A road trip in Europe
A summer trip with the kids from Rotterdam through Belgium to Germany, Switzerland and France.
Part 5 Serignan Plage and a day trip to Carcasonne
The drive from Aix-en-Provence to Serignan Plage on the south coast is very picturesque. The roads wind through huge fields and past charming, old farm buildings. We stopped by a market at the side of the road to stock up on melons and strawberries for breakfast then checked in at Yelloh Village, Serignan Plage. We booked a serviced pitch for five nights, but they also offer a choice of chalets and cottages for hire. The campsite is fantastic for kids and Sam had a great time during our first visit. They even have kids clubs for children ages four to six and seven to nine, but Sam wasn't ready to try that just yet. After setting up camp we took the kids for a walk to see the shops, entertainment areas and the pool. We signed up for our pool cards and walked around the lagoon and splashpad. The pool card also gives you access to the balneotherapy - a huge wellness area for over 16s with four pools. After looking around and telling Sam that we’d come back first thing, we came out of the gates and spotted the bike rentals. We had brought Sam’s bike from home and thought this would be a great and fun way to navigate the site together. We hired two adult bikes for 4 days, one with a child seat. We zoomed off to explore the rest of the site and Sam was thrilled. We did a loop of one side and stopped at a huge sandy park filled with different size wooden climbing frames. We could see the waterslides behind and Steve promised a visit very soon! We called the kids to make our way back to the van for some dinner and decided the beach would have to wait for the next morning.
The campsite has a fabulous bakery onsite and takes orders the night before. As usual we were spoilt for choice and Sam had nibbled most of the baguette before getting back to the van. We got into the rhythm of going to the beach in the morning and heading to the pool around noon. The long stretch of sand was almost empty first thing on a morning. It was warm enough to sit in the morning sun and the kids raced to collect water to fill the holes they had dug. We cycled along to the pool area to have lunch at the Kabanon snack bar. The Kabanon offers a selection of fresh sandwiches, salads, hotdogs and more, as well as a tempting choice of ice cream flavours.
The pool area has something to offer every age, and unlike many holiday resorts there is not a fight for sunbeds. The site is very laid back and we never had a problem getting beds at any time of day. We often secured a spot near the splashpad where we could relax and watch the kids paddle around. This brought back many memories of Sam’s first visit.
Around the site is information and timetables of markets and evening entertainment. Before having dinner and going to the kids disco, we went for a cycle around the site. We stopped and wandered down the shopping street which includes the bakery, butchers, mini-mart, newsagesnt and more. Behind the main square you will often find a visiting market with local sellers and artisans. After pulling the kids around the shops we cycled back to the van for a bite to eat and promised the kids lots of fun at the disco.
The evening entertainment begins with the kids disco followed by some bigger acts such as musicians, cabarets and magic shows. Not wanting the kids to be exhausted and grumpy we took them back for some much needed sleep.
The heatwave had disappeared and while we welcomed the cooler nights it was rather chilly to be on the beach. We decided to drive to Carcasonne and promised Sam some time on the bmx trail and Esme a swim in the covered pool in the afternoon.
When we arrived in Carcasonne the sun was shining brightly once again. Carcasonne is a hilltop town famous for its medieval citadel. We parked near the canal, below the citadel and walked the steep footpath to the entrance. The cobbled streets are narrow and crowded but full of charm. Shops and cafes are in abundance, and the road twists and turns to the heart of the city. We made our way to the Medieval Camp, set up for a Lord on his travels to meet his subjects. It has rooms set up and offers activities and demonstrations of the medieval arts. We watched a talented lady crafting rings from silver using traditional techniques. I chose a small silver ring and she hammered it to size. She had many beautiful pieces.
The cafés were starting to fill up for lunch so we found one that offered a mix of traditional food and pasta for Esme. We had a long lunch and Sam found his love of moules-frites!
The kids were getting tired so we walked back to the van and promised them some time at the pool. After an afternoon nap they were once again full of beans. It had clouded over so we cycled around the campsite. Steve and Sam had fun on the BMX trail and we visited the indoor pool for Esme. The water is heated and ideal for swimming with little ones. I popped Esme into her boat and we floated around. It is worth noting this pool is only open at certain times of the day as it is indoor and partly surrounded by a restaurant.
We ordered from the pizzeria and sat in front of the entertainment stage. The campsite has many food options. As well as takeaway pizza, there is a paella takeaway and you can order from restaurant La Villa (including take away moules-frites!). La Villa is next to the Balneotherapy area and has a large menu, most being seafood. We booked a table here for our final evening and tried Duo Crevettes Escargots de mer followed by tartare de boeuf and a fish special. They also have a kids menu which includes a drink and ice lolly. Personally I prefer the restaurant near the patio, Lou Pas d’Oc. It has a Provençal atmosphere of a French inn and feels laid back and friendly. They offer regional gourmet specialities including cassolette du pêcheur, magret de canard, assiette de foie gras and more.
As we left Serignan Plage we visited the town and stopped by Les Vignerons de Serignan, a cooperative cellar. We have found the prices at cooperatives to be very reasonable for great wine. We bought a few boxes of rose and white wine, and a box of red to enjoy during the rest of the trip.