This is a quiet campsite on the outskirts of the village of Lormes in the north of the Morvan. Il has 64 pitches spread over 2.5 hectares and many of these are in the shade of trees. This campsite is neat, tidy, and clean, but may seem a little utilitarian if you are the sort who like their campsites to have everything new and shiny. The sanitory block has hot showers and plenty of hot water for washing. There is a service point at which to offload toilet and grey water.
The adjacent lake is 10 hectare in area with two sandy beaches giving access to the water. This is shallow for at least 10m, so it is ideal for youngsters. Further out it becomes deep enough for (unsupervised) swimming. Don’t be put off by the brown colour of the water, which is just staining from the peaty soils in the area. Fishing is allowed for part of the year and the lake holds perch, carp and pike. The campiste has crazy golf, a pétanque pitch, children’s play area, and volleyball pitch. For the less sporty, a pleasant 2km walk around the lake is ideal for an evening stroll. Beside the site entrance is the Restaurant du Lac.
Nearby there is a network of footpaths and bridleways for walking and mountain biking. The tourist information office in town can supply maps of these routes. One word of warning : some of the paths do have steep bits and there is one innoculous puddle that looks only a few centimetres deep but will consume most of a mountain bike and quite a bit of you (I won’t say where it is : that would spoil the surprise).
The town of Lormes is about a 10 minute walk away and you will pass a supermarket on the road from the campsiste. It also has a number of boulangeries and cafes and several brocantes (bric-à-brac) shops selling anything from local junk to antiques. Nearby is a pleasant walk in the Gorge de Narveau, which is a steep-sided valley with narrow footpaths that pass through woods and below a waterfall. Active families might like or try out the adventure watersports centre with canoeing and rafting, about only 8 km away from Lormes. Vezelay, a magnificent basilica designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies a 25km drive away.
The campsite has a history associated with it. Originally it was part of the Tacot Line which ran from Corbigny to Saulieu, and the buildings form the railways station for the town. The railway, begun in August 1901, provided a link for passengers and freight until some parts were sold off to private owners while others were requisitioned by German forces in 1942. The reception buildings clearly show the remains of the two platforms.
This is a peaceful site where most of the sounds are of bird life and the everyday noises of rural France in the background. That is until nightfall, when you may have problems with the local frogs (and I’m not being jingoistic here : I’m describing the amphibious variety). The twilight brings out loads of the little beggars who chirrup and burp for most of the night. We also hard the calls of nightjars, and plenty of pipistrelle bats cruise the evening sky, clearing the area of insects. Prefer for nature lovers.
Dave & Debra Pressley
MMM French Sites Guide (2007)
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At a glance : summary : The proprietor is friedly, informative, and speaks english. On the outskirts of a pleasant large village with a natwork of wooded walks and rides radiating from it. Obtain information on these and the surronding area from a helpful tourist office.
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