Les 2 Rives

Camping Les 2 Rives is in Étang-sur-Arroux, in Saône-et-Loire, on the southern edge of the Morvan regional nature park. The 3.5-hectare site, flat and partly shaded, is bordered by two watercourses, the Mesvrin and the Arroux, to which it gives direct access. The campsite is rated 3 stars and promotes a friendly, family atmosphere.

It offers between 80 and 100 pitches of 100 to 140 m², with a 10 A electric hook-up and a water point nearby, accessible to people with reduced mobility. For rentals, there are 27 m² mobile homes (4 people) and 32 m² mobile homes (6 people), 20 m² Tit’Home units, 16 m² Bengali tents for 4 people and a 34 m² lodge tent for 5 people. Pets are accepted at no extra charge.

As for opening, the official website states that the campsite operates all year round, pitches and rentals alike. Two washroom blocks share the site: one is heated for the shoulder seasons, the other is used in summer. The reception office, however, is open daily only in high season, so a winter arrival should be prepared by getting in touch beforehand.

Prices start at €13.40 a night for a pitch and €53 for a Bengali tent, up to €90.50 for the six-person mobile home, excluding tourist tax and eco-tax. A flat rate of €17.50 for two people with electricity is offered on presentation of the ACSI card, outside July and August.

On site there is a bar-restaurant, cold drinks and ice creams, and bread and regional products for sale. A shared washing machine is available to campers, and free wifi covers the whole site thanks to several transmitters spread around the grounds.

The two washroom blocks do not have the same purpose: the first is heated for the shoulder seasons, the second is a summer block. Each pitch has a 10-amp electric hook-up and a water point nearby, and the car can be parked next to the tent or caravan. Motor vehicles are not allowed to circulate from 11pm to 6am, to preserve the peace.

The rentals are equipped with a kitchen, a living area and a terrace with garden furniture; duvets, pillows and crockery are provided, but not cleaning products, and disposable sheets can be purchased. The mobile homes are non-smoking. The Tit’Home is presented as a compromise between a tent and a mobile home, with no built-in washroom, while the Bengali tents stand on a concrete slab and include two bedrooms, a fridge and a gas stove.

The campsite has no swimming pool: swimming is at the nearby water sports centre, about six minutes away, which has an outdoor pool. The new plan being prepared does mention a future pool, however. Off-season, it is therefore mainly the heated washrooms and the rentals that count, with daily reception and entertainment remaining summer-only.

The two rivers bordering the site naturally shape the stay. Kayaks can be hired on site, with paddles, life jackets and a waterproof barrel: allow €22 for one person and €37 for two. Anglers will also find what they are looking for, provided they hold the compulsory licence, on sale in the village right next to the campsite.

On foot, four free hiking trails start in the surrounding area, including routes that follow ancient Celtic roads. The Temple of a Thousand Buddhas, described as a calm and restful site in the heart of nature, can be visited from €5. The campsite’s website also has articles on the typical villages of the Morvan, the Burgundy wine route, mountain biking in the park, Lake Settons and the château de Sully.

On site, children have a play area, a trampoline and a pétanque area; table tennis and volleyball round off the sports offer. The entertainment section mentions music evenings, barbecues and boomerang-making workshops, with no precise schedule for the moment.

Water activities and entertainment are designed mainly for the warmer months, while walking and cycling in the Morvan remain possible as summer fades.