Le Castillon

Le Castillon campsite is at 408 route des Oratoires, in the hamlet of Sainte-Anne du Castellet, in the commune of Le Castellet, in the Var. It is described as having a shaded setting among vineyards, about ten minutes from the beaches of Bandol and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, and lies within the Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park.

The site is rated one star and has 81 pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, of which 72 are classified. It does not announce any rental units: the offer is centred on the basic pitch. Pets are allowed, and a washroom area is fitted out for guests with reduced mobility.

Opening period: the campsite announces opening from 1 March to 31 December, with an exceptional closure on 25 December. It is therefore closed in January and February. Off-season, reception is limited to Saturday and Sunday, from 10.30am to noon, by appointment; in season, the office is open from 8am to noon and from 3pm to 7pm. The campsite is not open all year round and is not suited to a stay in the depths of winter.

The rates shown remain modest: €16 a night in low season for two people, a tent and a vehicle, €17 in high season with a tent and €19 with a caravan or motorhome, before tourist tax. Children under three stay free.

The facilities are simple and designed for a no-frills stay. A free washroom block has showers and toilets, with an area adapted for wheelchair users. Two washing machines are available, at €3 a cycle. Wifi is advertised, along with a small common room open to campers, with internet access and a reading corner.

The campsite offers book lending and board games. In July and August only, a bread depot and a small grocery shop help out with daily needs, as does a refreshment bar: outside those two months, you need to shop in the village or neighbouring communes.

No swimming pool is advertised on site. For swimming, the sea is the answer: the beaches of Bandol and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer are reached in about ten minutes. Pets are allowed, and payments are made by cheque, in cash or by traveller’s cheque. The reception office can be reached on the numbers given by the commune, and the campsite speaks French and English.

On site, leisure remains modest: a pétanque court, table tennis tables and an activity room, used according to the campsite for entertainment in season. The shaded site is best suited to rest and long summer evenings among neighbours.

Around the campsite, the setting is that of the vineyards: the Bandol and Le Castellet region is known for its wines, and the hilltop village of Le Castellet, with its medieval lanes, is easy to visit. The beaches of Bandol and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, about ten minutes away, offer swimming and seaside walks.

The Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park also opens the way to hikes in the Var hinterland, cycling on quiet roads and visits to wine estates. As the campsite closes in January and February, these activities are mostly enjoyed from March to December, in spring and autumn, when temperatures suit outings on foot. For the season’s hours and entertainment, it is best to call the campsite directly.