Hello, just wondering if anyone out there has been to the above site, just south of Sommierers. If so can anyone offer advice regarding access to the site. Th instructions given by the club say to approach from the north on the D12 turning left into the site, but during the time we are going they are saying approach from the south on the D12 turning right into the site as there is a festival in Sommierers. The trouble is I have read that by doing this there is a high chance of grounding out as you turn right and enter, and there is nowhere you can turn around if you go past the site before you reach Sommieres. Has anyone been to this site and is it really as bad as what I am reading about grounding out as you enter. I have looked on google earth at street view and you can see the right turn is sharp and there is an incline but its hard to gauge how bad this is.
Thanks
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Access to the site is good from both directions but better from the south. From the north there are 3 speed bumps but otherwise OK. The entrance to the site has been reprofiled so there should be no grounding.
If I was going to that site and had looked on Google earth I wouldn't have given it a second thought.
If I arrived and it looked as is said I would go in through the exit gate and immediately after pull across to the right to go through the entry barrier or stay left and park for a minute in the area on the left of the gates.
You should still be able to access the town across the bridge as they only shut the road for the festival on the road that turns left on the town side of the bridge. You'd need to turn right over the bridge if approaching facing the town. The road then up to the site is ok, not great but fine. The actual entrance to the site is fine too. I'd read what you read and was dreading it. When I arrived I couldn't see what the fuss was about. You'll be fine and you'll love the site, the town and the surrounding area.
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I stayed at this site at Easter 2011 and arrived on market day and found the turn right on the town side of the bridge to be very tight because of all the cars parked at the side of the road right up to the turning. Didn't notice any issues with the entrance to the site. Lovely site and nice area.
Quote: Originally posted by Claydoncamper on 20/5/2013
You should still be able to access the town across the bridge as they only shut the road for the festival on the road that turns left on the town side of the bridge. You'd need to turn right over the bridge if approaching facing the town. The road then up to the site is ok, not great but fine. The actual entrance to the site is fine too. I'd read what you read and was dreading it. When I arrived I couldn't see what the fuss was about. You'll be fine and you'll love the site, the town and the surrounding area.
During the Festival the whole bridge can be closed. It is normal during the market for the road to the north (left on the town side) to be closed but the Festival is very different. On occasions you will find the Bridge and the road north and south closed for about 200 metres either way. This is when they do the bull running.
As for the entrance to the camp site, as mentioned earlier the entrance has been re-profiled since Google street view shots were taken in 2009. The whole road was lifted by about half a metre, so there should be no grounding.
The following picture was taken during the Festival. Great occasion with different events happening everyday.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
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You may be right Oliver, but I can't recall being denied access to the bridge. Still, if there's a different way into Massereau, better to be safe than sorry,
Quote: Originally posted by Claydoncamper on 21/5/2013
You may be right
Only "may be"?
I like to see you try to take a car across the bridge in the picture. There were people from miles around, cars parked in all the roads in to town. It was like the TdF was in town.
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
I can only relay what I know from my experience and I did drive a car and trailer across the bridge in high summer. Different days different experience eh?
PEDANT''S CORNER - By the way, there's nothing in the photograph that suggests the road is closed or that there are actually people in the road itself. They could just be lining the pavements.
We went there in early August which coincided with the bull festival.
DEFINATELY follow the caravan club directions. Come off at j26 of the a9. Avoid sommiers town at all costs.
We are still scarred from the experience of the diversions which ended up in towing our twin axle caravan through the narrow streets barely wider than the outfit.
At any other times of the year it should be ok.
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