What to see in France

Camping to discover Villeréal, a royal bastide in Lot-et-Garonne

Intérieur du village de Villeréal dans le Lot-et-Garonne
Intérieur du village de Villeréal dans le Lot-et-Garonne

 

The magnificent royal bastide town of Villeréal, founded in 1267 by Alphonse de Poitiers, is located in the Lot-et-Garonne department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Situated between Bergerac and Villeneuve-sur-Lot in the Dropt valley, it is considered to be a "new town of the Middle Ages", and it is certainly its superb 13th-century fortified church, its streets lined with houses with timber-framed and gilded stone facades, its pretty square with its 16th-century covered market and its wattle-and-daub storey, that made it France's third-favourite village in 2024. A great place to visit if you're on a camping holiday in the area.

Which campsite should you choose to visit Villeréal?

There are no campsites in Villeréal itself, but there are several in the surrounding area. We have selected a few for you to choose from according to your criteria: number of stars, with swimming pool, family, quiet, etc.

Campsites with swimming pool close to Villeréal / Lot-et-Garonne (47)

Huttopia Vallée du Lot campsite **** in Saint-Etienne-de Villeréal, less than 5 km from the bastide town of Villeréal. Open from the end of June to the beginning of September, the campsite offers you a haven of peace in unspoilt countryside beside a lake. There's a lovely outdoor swimming pool over 25 m long and a paddling pool for the little ones. A wellness area offers spas, treatments, massages and even yoga classes. You can also play golf, table tennis and tennis, as well as football, volleyball and beach volleyball, or hire an electric mountain bike to explore the surrounding countryside. Environmentally-friendly, comfortable, en-suite canvas and wood accommodation under the trees or on the water's edge. In the evenings, you can look forward to extraordinary entertainment here, with magic shows, theatre, open-air cinema and concerts.

Campsite in Dordogne (24)/ mobile home and chalet rentals

Located just 12 km from Villeréal, the Domaine du Moulinal campsite ***** in Biron welcomes you between April and September in a green setting. Accommodation includes chalets, mobile homes, comfortable tents and a number of bare pitches. A water park with two heated pools throughout the season, one of which is covered, and 4 waterslides. Situated on the edge of a pond, you can also enjoy water sports such as canoeing and fishing, as well as swimming and a small beach. Tennis, basketball and beach volleyball are the sports on offer on site. For children: Club, entertainment and playground are on the programme. The campsite team organises shows, entertainment and dance evenings for the whole family.

Five-star campsite in Lot-et-Garonne

Camping Château de Fonrives ***** in Rives is located 3 km from the village of Villeréal. It welcomes you in a natural park and forest. It has 143 accommodation units (including mobile homes) and a water park with an outdoor swimming pool, waterslides, solarium and jacuzzi, as well as a wellness area with a spa. Here you can go hiking from the campsite, as well as horse-riding and sports such as archery and tennis. There is a children's club and a mini-club for toddlers. In the evening, you can enjoy shows and dance evenings to make the most of your holiday with family and friends.

Château de Fonrives campsite
Château de Fonrives campsite© Camping Château de Fonrives

 

Cheaper camping in Lot-et-Garonne (47)

Less than 20 km from Villeréal, the Lac de Cancon * campsite is open from May to September and all year round for rentals. It is located near a lake and has 36 pitches, including 11 for rental. The campsite even has a swimming pool, which is very popular with visitors, and a children's play area. Badminton, mini-golf, table tennis and pétanque are all available on site.

Waterside campsite in Lot-et-Garonne

Camping de Lougratte *** is in in Lougratte in the Lot-et-Garonne region, just 13 km from Villeréal, voted third favourite village of the French in 2024. Open between June and September, it is on the edge of a lake with direct access to the beach. For sports enthusiasts, there are kayaks, pedalos and paddleboats for water sports, tennis, volleyball, table tennis and pétanque for the others. A children's play area and lively dance evenings are organised in summer.

Where are the treasures of Villeréal?

Villeréal is a great place to stroll around, with a pleasant, friendly atmosphere and markets held in and around the market hall, the very heart of the town. The bastide is considered to be one of the most characteristic of the South-West region, of which there are a number.

The bastide town of Villeréal
The bastide town of Villeréal © iStock

 

Listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, Villeréal is not short of atypical monuments, such as the market hall, a listed historic monument of considerable size, which was built with an upper storey, which was very rare. It was used in turn as the town hall, assembly hall and bailiwick, and now houses a local radio station. You have to admire its masterful framework and its pillars resting on stones because of the deterioration of their base when they were originally on the ground. In the past, villagers used to come to the hall to watch screenings of Charlie's first silent films. The giant screen was set up against the wall of the staircaseimage

The magnificent market hall
The magnificent market hall © iStock
The imposing framework inside the hall
The imposing framework inside the hall© iStock

The fortified church is also a listed historic monument. Built in the 13th century at the same time as the bastide, which is already exceptional, its architecture shows that it was as much a "last refuge" as a place of worship. Its bell tower-wall, its two square turrets, its crenellated parapet walk and, at the time, its only access via a drawbridge, all bear witness to its past as an authentic bastion. Inside, the choir and vault, damaged on several occasions, are not period, unlike the vaults of the side chapels. There are also several superb wooden sculptures of saints on either side of the choir. Upstairs, there are two rooms, one of which was used as a prison and the other housed the recently renovated clock mechanism. Finally, there was once a fort attached to the church, of which nothing remains today.

The fortified church, a listed historic monument
The fortified church, a listed historic monument© iStock

The area around Villeréal is also well worth a visit for its beautiful green hillsides, drained by the river Dropt and its flourishing, bountiful valley. Sports enthusiasts can also discover the nature and landscapes of the Pays Villeréalais through mountain biking, swimming, fishing and horse riding.

Villeréal's culinary specialities

It's hard to visit the South West without tasting its wine! Around Villeréal, you can taste one of France's oldest wines, Cahors, whose vineyards have been located in the Lot valley since ancient times. It's a wine of character, with a powerful flavour that matures with age.

Cahors vineyard
Cahors vineyard© iStock

The Périgord cep is the second culinary speciality after the truffle. A fine delicacy, it is simply eaten in an omelette and cooked with butter, garlic and parsley.

With apples or prunes and Armagnac, this cake is both crisp and light. An ancient dessert made with flour, eggs, butter and sugar, it is celebrated every year in July with a competition for the best tourtière!

The dried fruit of the plum, the Agen prune is THE speciality of the Lot-et-Garonne. Mild and delicious, it's also excellent for your health. You'll love it on its own or as an aperitif, surrounded by smoked bacon, as well as in stewed meat dishes or in clafouti.

Agen prunes
Agen prunes© iStock

 

 

 

 

Campsites connected with this article

Campsites in the Lot Campsites near of Villeréal
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