L’Arros

Camping de l’Arros occupies a wooded site in the centre of Plaisance, in the Gers, on the banks of the river after which it is named. The church square is only 400 m away: bakeries, a supermarket and restaurants are within walking distance, and the traditional market is held every Thursday. The Pyrenees, Lourdes and Bagnères-de-Bigorre are about an hour’s drive away, which puts the Col du Tourmalet and the Cirque de Gavarnie within reach of a day trip.

Rated 3 stars and run by a couple, the site remains modest in size. It has 28 pitches of about 100 m² for tents, caravans and motorhomes, spread over 1.8 hectares, four of them with private washrooms, plus 16 rental units: eleven chalets of 24 to 37.5 m² and five mobile homes, all with at least two bedrooms, a fitted kitchen, a bathroom and separate toilet, a covered terrace and garden furniture.

For an off-season stay, everything comes down to the rental units. The website states that the chalets and mobile homes are open all year round, while the pitches only operate from May to September. The published 2026 rates cover 1 January to 4 July and 23 August to 31 December, with a two-night minimum from 1 January to 4 July and from 1 September to 15 December. Heating is charged extra from 1 October to 31 May.

This is a good fit for weekends and short breaks in the Gers, getaways to the Pyrenees or business trips, with booking online or by phone all year round.

Thursday market in Plaisance, hiking on the trails of the Gers, route of the bastides and castelnaux, tastings of wines and local produce.

Reception answers the phone all year round and offers online booking. The rental units come with a full inventory suited to the number of guests: kitchen utensils and basic equipment, with bed linen, towels and end-of-stay cleaning as options. Pets must be declared when booking, as they are among the charged options. A tourist tax, a bioparticipation levy and booking fees are added to the displayed rates, which is worth allowing for in the budget.

For pitches, one washroom block is cleaned twice a day in summer, with a baby area, and a block adapted for people with reduced mobility is open from April to September. The campsite has added four pitches with private washrooms, a new feature appreciated by families.

The relaxation lagoon, a 100 m² pool 0 to 1.60 m deep, with a 200 m² sun terrace and sun loungers, is open from 15 June to 15 September only. There is therefore no swimming on site outside this period. For everyday shopping, you simply head into the village: the bakery, supermarket and restaurants are 400 m from the campsite.

On site, activities are concentrated in July and August. A kids’ club for children aged 4 to 10 runs from Monday to Friday from 10:30am to noon, giving parents some time to rest. Next to the campsite, Midi Golf de Plaisance offers a course that traces the architectural history of the village. The River Arros allows fishing and canoeing, and the lakes of the Gers invite swimming and fishing, with guinguettes (open-air cafés) nearby.

The département can be explored all year round: fifty hiking trails, authentic villages, the route of the bastides and castelnaux via Bassoues to Auch, or the tour of the north of the Gers via Larressingle, Fourcès and Condom. Gers cuisine, with duck, goose, magret and foie gras, along with the wines of Madiran, Saint-Mont and Côtes de Gascogne, armagnac and floc de Gascogne, is reason enough for a getaway.

In summer, music festivals punctuate the region, notably Tempo Latino in Vic-Fezensac and the country festival in Mirande, and villages hold celebrations every weekend, with bandas, dances and fireworks around 14 July. Off-season, the Thursday market in Plaisance, hiking and visits to the bastides remain the main outings.