Camping Municipal Les Vieux Chenes

Run by the commune of Chaillac, the Les Vieux Chênes municipal campsite stands on Allée des Vieux Chênes in the south of the Indre département, in the heart of hedged bocage countryside. The site is shaded and has 40 pitches for tents and caravans. The Brenne Regional Nature Park lists it among the accommodation in its area.

The village centre is only 400 m away: a supermarket, post office, Maison France Services, bakery, bars and restaurants are all there, and the market is held on Saturdays on Place du Bosquet. Lac de la Rochegaudon, about 600 m away, has a supervised swimming area in July and August. On site there is a playground for young children and a book box for borrowing something to read.

The commune describes the campsite as open all year round, and the 2026 price list confirms it, since it distinguishes the electric hook-up rate from May to October from the one from November to April. Chalets and mobile homes are rented by the week, from €295 to €395 according to the Parc de la Brenne, with a €50 heating package for the mobile homes from 1 November to 31 March. Nothing is said about an annual closure. Off-season, the place suits quiet stopovers, fishing or walking breaks and longer stays, with a 10% discount after eight nights.

As for the rest, municipal management explains the modest prices: the charge is €3 per person, a tent pitch costs €3.50 and a caravan pitch €4.20.

Horse fair on the second Saturday of October, 100 km of trails on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback, electric bikes to rent, media library.

The campsite aims to be simple and practical. The site is run by the commune of Chaillac, and information and bookings go through 02 54 25 61 39 or by email. Every pitch can be connected to electricity: the hook-up costs €3 from May to October and €4.20 from November to April, which shows that campers are expected in winter. Payment by cheque, holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances) and cash is accepted.

Campers who would rather not bring their own bedding can rent a kit: €12 for a double bed, €10 for a single bed, plus €8 per person for the bath linen and towel set. Chalets and mobile homes are rented by the week; heating for the mobile homes is charged extra from 1 November to 31 March. The website gives no details on heating in the washrooms, so it is best to ask at reception before a winter stay.

The town hall also rents out twelve electric-assist bikes, at €25 per day, €49 for two days and €125 per week. There is no pool on the campsite. Swimming is at Lac de la Rochegaudon, a few hundred metres away, where lifeguards are on duty in July and August: the beach has a picnic area, a car park, toilets, a bar serving food and a play area, and dogs are welcome. The rest of the year, the shops in the village centre cover everyday needs.

What is on offer is mostly about nature. Lac de la Rochegaudon is good for swimming in summer and for fishing; locals hold a lake festival there in August, with a funfair, refreshment stall and fireworks. Nearly 100 km of trails allow walking, mountain biking and horse riding, and the campsite rents electric bikes through the town hall. Petanque, tennis and horse riding are also among the local activities listed by the commune.

For culture, the Musée de la Minéralogie et des Mines occupies a restored farm with modern architecture. It presents the fluorite and barite from the Chaillac deposit, precious stones and wagons from the underground Rossignol mine. It opens in summer, between 19 June and the end of August, with a break at midday (admission €4 for adults, €2 for children), and a mineralogy fair takes place on the second weekend of July. The media library rounds out the offer outside the fine-weather season.

Autumn brings the horse fair on the second Saturday of October, near the lake. Children have a playground on the campsite.