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Just had terrific 5 weeks in France down the Rhone valley to SE France, Provence and meandering leisurely back!!!
While travelling we tend to use N roads and the major supermarkets in Centres Commercial for fuel and limited provisions.
On more than one occassion we have experienced difficulties in getting into the car parks due to the proliferation of 2.1M height restricters.
At Cora at Cambrai the single traffic road access barrier was raised only to be confronted with a second around the corner not visible. Chaos as it was neccessary to stop the traffic while we reversed out....much to the enjoyment of the ever patient French motorist !!!!!. you wish!!
At another, seem to recall it was Auchan, it was possible to enter but impossible to exit. A second MH was also doing circuits searching for means to escape...formed convey and went out with light blazing while "navigator" held back the entering traffic.
Fuelling up at these sites is not a problem
Has anyone else experienced similar elsewhere in France?
Ron
Re: French Supermarkets Car Parks Height Restrictions
Just had terrific 5 weeks in France down the Rhone valley to SE France, Provence and meandering leisurely back!!!
While travelling we tend to use N roads and the major supermarkets in Centres Commercial for fuel and limited provisions.
On more than one occassion we have experienced difficulties in getting into the car parks due to the proliferation of 2.1M height restricters.
At Cora at Cambrai the single traffic road access barrier was raised only to be confronted with a second around the corner not visible. Chaos as it was neccessary to stop the traffic while we reversed out....much to the enjoyment of the ever patient French motorist !!!!!. you wish!!
At another, seem to recall it was Auchan, it was possible to enter but impossible to exit. A second MH was also doing circuits searching for means to escape...formed convey and went out with light blazing while "navigator" held back the entering traffic.
Fuelling up at these sites is not a problem
Has anyone else experienced similar elsewhere in France?
Ron
hello Ron
I posted about this last year when in the Aquataine area of France. It was not only food/fuel supermarkets fuel establishments but carparks as well. Sometimes you could get in round the back sometimes not. We were on our way home and getting desperately low on fuel when just outside Bordeaux on the motorway we saw the welcome sign to a hypermarket think it was Carrefour. Couldnt get in the fuel station at all though 2.1m so had to wait till the next day. Not amused.
This year similar experiences in western France. I am told it is because of those unwelcome visitors who overstay their welcome & make a mess.
We also noticed that along the coastal areas Motorhomes were banned from by the installations of height barriers. Shame
had similar problems - particularly LeClerc's who seem to like height barriers on the main entrances but usually leave one entry / exit with MH access. The one at Boulogne is an example. They seem to be trying to herd MH's into a quieter area of their carpark.
The problem in France seems to be the sudden popularity of motorhome ownership.
Motorhomes are so popular now in France that Fleurette and Rapido have stopped building caravans and now only make Motorhomes.
The French and many foreigners are loath to pay for campsites and in some area the large number of motorhomes parking overnight all over the place has forced some local authorities to act in a fairly draconian manner.
In some areas these MHs cause far more problems than the travellers do.
Because of the selfish behavior of a minority of motorhomers all the rest are being unnecessarily penalised.
Well I hate to contradict but we've just had 4 weeks in France, Channel to Med and back, visited numerous supermarkets and only experienced barriers at one (Auchan in Dunkerque on the last day - and then on only one part of the carpark and there was a separate area for larger vehicles).
We did however tend to stick to the smaller towns where not only were there no barriers, there seemed enough parking spaces to accomodate the whole town and a noticeable lack of customers - what a pleasure to shop.
Anyone know if Leclerc intend opening a store in the UK? - it would make the likes of Tesco and Asda look like run-down corner shops
Last edited by tonyt on Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:00 am; edited 1 time in total ______________________________________________________________ Tony
Well I hate to contradict but we've just had 4 weeks in France, Channel to Med and back, visited numerous supermarkets and only experienced barriers at one (Auchan in Dunkerque on the last day).
We did however tend to stick to the smaller towns where not only were there no barriers, there seemed enough parking spaces to accomodate the whole town and a noticeable lack of customers - what a pleasure to shop.
Anyone know if Leclerc intend opening a store in the UK? - it would make the likes of Tesco and Asda look like run-down corner shops
Tony,
Like you we tend to get off the beaten track. I think the inexperienced motorhomers tend to go for the more popular places where the hordes gather. Some French friends are always complaining they can't get on to the aires mainly because of the Germans and Brits.
It could became a real problem if common sense is not used by motorhomers.
The authorities in Morocco took action when the free camping got out of hand it could happen elsewhere if we are not careful.
We have recently returned from a 6 week spell touring France - 3500 miles - Normandy, Brittany, Atlantic coast, along Pyranees to Port Vendre then back through Dordogne and Chateau territory to Calais. We either used Aires, supermarket carparks or wild camped and frankly never had any problems throughout the trip. Locals were friendly and helpful and especially in the smaller villages we were made to feel most welcome.
We only returned to the UK for a doctors appointment and to do the washing, we are booked to return next Thursday and will only return to the UK on 23rd December. Touring in France is a pleasure, especially on the excellent roads, N and D, especially, we dont use peage autoroutes.
Full marks to french touring.
On the MHF French Rally we all went to the Auchan Dunkerque shopping car park on the 8Sep 06. The only m/h which could not get under the height barrier was my RV (ht 3.55m).There was a small lorry park right next to the car park which was OK.
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