All great countries have a great river or two and France’s pièce de résistance has to be the Loire. Its fancy urban cousin, the Seine, may slink its way through the boulevards of Paris, but it’s the Loire, winding its way past shady banks and leafy vineyards, that’s the country’s golden artery. And while the broader reaches around Blois and Tours are swarming with tourists in high season, you can be smart and head a little up-river to Nevers. This is a great little former Roman town with a medieval heart and a fantastic cathedral that you can sit and admire from your tent.
The campsite is divided into two, with shady spots up top, where most of the caravans and campervans park up, and a lower level running down to the river bank, which tends to be where the tents pitch. Sadly there’s not much access to the river, but you can still enjoy watching it idle by and in the morning see the mist slowly rising from the waters. And the best bit is that the town’s just a ten-minute stroll across the river, allowing you to sit back and take in the views before summoning the will to go and explore.
