What is a municipal campsite?
Municipal campsites have it all
Municipal campsites - or campings communaux - are almost identical to traditional campsites - the only difference being that they are managed by a public body. So they offer exactly the same services as a private campsite: during your holiday at a municipal campsite, you can rent a mobile home or bungalow, and reserve a pitch for your tent, caravan or camper van. You can also take advantage of the campsite's many activities: swimming pool, playground, barbecue, petanque area, etc.
Campsites run by local authorities are perfect places to spend an excellent holiday with family or friends. At municipal campsites, you'll love the friendly atmosphere and low prices, combined with the authentic atmosphere of the campsite!
A municipal campsite is an opportunity to combine relaxation and peace with the discovery of France's terroir and heritage. Some municipal campsites are ideally located, allowing you to discover the most beautiful regions of France and enjoy the surrounding countryside.
How is a municipal campsite managed?
A municipal campsite is a public structure managed by the commune or local authority to which it belongs. It will therefore be managed by the town hall, by the community of communes, sometimes even by the planning department or by the tourist office...
Is a campsite a public place?
Well, no: a campsite may be run by a public service - a town hall, for example - but it is not a public place. A municipal campsite is identified in the law as being an activity of the same nature as those that can be carried out by a private individual or a private company. To gain access to a campsite, holidaymakers must pay a site fee, i.e. the rental of a pitch, a recreational vehicle or a light recreational dwelling, as well as a tourist tax.
1406 municipal campsites in France
A municipal campsite in Alsace, the Pyrenees, Brittany or Normandy... and why not on the Ile de Ré?
In 2024, there were more than 1,400 communal or inter-communal campsites in France, compared with 2,000 10 years earlier. This represents 18% of all French campsites, 79% of which are privately run and 3% are run by associations.
There are plenty of campsites to choose from, and you'll find municipal campsites by the sea, in the mountains and in every region of France.
A municipal campsite by the sea
Spending your holidays at a seaside campsite is always a pleasure, especially if you can enjoy direct access to the beach. Many municipal campsites are located by the sea.
Located in Sainte-Marie in the Pyrénées-Orientales, take a look at the Camping municipal de la plage****, which has direct access to the beach and a lovely heated outdoor swimming pool.
Situated 1.5km from the sea, the Monplaisir ** campsite is in Saint-Trojan-les-Bains on the Ile d'Oléron: enjoy the swimming pool and walk or cycle to the beach!
A municipal campsite by the lake
To make sure you don't spoil your holiday, choose a lakeside campsite for your municipal camping holiday. Here is a selection of campsites near a lake or pond:
In Merdrignac, in the Côtes d'Armor region, the Val de Landrouet *** campsite is located on the banks of a pond, where you can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, catamaran sailing or paddle boarding.
La Plaine tonique campsite ****, located in Montrevel-en-Bresse in the Ain department, has direct access to the lake.
La grange du Pin *** campsite is also in the Ain department, in Val-Revermont: enjoy the lake and its beach.
In Savoie, the Ile aux Cygnes *** international campsite has direct access to the lake and is 500m from a pond.
Your holiday at a municipal campsite with swimming pool
238 municipal campsites have swimming pools in France: ideal for fun and refreshment during your camping holiday, swimming pools are particularly popular with children.
Les chaussières ** campsite, in Châtillon-en-Diois, in the Drôme department, welcomes you to a verdant setting. Equipped with a 3-pool swimming pool with waterslide, you can also enjoy the river alongside the campsite.
35 campsites have an indoor swimming pool: ideal for swimming and water games, sheltered from the elements, especially if you're travelling in low season!
Municipal campsites by classification (2024)
Unclassified campsites: 38% of municipal campsites are unclassified, compared with 11% for campsites managed by private operators.
As a reminder, the quality of the services and the comfort of the facilities are essential elements in the classification of a campsite. This means that an unclassified local authority campsite may not have all the facilities you need for a first star, or on the other hand - since classification is not compulsory - it may offer you all the services you could possibly need for your holiday!
For example, here are 2 unclassified communal campsites, which nevertheless offer a very pleasant setting for a stay in the heart of nature: the Colombier municipal campsite at Offranville, in the Seine-Maritime region, for weekends or relaxing holidays, or the Chanternes campsite at Pougues-les-Eaux in the Nièvre region.
76 municipal 1-star campsites: Le palais de Gaufrette * campsite at Rémering-lès-Puttelange in Moselle is set in the heart of nature, beside a pond: ideal for fishing!
381 2-star municipal campsites: Le Coucut ** campsite in Castelnau d'Auzan Labarrère, for example, offers a range of sporting activities between lake and swimming pool.
277 3-star municipal campsites: check out the Le Vallon de l'Ehn *** municipal campsite in Obernai, in the Bas-Rhin department, right in the heart of Alsace, or the Neufchâteau *** intercommunal campsite in the Vosges department.
You can also visit the 3-star Le Martin pécheur campsite, located in Magné in the Deux-Sèvres department, with a river running through it.
12 municipal 4-star campsites: the Lac de la Chausselière campsite **** is located in La Guyonnière in the Vendée. This charming campsite with less than 100 pitches offers a shady, sunny holiday setting!
2 municipal 5-star campsites: we particularly recommend the Donjon de Lars campsite ***** at Courseulles-sur-mer in Normandy, which belongs to the Capfun chain.
The communal campsite, a campsite on a human scale...
The vast majority of municipal campsites have fewer than 100 pitches: a municipal campsite has an average of 77 pitches, compared with 124 for privately-run sites.
Almost all municipal campsites accept pets, either on pitches or in accommodation (check with the campsite or the town hall).
Municipal campsite, for a cheap stay
Communal campsites are ideal for inexpensive camping holidays. In fact, municipal campsites have very affordable rates and are generally cheaper than private commercial campsites, so you can enjoy many holidays at reduced prices!
There are two reasons for this: they often have fewer facilities and activities than private campsites, and they are less concerned about profitability, wanting to offer affordable holidays to a wider public.
How much does a municipal campsite cost?
Municipal campsites offer authentic holidays at rock-bottom prices, even at the height of the season!
It's not uncommon to rent a mobile home for between €300 and €500 a week at a local campsite - although these rates apply mainly to the lower-ranked campsites, you'll be able to take advantage of them during the summer season.
At the same time, the average charge for occupying a bare pitch is less than €18/day, but varies depending on whether or not electricity is installed on the plot.
Check rates with the town hall that manages the campsite
Campingfrance makes it easy: all you have to do is identify the municipal campsite where you'd like to spend your next camping holiday, and send them a request for information! The town hall or urban community that manages the campsite will give you all the information you need.
Can a campsite stay open all year round?
One of the advantages of a municipal campsite is that it is usually open all year round (or almost): this means you can leave in the off-season and enjoy your holiday in complete peace and quiet, far from the busy high season. It should be noted, however, that only around a hundred campsites declare that they are open from 01 January to 31 December...
An increasing number of local authorities have realised that their municipal campsites can provide significant added value for tourists at any time of year. This also makes it possible to accommodate camping car owners who travel throughout the year.
Another advantage of public management is that you can usually book at a local authority campsite for as long as you like: a weekend, 5 days, a whole week, and sometimes even a second home all year round. Staying at a local authority-run campsite means you can be flexible when it comes to your holidays.