Le Camping St Etienne

The place used to be superb, which makes seeing it like this so sad. I’ve known the campsite since I was a child, but now it feels abandoned and the previous owners seem not to care. The stars were taken away, so why are they still displayed? The reception smells of cat pee, the grass is overgrown and neglected, and poplar fluff is everywhere like snow. The children’s play area is filthy, there are heaps of rotting leaves, the toilet ceilings are coming apart, and everything is dirty. The barbecue is wrecked, and the benches and tables are rotten, among other things. On Fête de la Musique (Music Festival), the music was awful and the party went on until 3:30 am, with hooligans right in front of the speakers while campers tried to sleep. 27 euros for two people for this is shameful.

I made an online booking and received an email saying my request had been processed, but when I called because I hadn’t heard anything further, I was told there was no reservation under my name. The managers said it wasn’t their fault and that they had no space anyway. A very frustrating experience, with no follow-up on online bookings. I’ll also mention the owner’s threat to file a complaint if I left a review.

The owners told us just two days before our stay that the campsite was being closed by the authorities. Despite our calls and reminder letters, they never returned our deposit. Avoid this campsite.

The managers were cold, which only added to the frustration of the bill. Still, the lake view, the fairly low price, and the quiet surroundings helped make it bearable. The campsite itself is a complete mess, with maintenance gear left lying around because the place isn’t looked after. Even so, the restrooms are reasonably clean. It’s a shame, the site has potential.