Au Blanc Manteau

Au Blanc Manteau campsite covers four hectares in Manteyer, in the Hautes-Alpes, about 15 km west of Gap. To reach it, leave the D994 towards Veynes, drive through La Roche-des-Arnauds, then follow the D18 for 1.5 km. The neighbouring village, home to a bakery, grocery shop, restaurants and pharmacy, is about the same distance away; Gap completes the offer with its supermarkets, hospital and leisure facilities.

The site is a small family campsite with no rental accommodation: you come with your tent, caravan or camper van. The natural pitches, shaded or sunny, measure 150 to 250 m² and each has an electricity post and a water point. Caravans up to 7 m are accepted, but neither motorhomes nor groups are admitted, and the night lighting is deliberately switched off to leave room for the starry sky.

The website announces twelve-month opening, with no annual closure. The name of the place comes from winter, when snow covers the field; the published photos show a caravan in the snow and a snow-covered terrace. The washrooms are heated in the cold season, and the bar stays open from September to June on reduced hours. Year-round pitches, as well as a parking area for winter storage of caravans, are offered.

The basic rate starts at €25 a night for two people, hot water and pool included, with a tourist tax of €0.50 per day per person.

Nearby ski resorts, hiking, climbing and horse riding around the campsite, according to the website.

Everything here is deliberately kept simple. The washroom block has toilets, washbasins and showers in individual cubicles, all with hot water, with a baby cubicle equipped with a bath and changing table, as well as an accessible washroom for disabled guests. A washing machine runs per wash, with detergent supplied, and two sinks allow hand washing in cold water. Wifi is not offered.

The pool is open every day from 9am to 9pm, from mid-June to the end of August. It has a large pool from 35 cm to 1.90 m deep and a 10 cm paddling pool for children; visitors can swim there for a separate fee, to be announced in advance. Pets are accepted on the site but not allowed around the pool and on the terrace.

The bar operates all year round: from 9am to 10pm in July and August, then from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 5 to 8pm from September to June. In July and August, reception takes orders for fresh bread and takeaway dishes (chips, roast chicken, steaks). Outside this period, you need to rely on the neighbouring village, 1.5 km away, for shopping and meals. ANCV holiday vouchers are accepted, and you can arrive without a booking, although the management recommends booking.

The campsite focuses on relaxation rather than entertainment: no organised programme, but a play area with a slide and swings, a tennis and volleyball court, a table tennis table and, in summer, the pool and its terrace. The tennis court can be booked for an hour, with a per-person rate reserved for campers. The place is quiet, with silence requested from 10pm to 9am.

Around the site, the website mentions hiking, climbing and horse riding. A path behind the campsite climbs to the Saint-Roch chapel, and the views take in the Pic de Bure, which reaches 2,700 m, and the Céüse ridge, at 2,000 m. Gap, 15 km away, has supermarkets, a hospital, a petrol station and leisure facilities.

In winter, the campsite highlights the snow covering the field, and the published photos show a caravan set up under the snow; the website also mentions the ski resorts of the area. Cars can leave early in the morning provided they were parked the evening before in the outer car park, which preserves the calm of the site during quiet hours.