Very few travellers are immune to the charms of France – with its diverse landscapes, UNESCO marvels and fairlytale villages.

The most geared-up country in Europe for campervans and motorhomes with over 4,000 motorhome service stations, known as Aires, eliminates the often stressful quandry of where to find an overnight park up.

Our Lifestyle and Leisure Editor, Sharon Cain, who travels with her husband Steve, our series photographer, and golden retriever, Bracken, shares highlights of ‘La Vie en France’.

Mountains of Legends

Travelling home underneath the snow-capped Pyrenees - defined by crystal clear lakes and rugged backdrops - is something else.

Connecting the borders of Spain and France, some mountains are more than 9,000 feet tall. We could see disquieting mountain fires, most likely the result of land clearing practices which include burning of agricultural stubble.

With Spain behind us, and a 1,000 kilometre stretch ahead to the Calais ferry, we opted for the scenic route on our 2026 road trip exploring coasts and cities and getting off the beaten track.

We first did this journey from Spain during the COVID pandemic in March 2020 on deserted roads, which was very surreal.

Having been caught up in the Spanish lockdown, when fatalities alarmingly escalated, we secured travel dispensation to return to England. The fact that we had no home to go to as our house was rented out for 12 months just two weeks before the pandemic erupted is another story…

Thankfully attempt number two was infinitely more relaxing. Everywhere was open and new sights beckoned before our March 17 deadline to exit the Schengen zone expired.

Dazzling Detour: Pearl Of Limousin

Our next stop was the enchanting town of Uzerche dramatically situated on a rocky outcrop. With stunning architecture, cobbled streets, and picturesque backdrops, it was deservedly named ‘The Pearl Of Limousin’ by British writer, Arthur Young, when he visited in 1787.

It is also listed as among France’s most-beautiful detours. Although it is not recommended to drive up some of the narrow streets, we did and the van was unscathed.

World-First Gothic Cathedral

Dating back to the Gallic period, the quaint medieval market town of Sens was another perfect stopover.

Walking into the main square from the campsite in spring sunshine was delightful, as was the sight of Saint Stephen's Cathedral, the world’s first gothic cathedral.

Another bonus was our visit coinciding with the buzz of Monday’s market day, a prominent local attraction.

The style of the buildings in Sens is stunning, especially the indoor market with its decorative façade, clock and bell tower. A bustling hub of excited chatter reverberated inside with market stalls laden with cakes, fish, meat, and colourful fruit and vegetables.

A Minor Mishap

As luck would have it, the weather on journey back was much better than when we left England.

Setting sail early January from Newcastle to Ijmuiden, Amsterdam’s ferry terminal, we drove through parts of Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg and France in sheeting rain, snow and bitter cold.

Apprehensive about taking motorway detours due in the atrocious conditions, we had sleepless evenings in petrol station car parks where lorries revved their engines through the night.

At Metz, a town of grandeur in North East France, snow descended again. To compound matters, when we tried to leave a municipal car park where we’d stayed overnight, the exit barrier refused to let us out. Thankfully, the very upbeat and friendly local police came to the rescue.

Chateaux And Gateaux

Stopovers in France are always enhanced by visiting a chateau (castle). With no less than 40,000 across the country, for me their allure never fades.

My top five include Carcassone Castle, a UNESCO world heritage site in Southern France’s Occitanie region. Perched on a hill, it is Europe’s largest medieval fortress with panoramic views of surrounding countryside and Pyrenees.

A close contender is Chateau de Saumur in the verdant Loire region, a symbol of power and prestige which was converted into a palace by the Dukes of Anjou.

During our previous two visits to Saumur, we drank in the Loire views from the riverbank with a glass of wine. The early morning mists over the river are heart-stopping.

Saumur enjoys a rich history of wine making. This includes my ultimate tipple, Crémant de Loire sparkling wine, preferably by Gratien & Meyer who have been producing the nectar since 1864.

When motorhoming in France, the expectation of pitstops at boulangeries (bakeries) and patisseries (pastry shops) never diminishes.

The sheer decadence of the simple pain au chocolat to the more detailed choux pastry creations, eclairs, cream puffs and profiteroles, washed down with take-out coffee, is off the sensory scale. I had hoped to include a photo from the last stop off, but our goodies were demolished in the blink of an eye.

Iconic Ports: La Rochelle

Whether motorhoming or renting a car, the historic maritime port of La Rochelle on France’s West coast is a must by road or plane.

The gateway to the Atlantic Ocean on the Bay of Biscay - notorious for its turbulent seas - the town’s activities and attractions span sailing, cycling, walking, an aquarium, museums and the old port.

A proverbial paradise for fresh fish addicts like myself, La Rochelle is charming and laid back. While there a couple of years ago, we went sailing, visited the aquarium, the U Boat museum and joined a fabulous guided walk.

Eye catching features include the striking Globe de la Francophonie sculpture illustrating where French is spoken across the world.

La Rochelle is linked to the island of Île de Ré - a coastal paradise of pine forests, salt marshes and golden beaches.

A popular weekend and holiday escape for Parisiens who call it ‘The French Hamptons’, the island is best enjoyed off-season with delightful walks and eateries. It many highlights take in the lively town of Saint-Martin-de-Ré with its array of harbour restaurants.

It is also home to two of France’s most beautiful villages - Ars-en-Ré and La Flotte-en-Ré where we enjoyed top class cuisine al fresco.

Homecoming Symbol of Hope

Back to our recent trip and, exactly 72 days after setting sail from Newcastle on our 12th motorhome adventure, we approached the spectacular White Cliffs of Dover by sea.

A symbol of hope, freedom and home for centuries and a pivotal defence barrier during World War 11, the cliffs were the last sight for soldiers going to war and the first sight for survivors returning home.

It had thankfully been plain sailing through customs, dog protocols for Bracken, and internal checks to ensure an immigrant had not smuggled themselves inside or underneath our motorhome.

If you follow our adventures, you will know we are hopelessly hooked on the freedom and spontaneity of motorhome travel - and waking up in a new country with exciting discoveries calling.

Less than three weeks back from our latest trip, our wanderlust yearning is growing stronger by the day - with bets on how long we can last before hitting the road again.

TRAVEL FACTS

For information on ferries from Newcastle to Ijmuiden, Amsterdam and Calais to Dover visit here
For information on La Rochelle and annual events visit here
For information on the French Pyranees visit here
For information on Saumur visit here
For information on Carcassone visit here
For information on Uzerche visit here
For information on Sens visit here