Campsites to visit Sancerre
There are no campsites in Sancerre, but we have selected a few campsites around Sancerre that will enable you to visit the town and its surroundings while enjoying your accommodation.
Les Portes de Sancerre campsite lives up to its name! Located in Saint-Satur, the birthplace of the Sancerre vineyards, it is also less than 4 km from the town of Sancerre. Situated on the banks of the Loire, you can enjoy the municipal swimming pool as you cruise along the river, as well as new mobile home cottages, spacious pitches and large fully equipped tents.
Camping Le Malaga *** is just 12 km from the centre of Sancerre and is a great base for exploring the pretty town of Pouilly-sur-Loire. The campsite offers 66 pitches, kayaking and a horse-riding reception for those who enjoy horse-riding. Evening entertainment is also available during the summer season.
Camping de L'Île *** in Bannay, 12 km from Sancerre, offers 12 accommodation options, including canvas bungalows and mobile homes. The activities on offer include volleyball, table tennis, kayaking, badminton and pétanque, so you can relax during your holiday in Sancerre.
Discovering Sancerre
Only the grounds of the Château de Sancerre are open to visitors. Guided tours and wine tastings are available. The château is one of the town's must-see monuments, but it has been taken private and is no longer open to visitors.
The Tour des Fiefs is all that remains of the ruins of the 14th-century feudal castle. The 30-metre-high keep and the view it affords of the vineyards and countryside surrounding the town make it a must-see in Sancerre.
In the grounds of the former sub-prefecture, you can admire the None, a 12th-century Roman gateway that once belonged to the church of Saint-Père-la-None, also known as the church of Saint-Pierre.
The belfry, which dates back to 1509, is part of the town's civil heritage. Although its clock and bell were destroyed just a few years after it was built, you can still visit the chapel below, on the ground floor.
A stroll through the narrow medieval streets to appreciate the beauty of the old houses and mansions, including the Thaumassière, is one of the must-sees in Sancerre.image
An "Ariadne's thread" of 28 points of interest has been drawn on the ground so that no typical alleyway or square, monument or panorama is missed. Explanatory panels explain the history of each place where they are placed. This Ariadne's thread crosses the town from the Esplanade Porte César to the foothills of the Morvan.
The Sancerre vineyards guarantee a view of incredible beauty! Comprising 2,800 hectares, it's a landscape of vineyards on hills above the Loire that awaits you. It began to gain huge momentum in the 12th century with a red wine made from Pinot Noir, which was almost completely destroyed by a disease at the end of the 19th century and replaced by a single grape variety, Sauvignon Blanc, which is better adapted to the climate. It obtained AOC classification in 1936, followed by a new AOC 20 years later for red and rosé wines, which now account for 25% of production compared with 75% for white wine.
To find out more about the wines of Sancerre, La Maison de Sancerre offers a fun and interactive way to discover the history and characteristics of its vineyards and winegrowers.
The hamlet of Chavignol is located in the commune of Sancerre, and at the beginning of the 20th century the unique crottin de Chavignol was discovered by consumers on the Paris markets, thanks to the first ripeners who transported it from Sancerre. The taste of this little cheese varies depending on how it is matured: semi-dry, bluish, blue or ironed... it's up to you to find the one you like best!