There are
numerous lakeside campsites in France but few can boast shores as renowned as
those of Lac d’Aiguebelette in the heart of the Rhone-Alps region. One of the
biggest natural lakes in France, no fewer than seven hot springs help bring the
water to an appealing 28-degrees during summer, while the surrounding
mountains and the great limestone wall of L'Epine – 'the thorn' – shelter the
emerald, smooth-as-glass waters, cut through only by
the occasional sailing boat or pedalo. Swimming? It’s a must. Canoeing? It’s an
option. Camping nearby? We know the perfect place...
Set just
a hundred metres or so from Aiguebelette’s western shore, the partially wooded
campsite in the village of Le Sougey spreads across some 12 acres of space and
has over 100 different pitches where you can pop your tent and make a lakeside
base. Two separate washroom blocks provide modern facilities (disabled access
to both), while the main reception building has all the staples of a
self-respecting French campsite – fresh croissant and baguette delivery each
morning, free Wi-Fi, heaps of tourist information brochures and some metal
boules to borrow for a family game on the court outside.
While a
playground for tots and table tennis tables add extra activities to the
campsite, most of the fun here revolves, unsurprisingly, around the lake. The
beach at Huttopia Lac d’ Aiguebelette has a lifeguard throughout summer and you can hire pedalos,
kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards for a very reasonable price. The
blanket ban on motorboats only adds to the tranquillity that has
helped ensure Aiguebelette’s vast tracts of protected areas are rich in
wildlife.
Although
the A43 Chambéry-Lyon motorway has brought the pristine waters within easy reach of city day-trippers, Aiguebelette still feels like a real
discovery. The upshot for campers is a speedy journey in both directions, either to vibrant Lyon for a day of city fun or an adventure further east into the thick of the mountains beyond. In the middle of it all, meanwhile, the lake remains a perfectly peaceful retreat. As Condé Nast
Traveller put it, "with its beaches, its reed-beds and its neat,
eco-friendly éspaces poubelles (rubbish
collection points), Aiguebelette is about as far as you can get from the stress of a
high-season Mediterranean beach holiday.”
