Les Chambons

Camping Les Chambons is on rue des Chambons, in Argenton-sur-Creuse, in the Indre, in the heart of the Berry. It occupies one bank of the Creuse, close to the town centre, and is rated 3 stars, with Vacaf and ANCV approval. The campsite has around sixty pitches, on a site of a little over a hectare, and about ten rental accommodations.

The pitches take 1 to 4 people on 80 to 100 m²: tent, caravan or motorhome, with the option of water and electric hook-up, access for disabled visitors and pets allowed. As for rentals, there are eight mobile homes of 25 to 40 m² for 2 to 6 people (two or three bedrooms, kitchen, terrace, television, heating) and roulottes of 12 m² for two people, with a 140 × 190 bed, kitchenette, terrace, heating and air conditioning. Pets are not accepted in them.

On opening, the campsite’s website does not publish a calendar. It is announced as open from 1 January to 31 December, mobile homes and roulotte included, with heated washrooms. Only the canoe, paddleboard and pedal boat hire and the motorhome service area, from May to October, are seasonal. The exact dates should be confirmed by phone before making a winter booking.

The place suits quiet stays by the water: a bakery and a postal service are nearby, and the Argenton municipal swimming pool is about 2 km away.

All year round: pétanque, table tennis, trampoline and play area at the campsite; walks on nearby paths and visits in the Berry.

The campsite remains a simple operation, whose facilities are easily counted. The washrooms are heated, which matters for autumn and winter stays, and one block is set aside for disabled visitors. A laundry room is available, Wi-Fi can be used at reception and a postal service is mentioned. Sheet hire, a bar with snack on site and permitted barbecues are also announced; these points should be confirmed when booking.

Motorhome owners have a waste-emptying and service area, listed from May to October. Each pitch of 80 to 100 m² can have a water and electric hook-up. In the mobile homes the kitchen is equipped, but sheets and towels are not provided. The roulottes add air conditioning to the heating, a useful detail in any season.

For swimming, the campsite points to the Argenton municipal aquatic centre, about 2 km away, open in summer: a large paddling pool, a fun pool, a bubble lagoon, a lazy river, a geyser and a water cannon. Each guest gets one free entry per person per stay, with further entries offered at a reduced rate. The campsite has no pool of its own. The Creuse, however, borders the site and is good for fishing. A nearby bakery and a supermarket open all year round complete the picture.

The Creuse is the main playground. From May to October, the campsite hires out canoes (10 € an hour, 20 € for a half day, 30 € for a day), paddleboards (8 €, 15 € and 25 €) and pedal boats (5 € for 30 minutes), for all levels. The paths leading from around the campsite suit family walks, more vigorous hiking or flora spotting.

On site, a pétanque court, a table tennis table and a trampoline keep children and adults busy. According to campings.com, these games, the play area and the inflatable structure remain accessible all year round, whereas the aquatic centre and the bike hire are limited to July and August. A cinema is about 2 km away.

Around Argenton, the campsite recommends a long list of visits: the Gallo-Roman site of Argentomagus, the artists’ village of Gargilesse-Dampierre, the Château de Valençay and its car museum, Bourges cathedral, Nohant-Vic, the Haute Touche reserve, Fontgombault abbey, the lakes of Éguzon and Bellebouche, or the Musée de la Chemiserie. The Beauval zoo is also among the outing ideas. These places help fill late-season stays, subject to each one’s opening days.