walking distance to the village, and there are (or were when we were there) a couple of small grocery shops, a wine shop, the usual PMU bar and several small restaurants, plus one of those shops that sells everything from fertiliser to ladies' corsets!  The villagers organised a twice-monthly 'meet the villagers' picnic which was absolutely fabulous.

It certainly wasn't overwhelmingly Dutch - there used to be Eurocamp tents there, so there was a good mix of nationalities. You're quite near to some lovely places to visit.  We 'did' Cluny, the arboretum nearby, the Rock de Solutre (where we lost my sons - and found them in the vineyard eating all the 'nice grapes' (oops!), the 'wine route' and lots of other things.  There are nice swimming pools - which used to be open for a midnight swim, which my boys loved.  The local villagers used to use the pools, too, so they got busy at weekends.  When it first opened the sanitary facilities were really state of the art - and it actually offered free laundry facilities, including washers and dryers.  The second time we went, though, you had to pay!

Pitches are a good size, on terraces down the hillside from the pools which are at the top.  You've good views over rolling Burgundian countryside - and you're opposite the sports ground, so can access the football pitches, etc.  The second time we went there was another washblock towards the bottom of the hill, so that you didn't need to walk up if you had a pitch towards the bottom.  It's not a big site, and not noisy (or it wasn't when we were there).  This area does get some spectacular thunderstorms though, which flash over the hills around the site and give you some real pyrotechnics.

Recommended stops would depend on your route.  We use non-toll roads for the most part, and usually stop around Chatillon sur Seine, Marcenay, or that area - there's also a municipal in Troyes, and lots of municipal sites in all the small villages along the Seine, some of which look really nice.

That is a great help - thank you - lots of things to think about!

Hi, we stayed at this campsite about 3 years ago - we really enjoyed our stay, campsite clean, very welcoming, village people very helpful, lovely views, very peaceful. Would definately be a campsite we would go back to. The only downside is that it is about a 30 min drive to any supermarket but there are several different ones in nearby towns which are all within a 30 min drive- we tended to visit the local town markets and incorporate a supermarket shop whilst we were there. There were a  lot of dutch on site and I must say when we first arrived I felt a little outnumbered but once we had a walk around the campsite we found other british families.  This site used to be listed in the Camping & Caravning Club sites abroad brochure but I don't believe it is in there this year.

Quote: Originally posted by Lindsey Tinker on 29/1/2009

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Nothing against the lovely Dutch people but we have had experiences on the Vendee when our children have felt a little outnumbered ...

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We have stopped there a couple of times towards the end of August. There have usually been more Dutch than English people there but the kids have always found some english people to talk to.

Its a nice site and in fact 2 years ago we used it as an emergency stand by and were still pleased with it. The village is within very easy walking distance and has butcher, baker etc.

If you do go there are some really good caves within easy driving distance that are wonderful. Complete with bear just inside the entrance. There's a nice cycle route and a good lake with pedalos as well. Macon is about 30 minutes away and you can get to the Jura or Le Puy for a reasonable day trip.

Your responses are all really helpful - thank you!  Wish my two would be brave enough to speak Dutch to other kids - but they clam up and go shy ... the only time they do of course!  It is looking very likely that we will try this site - we will use the motorways and I have my eye on a municipal at Val de Vesle as a stopover - just south of Reims - looks close enough to the motorway and nice enough to relax in.  The clincher is the weather - I know that it is still not far south, but we had such a fantastic week in the Loire last July that gave me a taste for vanning in some heat (followed by 2 much cooler, wetter weeks in Normandy) that I would like to think that the weather is more settled?  Perhaps I am being naive - is it high up and cooler ...showing my ignorance as I have never been before ... any comments gratefully received and anyway it would appear that there is plenty to do (caves!) if the weather is not great! Thanks in advance

Lindsey