Your camping holidays in Rhône Alpes near Montélimar

Your stay at the camping Les Bois de Châtelas will be punctuated by new discoveries and other marvels. Not far from your holiday location, you'll just love the village of Dieulefit, featuring heritage, nature and art, which you really must come and see!

Montelimar will reveal itself to you in a really lovely way. This is the home of nougat, where you'll also appreciate the lavender fields stretching away into the distance beneath the gentle sunshine of Provence, all cradled by the sound of the cicadas. Setting off from Montelimar towards Mont Ventoux, stop off at Grignan too, a fortified hilltop village in the heart of Drôme Provençale.

And if you still want to see more, then there are all sorts of other towns and villages which form part of the beauty and renown of the region, which include Diois, Bourdeaux, Crest and Nyon! 

A gateway to Provence at the foot of the prealpine mountains and just a stone's throw from the Côtes du Rhône and Clairette de Die vineyards, between olive groves and lavender fields, the Bois du Châtelas campsite offers the perfect holiday destination. Its Mediterranean Provençal climate couldn't be better for those long summer evenings.

During your stay, explore the pretty village of Bourdeaux. Only 1 km from the campsite, it lies on the banks of the Roubion, perfect for a refreshing swim. Perched on its rocky outcrop, once a centre of French Protestantism, the village has successfully conserved and even enhanced its natural heritage. Today Bourdeaux has a population of 621 and is the main town of the local district. In addition to its shops and amenities, that serve both locals and holidaymakers, it holds a regional market every Thursday. And being a town where agriculture remains predominant, the palette of local produce on offer never fails to delight.

Canoe

The crystal clear waters of the Drôme flow from the Alps down to Provence, the air filled with the scent of lavender and the song of the cicadas. Choose one of the three possible options, from 3 km to 45 km, and paddle downstream for 1 or 2 days with family or friends (from 6 years). Choose “Canoë-Drôme” with their two canoe bases on the banks of the Drôme.

More information: www.canoe-drome.com

Hiking

Enjoy walking? During your holiday at camping Les Bois du Châtelas you’ll be delighted to discover no less than 5,000 km of marked hiking trails! From long-distance footpaths to short circular routes, there is something for everyone. Whether you prefer a gentle walk for a couple of hours or a day-long hike; with family, with friends or with a guide, the choice is yours.

The GR9 long-distance footpath crosses the campsite and you can enjoy it for the short walk to the village of Bourdeaux via the Châtelas ruins (1.5 km) or try the Saulnier circular walk (11 km).

Mountain biking

This is great mountain bike country, with high quality trails leaving directly from the campsite and from close by. The Drôme à vélo cycling guide offers over 2,000 km of roads specially recommended for cyclists, with their own specific marking. 18 circular tours are included on the Drôme à vélo  Cyclocarte map published by the Departmental Council and the IGN. An alternative way to enjoy some of the sumptuous sites and scenery of the Drôme.

In July and August, our trained staff are available to guide you through the glorious nature that surrounds Les Bois du Châtelas.

More information: www.velo-en-drome.com

Climbing

Want to get the adrenalin pumping? Try an afternoon's rock climbing and discover the region from a different angle. The Drôme is a climber's paradise and close to the campsite you'll find over 700 routes with something for everyone, whatever their level. Beginners can try their hand in 2 different locations: Le Rocher des Abeilles, Soyans (south face) and La Graville, Saoû (north face).

Acropole Aventure

Want to get the adrenalin pumping? Try an afternoon's rock climbing and discover the region from a different angle. The Drôme is a climber's paradise and close to the campsite you'll find over 700 routes with something for everyone, whatever their level. Beginners can try their hand in 2 different locations: Le Rocher des Abeilles, Soyans (south face) and La Graville, Saoû (north face).

The Saou Forest

A natural boat-shaped area, the Saou Forest is home to some amazing wildlife. Walk quietly along its paths and you might come cross chamois, wild boar, deer, foxes, badgers or even marmots. Look to the skies to see how many different birds you can spot: royal eagles, buzzards and other birds of prey... Fall under the charm of this generous landscape with its forested areas, moorland and grassland, rocky slopes, cliffs and ledges, and the wetlands of the alluvial forest.

The mediaeval festival in Bourdeaux every 15 August

Join in the mediaeval festivities that take place on 15 August each year and discover the legend of Alberte de Poitiers. Mediaeval meal, serenades, a candlelit parade, evening market, craft fair... plenty to see and do!

The legend of Alberte:
Alberte, the daughter of the lord of Bourdeaux, had two suitors: Alfrédis de Mornans and Hérald de Bézaudun.
Alberte and Alfrédis had long been meeting in secret and fallen in love, finally her father agrees to their marriage.
Meantime, the unfortunate Hérald de Bézaudun finds an ally in Béatrix, Alberte's grandmother and the local Suzeraine, who wanted to unite the Poitiers and Bézaudun families. Hérald agreed to renounce his love, on condition that Béatrix gives him a something by which to remember Alberte. Béatrix promises him a scarf, embroidered by Alberte for Alfrédis, but only if Hérald leaves to fight in the Holy Land...
A joust is held on the day of the wedding. The crowd gasps...
Alfrédis' first opponent is none other then Hérald! Wearing Alberte's scarf he cries: "By this favour I wear,  the name of my Lady is clear to all".
Alberte swoons, Alfrédis attacks the traitor but dies in the mêlée. A general free-for-all then raged and it is said that, on that day, the river ran red with blood, all the way to the Rhône...
And Alberte? She never recovered, dying on the same day as her husband.