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MOTORHOMENEWS

~ A personal take by Christopher Macgowan on tourism, travel and motorhomes.

MOTORHOMENEWS

Monthly Archives: August 2016

Saint-Nazaire

28 Sunday Aug 2016

Posted by chrismacgowan in History, Places

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#motorhomes, 'uboat pens', aire, bordeaux, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, saint-nazaire, uboats

You will know I have an interest in WW1 and WW2 history and so unsurprisingly on my way home from a few days near Bordeaux I followed the coast northwards to Saint-Nazaire to see the WW2 German Uboat pens which, due to their massive bomb resilient construction, are in remarkably good order. They dominate the harbour line of this still busy industrial and ship building port.

Several things occurred to me as I approached the area over the huge and long road bridge. In true French style there is a large motor home parking spot across the street and attached to that is a parking machine entry type aire if you want to stay over night. Day parking in the car park is free. Secondly, whilst Saint-Nazaire might not be on the main tourism route because of its heavy industry and chemical plants, I loved the place. It is very laid back , everything seemed so easy and without exception everyone I came across was so very friendly. At the tourism office at the entrance to the pens they are selling tours around the port and the city and so I reached for my Euros and said I just wanted to wander around the pens by myself – I have a pathological aversion to tours with guides. No problem I was told. The pens are entirely free for public access but that I needed to remember they are essentially dangerous as there are no guard rails or hand rails in order that their original state is preserved as best as possible. 

The pens are hugely impressive, well preserved and fascinating. However, it would be irresponsible of me not to underline what we all know – that they were built largely by slave labour, many combined forces suffered heavy losses and casualties trying to destroy them – or at the very least disrupt them – and Uboats were successful sinking hundreds of allied ships and killing thousands of troops in the North Atlantic. Provided you keep that very much front of mind during the visit, they are well worth a visit. 

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Montreuil-sur-Mer

26 Friday Aug 2016

Posted by chrismacgowan in Places, Sites

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#frenchaires, aires, Calais, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, macgowan, montreuil-sur-mer, motorhome

Montreuil sur Mer is about an hour south west of Calais and is one of my favourite stopping places – either on the aire which is a hundred metres from the town or on the excellent site which is at the bottom of the very steep hill. On numerous occasions at the end of a long evening I have been grateful for the down hill ramble to the site knowing only too well an uphill yomp by then would have been impossible. But of course for me the aire is best. 

Sur Mer is a bit of a misnomer because the sea is nowhere near having receded several kilometres several hundred years ago. It’s a lovely town, very much unspoilt and this time I wandered in for breakfast the next morning and before I knew it a couple of hours had slid by and it was time to head for Calais. It’s just that sort of place.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Camping de Montréal, Masseret,France.

21 Sunday Aug 2016

Posted by chrismacgowan in Sites

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#motorhomes, camping de montreal, Christopher Macgowan, limoges, masseret, motorhome, motorhomenews, The Caravan Club


This is an exceptional site just south of Limoges on the A20 at j42.

Modern facilities, swimming pool, restaurant, WiFi and terraced overlooking a lake.

Page 314 in The Caravan Club’s 2016 Touring France directory.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Camping de Sorel, Orvillers-Sorel

20 Saturday Aug 2016

Posted by chrismacgowan in Sites

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camping de sorel, Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews


Just round the corner from this chatêau close to the A1 at j12 for Roye is a very good stopover site on your way to and from Paris. I enjoyed it – and a good bar and restaurant as well. Page 450 of The Caravan Club’s 2016 Touring France directory – never leave home without it!!

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

 

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