France sees growing demand for traditional campsites

The Pont de l'étang campsite in Fréhel (Côtes-d'Armor), France's largest municipal campsite (30 hectares, 900 pitches), remains true to its origins: no mobile homes or entertainment, no reservations, and pitches are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Rates start at €3.45 per night for a caravan or tent. Amid rising housing and fuel costs and inflation of around 2% in 2026, only 68% of French people plan to take at least a week of vacation, while demand for traditional camping grows as the number of pitches for caravans and tents in France declines.