Camping Municipal Le Grillon

The municipal campsite Le Grillon is in Montoulieu, a small village in the Hérault nestled between garrigue and vineyards, on the Chemin de Pradines. Montpellier is about 40 km away, the A75 motorway at Gignac 45 km, the Montpellier and Nîmes stations 40 to 50 km. The site aims to be family-friendly and quiet, shaded by Mediterranean trees, with a fully sunny area that lets you enjoy the fine weather from April.

It offers 37 pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, some equipped with an electric post and a water point, as well as a small rental fleet: two- and three-bedroom mobile homes (30 and 40 m², air-conditioned), “Charme Prestige” pods of 15.5 m² for one to three people, a 33 m² chalet adapted for guests with reduced mobility and a 25 m² studio. The site is advertised as 3-star rated.

As for opening, the commune says the campsite is open all year round, from 1 January to 31 December, with reception every day from 8am to 12pm and from 2pm to 10pm. The website states that the mobile homes and the chalet are designed to welcome guests in all seasons and that, in winter, the pitches have a water connection and hot showers. Only the pool is seasonal, from 1 May to 15 September. Off-season, the studio is only rented by the week.

The setting is one of limestone landscapes: the campsite makes no secret of the fact that you can even watch vultures from your pitch.

Walks to the Monnier massif, the Thaurac plateau and the Castellas castle; vulture watching; Grotte des Demoiselles and Hérault gorges.

Comfort rests on a washroom block rated “grand confort” by the campsite: shower cubicles, washbasin cubicles, a nursery with changing room, toilets, washing machine and dryer. Guests with reduced mobility can use both the pitches and the washroom blocks. A TV room and a shared living room, with self-service fridges, are open to all campers, and Wi-Fi is free.

The air-conditioned mobile homes have a fitted kitchen with dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker and fridge-freezer, one or two bathrooms and a shaded terrace; blankets and pillows are provided, but not sheets. The chalet has a convector heater in every room. The pods are equipped with a kitchenette, a private shower room and LED lighting.

Water is found at the pool, open to campers from 1 May to 15 September, with a children’s pool. Near the pool, a snack bar sells essentials and fresh bread every morning; the restaurant “L’Alzon”, very close by, serves its menus all year round. Next to the campsite, there is also a square, a play area, a boules pitch and a volleyball and badminton court. The campsite accepts pets kept on a lead; category 1 dogs are refused.

Le Grillon lends itself to nature stays. From the campsite, walks of a few hours or a day lead to the Monnier massif, the Thaurac plateau and the Castellas castle. Children have a play area, a square, a boules pitch and a volleyball and badminton court, and the commune also provides a tennis court and a multisports pitch.

In the surrounding area, the town hall recommends the Grotte des Demoiselles, the Hérault gorges and the silk museum. The campsite also offers, under the title “Le Grillon ça bouge”, an immersive visit to a manade in the heart of the Camargue followed by a trip up the Petit Rhône aboard the paddle boat Tiki 3, with commentary on the wildlife, plants and local traditions. The producers of Montoulieu and a tourist map are presented on the campsite’s website.

Off-season, the setting remains pleasant: part of the site is in full sun, which lets you enjoy the Mediterranean warmth from April, according to the campsite, and walks up to the limestone heights are also possible outside the summer months. Vulture watching is possible from the campsite, and the neighbouring year-round restaurant completes the offer. The village of Montoulieu, in a wine-growing area, invites strolls between vines and garrigue.