L’Esperance

This campsite is at 82 rue Saint-Pierre in Montfort-sur-Risle, in the Eure department, in Normandy. All the pitches overlook the Risle, with fishing access. The site is rated one star and has, according to the guides, about seventy pitches. It is now presented under the name Camping de Montfort: a change of owners is reported, and the official website still refers to Camping de l’Espérance in some texts.

The pitches welcome tents, caravans and motorhomes. For rentals, the campsite offers fishing chalets and chalets with a hot tub, also by the river. A brasserie, a mini-farm with ponies, goats and rabbits, a pétanque court and fishing areas complete the picture. Pets are accepted under certain conditions.

The official website announces opening all year round and publishes off-season rates, which confirms that holidaymakers are welcome in winter: €15 a night for a motorhome and €17 for a tent or caravan in the off-season, for two people, compared with €18.50 and €19.50 in July and August. The chalets can also be rented in the off-season, from €220 for a weekend for a fishing chalet.

The seaside is about thirty minutes away, Rouen and Pont-Audemer are within easy reach, and the Côte Fleurie, with Honfleur, is easy to get to. A bus line, the 214, serves the village.

Fishing along the Risle, ruins of the Montfort castle, trips to the Côte Fleurie, Honfleur and Rouen.

The campsite’s brasserie offers a menu, ice creams and cocktails, indoors, under the patio or on the terrace. It also hosts dance evenings and entertainment. For a stop outside the summer, this is an asset: you can eat on site without getting back on the road.

The enchanted mini-farm is home to ponies, goats and rabbits that children can go and see. The pitches line the Risle and campers have the campsite’s facilities at their disposal. The fishing chalets are designed for enthusiasts, and other chalets are fitted with a private hot tub for a more comfortable stay, including in the cooler season.

The campsite also reports internet access, a motorhome area and the possibility of long stays: one page of the website is devoted to those who wish to become residents. A bus line and a local taxi are listed on the website for arrivals without a car. For the opening hours of the brasserie and reception and the facilities open in winter, it is best to phone before setting out.

Fishing is the star activity: all the pitches have access to the Risle, and two types of chalets are even designed for anglers. On site, you will also find a pétanque court, the mini-farm and an entertainment programme that includes a kids’ club, dance evenings, karaoke and guinguettes.

Around the campsite, canoeing on the Risle, hiking and a visit to the ruins of the Montfort castle are among the outings cited by the website. The village is well placed as a base: the Côte Fleurie, Honfleur, Pont-Audemer and Rouen can be visited in a day, and the seaside is about thirty minutes away.

As the campsite is open all year round, some of these activities continue in the off-season: walks by the water, fishing, visits to Normandy towns. Evening entertainment, however, depends on the season and is not all guaranteed in winter: the campsite does not publish a calendar, so it is best to ask at reception before booking.