Note, all holiday prices are based on a 14 July 2012 departure for two adults and two children staying seven-nights. Travel is not included. Prices correct at the time of publishing but subject to availability so please check www.siblu.com or call 0871 911 7777 for information and to book. Savings available until 22 January 2012.

Holiday deals to Brittany

Brittany has the longest coastline in France, dotted with white-sand beaches, serene harbours and craggy coves. Explore picturesque fishing towns and Carnac – France’s version of Stonehenge.

Four-star Domaine de Kerlann in southern Brittany has free children’s clubs, indoor and outdoor pools, a splash zone and sports pitches. The holiday village is located close to the pretty town of Pont Aven. From only £609, saving £203.

Pierres Couchees is just a few hundred metres from a great sandy beach with gentle surf, ideal for little ones. The rural setting is relaxing and those that don’t fancy the beach can laze by the heated outdoor pool. From only £699, saving £232.

Holiday deals to the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley was the go-to place for French royalty before the revolution, which is why the region is dominated by so many stunning châteaux. The World Heritage setting is dotted with many pretty villages and towns.

Domaine de Dugny is an outstanding 4-star holiday village with free kids clubs and a highly praised pool complex. There’s a small boating pool that’s also good for fishing. Several of the most famous chateaux, including the Royal Château at Chambord, Château Chenonceau and Château Royal d’Amboise, are close by. From only £557, saving £185.

Holiday deals to the Vendee

The Vendee is among the most popular holiday destinations in France, loved for its big, sandy, sunny coastline. Le Bois Masson, close to the resort of St Jean de Monts, is a lively four-star holiday village with indoor and outdoor pools, a health and wellbeing spa, bar and restaurant. From only £646, saving £215.

Holiday deals to Charente Maritime

Charente Maritime is the sunniest region of France’s west coast and has massive sandy beaches hidden by forests of pine trees. There are lots of fun seaside towns, so the destination gives the perfect mix for family holidays.

Les Charmettes is a giant holiday village with a brilliant indoor and outdoor swimming complex and  pools, slides and fountains that the kids will love. There are two entertainment stages, outside and inside, where the team perform shows throughout the week. From only £793, saving £264.

Bonne Anse Plage holiday village is on the edge of La Coubre forest and within walking distance of the sea. The parc has pools and slides, a climbing wall and cycle paths that snake off to the local beaches. From only £766, saving £255.

Holiday deals to Aquitaine

Aquitaine is a large region covered with pine forests, stretching from the stylish city of Bordeaux to the foothills of the Pyrenees. There are medieval towns, vineyards and long beaches which are popular with surfers.

La Réserve sits on the edge of Lake Biscarosse, which has a golden sand beach and safe, shallow waters. The holiday village has its own pool complex, kids’ playgrounds and there are lots of watersports available on the lake. From only £766, saving £255.

Holiday deals to Languedoc

Languedoc is not as glitzy or glamorous as its neighbour, the Cote d’Azur, but this is still a Med-coast region that enjoys buckets of sunshine, incredible beaches and beautiful scenery. Languedoc is the world’s biggest wine region, covering almost 300,000 hectares and producing more wine than Australia.

La Carabasse is a huge holiday village with a giant pool area. There are beaches, shops and restaurants in walking distance and the kids will love the energetic kids clubs. From only £819, saving £273.

Lac des Reves is a truly relaxing family site close to the Mediterranean coast and Montpellier. There is a highly rated pool and large sandy beaches nearby. From only £819, saving £273.

Les Sables du Midi is a small holiday village on the outskirts of the popular seaside resort of Valras Plage. From only £688, saving £229.

Our partnership has even included rehearsal sessions for performers at Les Charmettes – culminating in a free show from French superstar Christophe Mae performing hits backed by a full orchestra.

This year we asked our holiday home Owners and holidaymakers to star in a film celebrating our link. After three days of filming, here is siblu’s video for Un Violon sur le Sable.

The festival itself takes place over three evenings at the end of July. It’s free to attend and attracts about 150,000 people each year, so getting the best spots is a skill in itself.

We love big outdoor events like Un Violon sur le Sable – which ones can you recommend?

So,  siblu is  making a stand for self-catered holidays in France !

Here are three ideas that we hope will make your mouth water. And don’t forget, when you book a siblu holiday, a free barbecue is included so you can make the most of delicious food choices available at mouth-watering food markets that take place close to many of our 14 holiday villages across France.

Biscuits, beer and sweet Yorkshire pudding in Brittany
Bénodet hosts a lively Breton market selling a huge range of foods, with specialities such as the Aven Oyster, which has a sweet hazel-nutty taste, the spicy Andouille sausage and the Far dessert, best-described as a sweet Yorkshire pudding. The town is also home to the François Garrec biscuit factory and the Bénodet brewery, which opens every Friday to visitors.

Feast on your food at Domaine de Kerlann siblu village near to Pont Aven, in southern Brittany. A seven-night stay for a family staying in a two-bedroom holiday home is currently available from only £978 for a 9 August departure, saving £335. This price includes a free barbecue, plus entry to indoor and outdoor pools, children’s clubs and nightly entertainment.

Kiwis in Charente Maritime
Royan has an impressive fish market which sells all sorts of catches, with crawfish and Marenne Oysters the stars. The main food market is a superb source of seasonal produce, such as the Charente melon, Blayais asparaguses and even kiwi fruit – France is the second largest European producer!

Seven nights from 20 July at La Pignade siblu holiday village in nearby Ronce-les-Bains start from only £928, saving £195 on bookings made before 30 April. You can cook up your catch on the free barbecue which is included with every booking. There is also a pool, children’s clubs and horse-riding school to take part in.

France’s organic south coast
Les Arceaux organic market in Montpellier is packed with fragrant cheeses, regional wines and local specialities like Camargue sausages and Collioure anchovies. The Place de la Comédie is Montpellier’s centre and a brilliant place to people watch, plus it bursts at the seams every morning with organic fruit, honey, herbs and olive oils.

Siblu’s Le Lac des Reves holiday village is just five miles from Montpellier, but even closer to several of the region’s brilliant beaches. A family can stay for seven nights from 13 August in a standard two-bedroom holiday home from only £1,119, saving £184 for bookings before 30 April. Price includes free barbecue facilities, children’s clubs, pools and entertainment.

Bon appétit !

Please note, all prices are subject to availability.

Brittany is an ideal family destination for camping in France. The region has the longest coastline in France, so there are white-sand beaches, serene harbours and craggy coves to discover.

Plus, camping doesn’t have to be under canvas. You can enjoy all the luxuries of a mobile home holiday by staying at one of our best-known siblu holiday villages. Four-star Domaine de Kerlann has free children’s clubs, indoor and outdoor pools, a splash zone and sports pitches, and is located close to the pretty town of Pont Aven.

And why is August such a great time to visit? Well, there is the Lorient Celtic Festival (5 to 14 August 2011), a 10-day celebration of Celtic culture includes more than 250 events for 700,000 visitors taking place on stage, in the street and under tents. There’s a diverse collection of musicians from across the world and headline events including Pipe Band and Bagpipe Championships, instrument master-classes and dance competitions. About 60% of the events are free to watch, so there is amazing amount to see and experience at no cost.

For those seeking some solitude from the Celtic clamour, Brittany beaches are superb. The fishing port of Trevignon has a huge beach with lots of smaller bays. Port-Manech is a pretty harbour town with a large sandy beach that is rarely crowded and has plenty of rocks pools for inquisitive kids. La Grande Plage in Carnac is south-facing, sandy and the ocean is calm and suitable for youngsters.

Carnac is also the site of France’s version of Stonehenge. For 6,000 years more than 3000 standing stones, some more than 20m high, have stood in perfect alignment for more than two miles. Local myth has it that the stones are a legion of Roman soldier turned into rocks by the magician Merlin.

I hope that has whetted your appetite. Find out more about Brittany in the siblu region guide, or price up your holiday.

If you have visited Brittany or been to the Lorient Celtic Festival, please tell us about it in the comments below.

So if you want a family camping holiday in France, packed with activities, big pool complexes, dynamic children’s clubs, some of the best beaches in France, and the chance to feed popcorn to giraffes, choose a stay at one of these holiday villages with siblu.

Beauval Zoo
Beauval is home to over 4,000 animals and the zoo has been described as one of the world’s 15 best. It has the largest elephant plain in France, an African Savannah with over 80 animals, one of the biggest sea-lion swimming pools in Europe and rare breeds including white lions and white tigers.

Where to stay: Domaine de Dugny is on the northern bank of the Loire river, close to many stunning chateaux. There is a pool complex, free children’s clubs, adventure playground, bike hire and fishing available. Seven-nights from 17 July starts from only £874, including a saving of £88 for bookings made before 28 March.

La Palmyre zoo
La Palmyre zoo is one of the biggest in Europe with 1,600 animals from across the world. It has a strong conservation programme and runs breeding programmes for endangered species, but children will be much more interested by how close they can get to many of the animals.

There are stalls selling snacks which you can feed to the animals, getting you really near to elephants, giraffes and zebras. Children will also love watching the polar bears swimming through their glass-walled tank, the parrot and sealion shows, the baby monkeys and the extrovert meercats who love to play up to an audience.

Where to stay: La Pignade is a scenic siblu village surrounded by woodland stretching to the nearby beach. There is a covered pool, horse-riding school and free children’s clubs. Seven-nights from 24 July starts from only £1,046, including a saving of £116 for bookings before 28 March.

Oceanopolis sea life centre
Oceanopolis, on the outskirts of Brest, is a high-tech sea-life centre with Europe’s largest marine aquarium. It contains polar, tropical and temperate zones dedicated to a huge amount of sealife. The tropical zone is the most impressive and has species including sharks and large sea turtles which you can see at close quarter from walk through tanks.

The polar zone is the smallest but has fascinating attractions including a penguin colony, a pack of ice seals and impressive giant crabs. There’s also an atmospheric movie shot from of a research ship crossing a polar ice flow.

Where to stay: Domaine de Kerlann is a four-star holiday siblu village in southern Brittany. It is a great base for exploring and has free children’s clubs, indoor and outdoor pools, a fantastic splash zone and multi-sports pitches. Seven-nights from 31 July starts from only £1,053, including a saving of £285 for bookings before 28 March.

- Ends –

Le Bois Masson
The health and wellbeing centre at Le Bois Masson siblu village, near to the seaside resort of St Jean-de-Monts on the Vendée coast, has a steam room and spa offering massages, body and skin treatments, from only 18€ for a 30-minute session. The village itself has indoor and outdoor pools, free children’s clubs and is close to cycle routes that stretch along the wonderful coast.

Les Sables du Midi
Les Sables du Midi siblu village can offer body scrubs, circulatory stretching and Californian massages to anyone who needs more than a beach break under the south of France sun to unwind. Sauna sessions start from only 5€ and treatments from just 20€. The village also has two small pools and is less than one kilometre from the sandy beaches if Valras Plage.

For a family holiday with a difference, take advantage of France’s love affair with the bike and try out miles of new cycle networks in popular French tourist resorts. You can strap your bikes to the car or hire cycles during your break and enjoy one of these great value pedal-powered family holidays with siblu villages (www.siblu.com; 0871 911 7777).

The Vendée’s vélo routes
The Vendée has invested heavily in cycle tracks and the region can now be explored in full from the saddle, along more than 1000km of designated routes. Almost 300km of tracks run along the coast, taking in marshland, dunes and beaches.

A unique attraction of the region is the Vélo Rail, where families can swap their bikes for a cart which they pedal along 10km of disused rail track through the Vendée countryside.

Stay at Le Bois Masson in St Jean De Monts. This large and lively holiday village has entertainment for children and adults, indoor and outdoor swimming, free children’s clubs and even a spa for post-cycling stress relief. A seven-night stay from 13 August starts from as little as £1,038 for a family in a two-bedroom holiday home.

On your bike in Brittany
Brittany, which is renowned for its beautiful coast, has new cycle routes that take in some of the most stunning ocean views. Designated vélo routes can be followed to the towns and beaches around Quimper, Brittany’s oldest city.

Base yourself at Domaine de Kerlann siblu village near to Pont Aven, where saddle sore families can relax with free children’s clubs, indoor and outdoor pools and a splash zone. A seven-night stay from 23 July starts from as little as £808 for a family in a two-bedroom holiday home.
Cycling through Charente Maritime
There are miles of accessible cycle routes for all abilities through Charente Maritime, the sunniest region on France’s west coast.  Take to two wheels through the La Coubre forest, to discover the golden beaches of the Côte Sauvage.

Start your adventure from Bonne Anse Plage siblu village in La Palmyre. When the cycling gets too much, you can let the outdoor pools and free children’s clubs take the strain.  A seven-night holiday from 20 August starts from only £950 for a family in a two-bedroom holiday home.

All prices are subject to availability.

Best beaches
Lake Biscarosse and its lakeside beach are gorgeous and there’s a good selection of children’s parks and cycle routes [TripAdvisor member, Kent]

I thought it was brochure speak about the lake and it’s beach, but it really was excellent especially for young children. A large beach with golden sand that gently shelves into the sea, staying shallow for at least a hundred metres [TripAdvisor member, Essex].

We were blown away by the ‘lake beach’. [TripAdvisor member, Kent]

There is mile after mile of uncrowded, silver sand beaches washed by the lively Atlantic, pine forests which seemingly go on for ever. [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth]

There are fantastic surfing beaches at Biscarosse and Mimizan. Both are small but lively resorts on the Cote d’Argent and decent waves are pretty much guaranteed. There is also Hossegor, slightly further south, which is known as a fine surfing beach and which has even hosted world tour events – one siblu customer travelled all the way from Australia to take part!

Attractions and Adventure

Hiring bikes and cycling round Lake Biscarosse was really safe, easy and enjoyable, even with a 5 year old [TripAdvisor member, Languedoc]

La Reserve is a super site if you want to take in the area, we managed to get down to Spain for lunch! [TripAdvisor member, Cambridgeshire]

Dune du Pilat, near to Arcachon, is the largest sand dune in Europe. At 150m high, half a mile wide and almost two miles long, it has swallowed hotels and roads. Climb to the top of the dune to see incredible views of the sea on one side and rolling pine forest on the other.

Cities and towns

Bordeaux is filled with historic buildings, wide squares, a modern and swift tram system, and street after street of swish shops. [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth]

The Roman spa town of Dax has great shops sitting alongside the historic Roman ramparts and the bubbling spa waters. The steaming water which constantly pours from the underground spa is supposed to be a cure for a whole host of ailments [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth].

Sexy, stylish Biarritz was a magnet for the Swinging Sixties jet set and still retains its aura of elegance and elan. This is the place to see and be seen [TripAdvisor member, Plymouth].

Arcachon is a classy seaside town with good beaches and good, if pricey, restaurants, cafes and bars.

St Emilion is a heart-warming ‘ugly duckling grows up and becomes glamorous swan’ tale. In the 8th century a hermit called, Emilion dug out a cave for himself in the rock. A monastery followed. Then it blossomed into a gorgeous medieval hilltop village, surrounded by endless vineyards that produce full-bodied deep red wines.

What to eat, where to find it
The Arcachon Basin is France’s most important oyster producing region, and so you will find delicious, fresh oysters on every menu in the small villages and towns on the edge of the bay. Much of Aquitaine cuisine is based on goosefat, and foie gras, a goose-liver pate is a speciality.

Keep an eye out for meals containing ‘Périgord’, which will indicate a dish containing truffles. Any meal is best rounded off with a smooth coffee served with a small Canele, a delicious French pastry with custard centre and caramelized crust.

Bordeaux is famous for its wines, and if you have a fine palette and a few quid, go in search of a bottle of Bordeaux 2009. According to French experts, this year’s red will be the first great vintage of the 21st century, because of incredible growing conditions not seen since the 1940s.

Events

Stumbling upon the fiesta in Parentis and seeing the running of the bulls was an unexpected treat. [TripAdvisor member, Essex]

Where to stay

La Réserve, on the banks of Lac Biscarosse, has the twin benefits of a beautiful lakeside beach with golden sand and shallow waters, and its own refreshing pool complex. The parc is set among miles of pine forest, with many great cycle routes for explorers. The kids’ playgrounds are popular, and there is more than enough to keep teens busy, including a range of watersports on the lake.

The region of Côte d’Azur loves the limelight and is famous for its lively nightlife and glitzy reputation, but there are also a few publicity-shy places that are worth their salt. It has a star-studded history as the play place for rich tourists looking for a healthy winter retreat, and then for Kings, Queens and the glitterati of the early 20th century, an association that has been reinforced through the annual Cannes Film Festival, and from starts from Becks to Elton John who buy luxurious holiday homes on the coast.

Best beaches

The best value and indeed the most beautiful beach we went to was in St Aygulf – absolutely fantastic. Great early evening music and waiter service on the beach [TripAdvisor member, Waterford]

Families in Fréjus head to the long, sandy, sheltered beach that stretches to the next town.

Attractions and Adventure

For a more ‘epic’ experience visit the Gorges d’Heric; it is one of the most impressive and magnificent gorges in the region. This long deep crack in the ground is wild, lush and incredible.

For a fantastic day out with the kids then you can do no better than Aqualand (check out www.aqualand.fr and click through on ‘Frejus’).  This is the biggest water park on the Cote d’Azur with slides, lagoons, spa baths as well as play areas, restaurants and bars.  You can buy tickets on parc and it’s an easy 10 minute drive (approx).

Cities and towns

The seaside town of Fréjus is an historic port balanced on a rock plateau, and there are Roman ruins, sandy beaches and chic bars. There’s a typical Med coast holiday feel, with streets lined with ice cream parlours, souvenir shops and restaurants. The bustling town is filled with classical remnants and medieval ruins, contrasting with the modern marina of Port Fréjus.

Frejus itself is a very beautiful place to visit and we enjoyed exploring all the lovely bays and the wonderful mountains that surrounded this area [TripAdvisor member, Fife]

Port Grimaud is St Tropez without the fake tan. It’s a French version of Venice, with winding streets and canals.

St Tropez is a chic town where you can mingle with the ‘jet set’. Relax into one of the many cafés and spend an afternoon celebrity spotting, and watch your kids stare wide-eyed at the yachts.

Cannes is famed for its film festival, but you’ll also be impressed by the gorgeous sandy beaches and cafés on La Croisette; perfect for watching the world go by.

The locals whizz up and down Nice’s magnificent palm-lined ‘Promenade des Anglais’ on roller skates, but the trick to enjoying the star studded town is to take things easy and milk every last detail.

Monaco is home of the rich and famous and famed for its fabulous casino. Of course the beautiful people who hang out here have beautiful yachts, so the marina should be near to the top of your ‘to see’ list.

Food and restaurants

Frejus hosts two food festivals: the Fête du Raisin celebrates the arrival of the first grapes through the medium of wine tasting and traditional dances, and every September there is an Omelette Géante – that’s right, a giant omelette – festival. 

Port-Grimaud has an organic bio market which takes place on Mondays and Fridays. There are organic fruit and vegetables, fresh products, food bread and bio wine, plus natural beauty products.

St Tropez is known for its tans, but every Tuesday and Saturday the Place des Lices in this famous town transforms into one of the biggest markets in Provence. Stalls sell a range of products, including fish and locally sourced food. 

The pretty squares of Aix-en-Provence are transformed into a sea of colours, sounds and appetising smells as the Grand Marché sets up its stalls on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 08h to 12h30. 

Marseille’s famous fish market on the Quai des Belges is a wonderful place to wander around. The local traders use the phrase Peché le nuit, vendu le matin to describe the freshness of their goods: “Caught in the night, sold in the morning”. 

Where to stay

Le Montourey has been described as siblu’s most relaxed site ever; it’s very quiet and you can hear the birds chirping through the day. The parc is a great base for touring the region’s most famous towns, with St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Grasse nearby.

While the weather and Med coast are the main temptation, another draw is Languedoc’s wine producing pedigree: this is the world’s biggest wine region, covering almost 300,000 hectares and producing more wine than Australia.

Best beaches
Vias beach is separated into little sandy bays, and all the kids fish for crabs and tiddlers around the rocks, which is great fun [TripAdvisor member, Glasgow]

There’s a long stretch of beach at Cap d’Adge and free parking near to the marina. If you’re feeling brave, there’s a famous nudist beach nearby too.

Valras Plage has a long beach that gently shelves into the sea, making it ideal for swimming, sailing and sunbathing. Valras Plage harbour is home to some delightful bars and restaurants, many of which offer live music during the evening.

Explore local coastline and discover gorges and coves. La Grand Motte, Carnon and Palavas beaches are golden beaches just 10 minutes away from Lac des Reves.

Attractions and Adventure
Europark in Vias has plenty of rides for all the family, and a candy floss stall with about 50 different flavours on offer! There is also go-karting and mini golf next door. [TripAdvisor member, the Midlands]

Aqualand in Cap d’Agde has giant flumes, waterslides and a wave machine. [Top tips] get your tickets from the siblu reception so you can bypass the entrance queues and save money, and keep hold of your tickets – you can use them to buy tickets for another day at a fraction of the price [TripAdvisor member, Essex)

Captain Jackos toddler waterpark in Cap d’Agde is excellent for little kids.

Visit the historic Canal du Midi, which took 12,000 men to build. You won’t have time to explore the entire 235km, but book a boat, bicycle or horse for a fantastic day-long sightseeing activity.

Hire canoes at Roquebon, a very pretty mountain village on the River Orb, and enjoy hours of fun on the water. Top tip: you are given a waterproof pod so take your camera, suncream, towels and a picnic. [TripAdvisor member, Essex]

The Haribo sweet museum in Uzes provides a potted history of sweets, and in exchange for your entrance fee you are given tokens for the sweet-making machines found throughout. [TripAdvisor member, Tenerife]

Each year the local casino sponsors the fantastic Fete de la Saint-Pierre in Valras Plage in June, to put on free concerts, boat races and fantastic fireworks – great stuff [Jason, Siblu]
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Cities and towns
Montpellier mixes old and new beautifully, to present a fabulous array of sights, buildings, shops and a great selection of restaurants. Head to the Place de Comedie, the pink-marbled heart of the city, for an afternoon spent people watching. Explore the side streets and find boutique shops and authentic cafés and restaurants, serving tasty ‘plat du jours’.

Cap d’Agde is billed as a smaller version of St Tropez. It’s a modern bustling port which offers an impressive selection of shops, restaurants and bars. As well as indulging in eating, drinking, shopping and yacht-spotting, you could always hire a boat or go diving.

Carcassonne is a Unesco World Heritage Site and it has been described as the finest medieval fortified town in Europe. Carcassone’s castle featured in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, there are fantastic museums of chivalry and the middle ages (one where kids can be knighted), plus lots of good walks and loads of pavement cafés when it all becomes too much!

Sète has built up on the banks of the Canal du Midi, and its streets are lined by shops and restaurants. There are great views of the Italian-style houses and some of the fastest sailboats in the world.

St Guilhem-le-Desert is a World Heritage Site which has been designated a ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, one of the most beautiful villages in France. There are Bronze Age gorges and caves packed with art and craft shops and hidden houses, yet despite the awards and beauty, St Guilhem has remained refreshingly modest. On the way back stop off at Pont du Diablo, and huge bridge which spans a gorgeous lake. If you don’t mind climbing down the steep path, the chance to swim in the lake is really worth taking.

Vias sur Plage is a bustling seaside stretch, and venture further and you will find Vias Old Town, which is all tiny squares and cobbled streets, where there is a twice weekly market packed with fresh produce, including oysters and mussels.

Food and restaurants
Le Pescadou in Vias was our favourite – fantastic fish & sea-food [TripAdvisor member, Glasgow]

I tried snails at Vieux Logis in Vias Old Town, and they were very good, and very garlicy [TripAdvisor member, Warrington]

El Duende in Pérols serves great value local food and a gipsy band plays live music at weekends, creating a great atmosphere [Amandine Daniaud, Lac des Reves]

Stalls around Montpellier’s Les Arceaux organic market are packed with fragrant cheeses, regional wines and local specialities like Camargue sausages and Collioure anchovies and the Place de la Comédie, Montpellier’s best-place to people watch, bursts at the seams every morning with organic fruit, honey, herbs and olive oil.

Take a late-night stroll through the regional markets in the ancient town of Sete, just 20 miles from Le Lac des Reves. The food market takes place in the Place du Galion aux Quilles every Thursday from July 5 until August 30, and is open from 16h to midnight.

The famous indoor market at Narbonne provides an assault on your senses – there are sacks of aromatic spices combining with the strong smells of freshly caught fish, the waft of cheeses and the odours from many stoves, griddles and pans as traders cook their wares. Les Halles de Narbonne has become an institution, and is a must-see on any Destination Cooking holiday. The market opens daily from 6h to 13h.

For another fantastic covered market, try the popular Les Halles de Nimes which opens everyday between 0630 and 1300. Stalls trade local delights including fresh vegetables, succulent olives, and garlic – the cornerstone of many a south-coast meal. There are even freshly snuffled truffles available for those planning a luxurious meal.

Special events
Sand sculpture festival on Cap d’Agde’s Plage de Rochelongue. [May 2010]

Cap d’Agde stages its stunning Soirées Pyrotechniques in July – five nights of fireworks displays that locals say are on a par with any across the world. [July 2010]

Nimes’ Le Feria de la Petanque is a five-day celebration of petanque which features a knock out tournament for teams from across the world, plus performances and entertainment. [July 2010]

Carcassone hosts more than 70 free concerts, many at incredible venues, as part of its Festival de Bastide through July. [July 2010]

Where to stay
La Carabasse in Vias is a huge holiday parc with a fab pool area and slides that are brill for children. The location is great, with beaches shops and restaurants in walking distance and the kids will love the energetic and engrossing clubs.

Lac des Reves is a truly relaxing family site close to the Mediterranean coast and Montpellier. There is a highly rated pool and large sandy beaches nearby.

Sables du Midi is a small parc with a relaxing pool and terrace, on the outskirts of the popular seaside resort of Valras Plage