Citroën Holidays: test of an affordable camper van

Four years after the 2022 wildfires in France, a campsite near the Great Dune of Pilat has been rebuilt and reopened. The fires destroyed five campsites and several thousand hectares of forest. Reconstruction cost significant money, but insurance companies have covered only 25% of the damage. Campsite director Cédric Rocher criticizes authorities for warnings that deterred tourists and insurers for delays. Despite this, the campsite reopened a year after the fire, and rebuilding is nearly complete. Trees still need to grow to provide shade.

French magazine Camping-Car Magazine has published a selection of events scheduled for October 2026 in the Centre-Val de Loire region for motorhome travellers. In Indre, the 37th guitar festival will take place in Issoudun from 29 to 31 October, with concerts, masterclasses and a luthiers' exhibition; motorhome parking is available at the Plaine des Sports car park (D918). From 30 October to 1 November, Éguzon-Chantôme will host the 40th chestnut festival with hikes, roasted chestnuts and cider; motorhome parking is possible at the private Super U service area (rue Camille-Toussaint) or for a fee at the municipal Les Nugiras campsite. In Loir-et-Cher, the Sologne gastronomy days will be held in Romorantin-Lanthenay on 24–25 October with around 70 producers and artisans, and the 35th Rockomotives festival will take place in Vendôme from 24 to 31 October.

On 14 September 2026, the Giraude bivouac area was inaugurated in Lamoura, in the Jura department. It offers free overnight stays for hikers, cyclists and motorhomes. The facility was built by two municipal employees over three months at a cost of €40,000 excluding VAT. The area operates only in favourable weather and is closed in winter. In 2023, a greywater and sanitary disposal point was installed nearby at a cost of €8,800 excluding VAT. A fee for filling motorhome water tanks is under consideration for the future.

On 9 September 2026, FFCC president Bruno Garancher met with the Road Safety Delegation to discuss the transposition of the new EU driving licence directive into French law. Directive No. 2025/2205 must be transposed by November 2027 and will allow B licence holders to drive motorhomes with a gross vehicle weight between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes, and up to 5 tonnes with a trailer under certain conditions. A supplementary training of about 7 hours, without a new exam, would be required; a new code 96.02 is under consideration. Issues such as training vehicles and driving school accreditation remain unresolved.

French manufacturer Beauer has unveiled the X8 caravan, which expands from 2.90 m to 4.8 m in width via three electrically sliding modules, providing over 30 sq m of living space. When closed, it measures 6.65 m long and 2.05 m high. The caravan sleeps eight and includes a lounge, dining area, kitchen with a 190-litre fridge, bathroom with shower, and two sleeping modules. The automated setup takes less than two minutes. Standard equipment includes a 55-litre fresh water tank, a grey water tank of the same capacity, a 25-litre water heater, and a 150 Ah auxiliary battery. Options include 400 W solar panels and a battery up to 200 Ah. Pricing starts at 109,990 euros.

Le Monde du Camping-Car surveyed its Facebook and Instagram followers, as well as visitors to its website, to determine whether motorhome owners stayed at campsites during the summer of 2025. On the website, 81% of respondents answered yes. In comments, users cited laundry, showers, refilling water and electricity, and legal requirements in countries such as Croatia and Slovenia as reasons for choosing campsites. Some respondents reported long trips with infrequent campsite stays: 81 days in Scandinavia with 7 campsite days, 55 nights in Eastern Europe with 2 campsite nights. Participants also mentioned ASCI rates at high-end campsites at 25 euros per night on Île de Ré and Aytré (Charente-Maritime).