When it comes to choosing a holiday for May half term you can’t go wrong with one in the North of France.
Although we’ve been to quite a few campsites in Brittany and Normandy there’s one that we hadn’t visited that we really loved the look of and that’s Chateau Lez Eaux near St Pair-sur-mer.
Northern France is perfect for a weeks holiday, and is especially great for May as you have a fairly good chance the the weather will be good.
You’ll also find that there is far less travelling to do and when you only have a week, you want to spend as much time relaxing as you can.
Chateau Lez Eaux Campsite
Chateau de Lez Eaux is fairly small but don’t let that put you off. With around 229 pitches, the campsite offers everything you could possibly want from a camping holiday in France.
The campsite is locate in St Pair sur Mer which is a short drive from Granville, where you’ll find a lovely beach. It’s also in a great location for exploring the surrounding area including the stunning WW2 historical sites which we will cover in more detail further on in the article.
Chateau Lez Eaux is a family run campsite that is perfect for families of all ages. We have three children aged between 13 and 19. We’ve been holidaying in France for nearly 20 years and can see the benefits of this lovely little campsite for all age groups.
Although some of the facilities on-site may not be as good for older kids, the great places to visit nearby make up for it.
Travelling to Chateau de Lez Eaux
Chateau Lez Eaux is in a good location and is fairly easy to reach from any cross channel ferry port. If you can travel from Portsmouth then you’ll have the shorter distance to drive when you land in France.
St Malo is just over an hours drive, Cherbourg and Caen are about an hour and a half and Le Havre is just over 2 hours. If you’re looking to travel from a little further away then you still won’t have too far to go with Roscoff being just under three hours, Dieppe three hours and Calais about four and a half hours.
We chose to travel from Dover due to the cheap crossings and the fantastic range of crossing times. Don’t forget you can book your travel through FranceFerryBooker.co.uk.
Arriving at Chateau Lez Eaux
When we arrived at Chateau de Lez Eaux, we checked in at reception and headed over to our accommodation. If we can give you one word of warning it would be to prepare before you arrive depending upon when you plan to arrive.
We travelled on Saturday and as May is classed as being out of high season the bar and restaurant shut at 8pm. We didn’t arrive until late and so not only was the bar and restaurant shut but the local supermarket was also near to closing and did not sell alcohol after 8pm.
If you plan on arriving at the campsite after 8pm out of high season, please ensure you stop off en-route and stock up on essentials or take some food and drink with you.
Eurocamp Accommodation
We stayed at Chateau Lez Eaux with Eurocamp who are one of the premier UK holiday companies.
Eurocamp specialise in family camping holidays in France and we have been on holiday with them many times over the years.
We stayed in an Azure holiday home which was fantastic. It had a full range of equipment, a lovely covered deck with chairs, loungers and a BBQ and was in an excellent location on the Parc.
Campsite Swimming Pool
One of the first things we look at when booking a campsite is the swimming pool area.
Now don’t get me wrong, Chateau Lez Eaux’s swimming pool isn’t the biggest that we’ve been to, but for a small campsite it really does tick a lot of boxes.
Firstly, it has a rectangular outdoor pool, which is basic but good. Secondly it has an indoor pool with a number of slides which will keep most age groups happy.
We only ventured into the outdoor pool a couple of times and spent most of our time in the indoor pool.
The pools is a decent size and there a few slides of various sizes which our kids loved racing down.
Play areas at Chateau de Lez Eauz
Our children are a little old for play areas but that doesn’t mean to say they don’t enjoy a little bit of competitive family sport!
Saying that if you have little ones, you really won’t be disappointed by what’s on offer at the campsite.
To start with you’ll find several brightly coloured bouncy castles just behind the indoor swimming pool. Now our kids are clearly too big for them but every day during our stay we saw little ones having an awful amount of fun jumping up and down and the best thing is they are free to use.
Chateau de Lez Eaux also has a number of play areas and sports facilities including two play parks for different ages and a dedicated space for football, games and a some outdoor fitness equipment.
Campsite Animal Farm
One of the great things about the campsite is the few but very friendly animals they have for children (and adults) to say hello to.
There was an alpaca and donkey from a local zoo and a few goats who were all quite happy to see anyone willing to feed them some grass.
Our kids especially loved the goat they nicknamed COWGOAT, due to the black and white patches that reminded them of cows that they had seen at home.
Every morning and evening we waked across to see Cowgoat and friends and they all appeared quite sad to leave them.
Chateau Bar, Restaurant and Facilities
Due to us holidaying in May, which is low season, both the bar and restaurant were operating on reduced hours.
The food however is very good and not massively expensive and the bar is very pleasant too. We love the outdoor seating area albeit that it can be a little crowded as there isn’t a fantastic amount of space especially when lots of people want a drink.
The campsite is small so don’t go expecting there to be a huge range of food and drink available in the shop.
It has essentials but you certainly won’t be able to find everything you want for your holiday. However, don’t worry, the supermarket is just up the road and you can drive there in less than 10 minutes.
Let’s face it, you may be on holiday but most of us want to have a fun yet affordable time, which means not eating at the restaurant every night and buying some good quality French food, wine and BBQ meat.
If you stay at Chateau Lez Eaux, you’ll be pleased to know that the closest supermarket is literary just up the road.
Its a Casino supermarche and they stock everything you could possibly want at a reasonable price.
Just remember that they don’t serve alcohol after 8pm on a Saturday so if you’re arriving late and want a tipple of the local wine, you’ll need to buy some before you arrive.
Nearby beaches
Chateau de Lez Eaux is fairly close to the beach, and there is a path at the rear of the Chateau which goes directly to it, however it is quite a long way and so it will take you a reasonable amount of time if you want to walk.
We went to the beach at Saint Pair Sur Mer where there is a fantastic sea pool and the beach stretches out for miles. Although the sea pool was empty, the kids had a great time messing around in the sand for a short time.
The weather was good, but to be honest, the sea was a long way out and so if you’re planning to spend the day at the beach you may want to check the tide times before you go. It would have take nearly an hour to reach the sea if you fancied a dip!
WW2 Sites near to Chateau Lez Eaux
Our main reason for choosing Chateau Lez Eaux was to see some of the WW2 sites that we haven’t seen before. The last time we went to Normandy we stayed at La Cote de Nacre and we visited some of the sites on the north coast schedule as Pegasus Bridge and Omaha Beach.
There were three sights that we haven’t seen before that we all really fancied going to see, Grandcamp Maisy Battery, Utah Beach and Saint Mere Eglise.
Grandcamp Maisy
If you haven’t been to Grandcamp Maisy then I would highly recommend it. The story behind the site can be found by reading the book A Guide to Maisy Battery.
The battery at Grandcamp Maisy was found purely by accident and could quite have easily been a Hollywood movie.
Unlike some of its more well-known counterparts, Grandcamp Maisy Battery remained relatively hidden from public attention for decades after the war. It was not until the late 20th century that the battery’s existence and historical significance were fully uncovered.
Visitors to the Grandcamp Maisy Battery are treated to a unique and immersive historical experience. The site features well-preserved bunkers, gun emplacements, and trenches that transport you back in time to the days of the Normandy landings.
We thought it was a fantastic place to visit so whether you are a history enthusiast or just want to find out a little more, a visit to Grandcamp Maisy Battery is well worthwhile.
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the westernmost of the five landing zones during the D-Day invasion, and was instrumental in establishing a foothold in Normandy.
The Utah Beach Museum is a tribute to the bravery of the soldiers who landed there on D-Day. It offers you an immersive journey through history, combining artifacts, exhibits, and personal stories to bring the past to life.
There are lots of artefacts and personal items along with interactive displays that allow you to experience the challenges faced by soldiers during the landing. You can step into a landing craft and hear the voices of soldiers over the intercom, and witness the chaos and bravery of D-Day firsthand.
One of the most moving aspects of the museum is its focus on individual stories. You can learn about the experiences of specific soldiers, their courage, and the sacrifices they made.
Saint Mere Eglise
In the heart of Sain Mere Eglise is the Airborne Museum. As you step into the museum, you’re immediately enveloped in history. Its extensive collection includes a treasure trove of artefacts, documents, and personal items that belonged to the brave paratroopers who dropped into the village during the early hours of June 6, 1944.
What sets the Airborne Museum apart from some other museums you may have visited is its commitment to making history come alive. Interactive exhibits transport you into the shoes of paratroopers, allowing you to experience the challenges these soldiers faced firsthand. Imagine yourself jumping out of an aircraft, landing in the dead of night, and navigating the chaos of battle. The museum’s simulations provide a good understanding of the courage and resilience exhibited by these soldiers.
We loved our time at all three we visited and would recommend you take a look if you want to find out more.
Book Chateau Lez Eaux
If you like the look of Chateau Lez Eaux as much as we did, you can book by clicking the link below.
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