Greoux-les-Bains

NEW AIRE AT A THERMAL SPA

Parking at an aire de service in a thermal spa town, especially during the day, can often be a problem due to the number of visitors who come to use the spas. Whilst it may be possible to use a nearby campsite, this is often not the case in winter when the majority of sites are closed.

The thermal spa town of Greoux-les-Bains in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence realizes the problems faced by motorhomers & despite there being 6 campsites in the vicinity of the town, has opened a new aire with 85 spaces in an excellent location. The aire is located in Chemin des Barques, close to the thermal complex & the shops, charges are 6€ per night & the aire is open 24/7 with no limitation on the length of stay. The aire has an artisanal borne with platform drain. If you are intending to visit for the thermal cures though, note that the spas are closed from mid December to mid-March.

AIRES IN NIEVRE

If you are planning to holiday in the Nievre area of Burgundy this year, then for the first time, the regional tourist agency have produced a map for motorhome owners showing all the locations in the area where you can stay. The map includes the addresses of 21 municipal aires, campsites that have a campervan service area, farms as well as some restaurants & auberges. The map is available from all of the departments 28 tourist offices as well as via the website: www.nievre-tourisme.com.

NEW AIRES IN COTE D'OR

The Cote d'Or department in the Burgundy region has recently installed 3 new aires in 3 of its towns, and all of them are close to chateaux.

Fontaine-Francaise is a village of about 1,000 inhabitants, 65km north-west of Besancon, that has recently built a new aire de service for up to 3 motorhomes in the centre of the village. The aire in square des Banquettes is next to an 18^th century chateau (open to visitors in Spring & Summer), the borne operates by jetons at 3€ each -- available from local shops (listed at the aire).

Auxenne on the banks of the Saone has also installed a new aire close to a chateau (the home of the local Bonaparte museum) with a separate nearby parking area for camper vans.

The third Cote d'Or community to construct an aire is Nuits-Saint-George, in the heart of the Burgundy vineyards, where the new aire can be found in Place du Champ de Foire -- also close to a chateau. The aire is in a verdant location with an artisanal borne & drainage platform.

LONGEST SKI SLOPE IN THE WORLD IS 30 YEARS  OLD

If you are visiting the popular aire de service at L'Alpe d'Huez in the Rhone Alpes you may be interested to know that it has the longest ski slope in the world. Ski lovers the world over know the Sarenne slop - from the Pic Blanc at 3 330 metres alt., it slopes down between rocks and fir trees over sixteen kilometers & this year, it celebrates its thirtieth anniversary! Skiers of high level need half an hour cover  the Sarenne and approximately one hour for a skier of average level, but in good condition. You take the last cable lift to climb up to Pic Blanc, have a gastronomic break in a refuge, in the heart of the glacier and then descent to l'Alpe d'Huez, supervised by ski patrolmen and ski instructors. And you will remember it all your life!