The adults love the food and culture, the kids love the campsites β so I can see us taking many more trips to France in the coming years. I have happy memories of my own childhood holidays to France β these started with tentative trips to Brittany and continued with us moving a little further south each year in search of warmer weather.
The Dordogne and its riverfront campsites became our favourite area to visit. I was scanning the map last summer as we drove the torturous route from the south west up to St Malo and came across the very lovely town of Clisson.
This was a perfect spot to stop for an hour β small enough for a quick wander, it had an ice cream shop and a castle. First time visiting France as a family? Or looking for ideas of where to take the kids? Read my guide to France for families which is packed with destination ideas. This page contains affiliate links which means if you click and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay. Some of the places detailed below work best for a few hours whereas others are larger and would suit a stay or a night or two.
There are several good value places to stay in the centre of the town. Bergues is large enough to make it an appealing day trip destination in France or an overnight trip.
Due to its cinematic popularity Bergues is a lively town to explore. If you travel a little further along the coast, you can explore the German bunkers which Allied forces attacked during the invasion. The attractive town of Bayeux is a useful base for visitors to Normandy. Bayeux is just 25 minutes from the coast and the sites of the D-Day Landings. The Bayeux Tapestry records the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in The tapestry, dating back to around the 11th century, is an impressive 70 metres long and contains 58 scenes including the Battle of Hastings.
