8th Camper Van Weekend (49) - Camping-car.com

At the Salon des Véhicules de Loisirs in Le Bourget, the Rapido V64 camper van was presented, built on a Peugeot Boxer with a 140 hp diesel engine. The model measures 6.36 m long and 2.63 m high, with a main rear bed of 195 × 140 cm. The kitchen is relocated to the left side and features a three-part retractable worktop, while the longitudinal central bed with access via rear doors was previously available only in more expensive motorhomes. Pricing starts at €68,900.

A French couple, Alain and Martine, gave up motorhoming after six vehicles due to parking difficulties. During a three-day holiday they spent over five hours searching for a spot, and in one summer they drove 1850 km, most of it spent looking for parking. They sold their latest motorhome and bought a converted estate car with a folding mattress, storage boxes, a compact stove and a modular boot. They now stay in guesthouses, authorised car parks and campsites, planning trips in the low season and on weekdays.

The CLC association, which represents motorhome industry professionals and user federations, is working to persuade French municipalities to allow motorhome parking. According to the organisation, a French motorhome user spends an average of €50 per day, while foreign visitors spend €80. The CLC advises town halls on creating dedicated parking spaces and has challenged illegal bans in administrative courts since 1985.

Chilowe.com published a vanlife itinerary in the Monts du Forez between Clermont-Ferrand and Saint-Étienne. The two-day route includes a 10 km hike with 250 m elevation gain on the Hautes-Chaumes plateau, a 120 m via ferrata on the Rocher de l'Olme at 1,145 m altitude, and a visit to the Sauvain dairy cooperative producing Fourme de Montbrison cheese. Overnight spots are recommended via the Park4night app.

EU Directive 2025/2205 of 22 October 2025 allows category B licence holders to drive a motorhome with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3,500 kg but not exceeding 4,250 kg. The text must first be transposed into French law, with a deadline of up to three years, i.e. by November 2028. Patrick Lablanche, president of the French Federation of Motorhome Associations and Clubs (Ffaccc), stated that application will not occur before 2029, contradicting a report that mentioned November 2027. The directive also envisages that this extension may be subject to targeted training or a medical test.

From 9 to 11 October 2026, the Camper Van Weekend event will be held in Apremont (Oise department) at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, focusing on vanlife and itinerant travel. The programme includes an exhibition of camper vans and equipment, a private second-hand sales area, a vanlifer village, and the We Love Van music festival. Visitor entry is free with reservation; parking pass costs €8 online or €10 on site, motorcycle pass €4 or €5, bivouac pass €40 or €50, bus and liner pass €60 or €75, and a private second-hand village pass €90 including bivouac. The bivouac opens from 18:00 on 8 October, and rates apply per vehicle regardless of the number of passengers.