Vanlife in France: demand for motorhomes rises despite high fuel prices

In Fareins (Ain department), about 15 caravans illegally occupied a football field used by Fareins Saône Vallée Foot club. The club suspended training indefinitely, citing risks of infrastructure damage and disruption of a veterans tournament. Earlier, around 200 caravans were reported on a field in Saint-André-de-Corcy.

A French couple has been traveling in a motorhome for 30 seasons, following cycling races. They stop on the climb at Saint-Vidal to watch the competitions. This is an example of a long-term passion, not a one-time trip.

About a hundred caravans belonging to the travelling community, illegally parked on the Chênaie site, left the area on Sunday, June 7, in the afternoon. The departure was calm. Mayor Marie-Agnès Ménoret Ultra, accompanied by her deputy Claude Grangé, visited the site to witness the departure. While some litter remained on the wooded terrain, most waste was placed in or near containers. On Monday morning, municipal workers began cleaning: they filled containers, and the garbage truck made several trips to remove waste. Bulky items, such as chairs and a washing machine, were loaded into the municipal dump truck and taken to the landfill.

A motorhome rental company has started operations in Baron-sur-Odon, Calvados. The business was founded by Steven Guérif, who previously launched vendezvotrecampingcar.com and louezvotrecampingcar.com. The new service offers locals and tourists the option to rent a motorhome for travel.

On June 8 at around 2:15 p.m., a car and a motorhome collided on the RD 619 road in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. Three people were involved: the car driver, the motorhome driver, and a passenger. Eleven firefighters assessed the victims; hospital transport may be needed for further checks. The gendarmerie is investigating the accident.

Between 100 and 130 caravans of travelers illegally occupied two football fields at the Daugère sports complex in Bruges since Sunday, June 7. Mayor Frédéric Giro, who tried to intervene, was pushed aside and his bike thrown onto the roadside; he is filing a complaint. The city has requested an eviction procedure, fearing damage to the recently renovated fields costing tens of thousands of euros. The group, linked to an evangelical mission, stated its intention to leave by June 14, citing the inadequacy of official stopping areas.