Small Eco Camping La Pierre Verte, Uzès (France)

It's been a long time since I've been updating this blog. I have no idea why, because one of the most pleasurable things in my life is looking for and visiting unique accommodations. There's a lot of updating to do, but I'll start for now with a few pictures from one of the wonderful places we visited this Summer in France.

Early July we drove down to the South of France where it is always warm and sunny. Coming from Amsterdam we were in desperate need of dry weather and lots of sunshine. We were not disappointed. 

We booked a tent for ten days based on the look of the website of La Pierre Verte:

 'A wonderful place to wind down and enjoy nature' it promised, and that's exactly what we found and did.

The Bell tent with a comfortable double bed

We were warmly welcomed by owners Ella & Ed and dog Ruby. When they showed us to our tent I couldn't believe my eyes: so much space and privacy for the four of us! On the other side of the premises two big yurts share a big meadow with lots of privacy too.

The playground under the trees

Each tent/yurt has their own outdoor kitchen, cold water shower ( a very nice experience during hot days) and compost toilet (which was surprisingly odor free!). There is a solar panel heated warm shower by the swimming pool, and a communal fridge in the shed which also provides free Wifi.

Big olive tree by the swimming pool

Each Friday Ella cooks a vegetarian meal that is being served in the beautiful garden. It's a wonderful opportunity to get to know the hosts and the other guests as we are all sharing that meal together. Ella is a wonderful cook.

View of the outdoor kitchen from our tent

La Pierre Verte is a very laid back kind of place. There are not many rules other than the ones that make sense. Be careful with fire and don't waste any water.

A perfectly sized swimming pool

The camping is located close to the village of Arpaillargues, where I found a boulangerie that sells the most delicious almond croissants I have ever tasted, and near Uzès, a beautiful little town with a warm atmosphere, nice markets, a castle and lots of restaurants and shops.

Behind our tent is our own compost toilet

Nature around La Pierre Verte is beautiful and friendly. Rolling hills, fields of sunflowers, olive trees, rocky rivers and small waterfalls. It's a perfect environment for small children, but our teenagers were never bored either.

Surrounded by space and nature

I shouldn't be sharing this magical place with you at all for fear it won't be available next time I want to go there myself. But it's also too good a place not to share, so if you happen to go there, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Well equipped outdoor kitchen

All photos are made by me. Please do not copy any without my permission.

Pallazo del Maggiore in Italy

Palazzo del Maggiore is a wonderful place to go to in Italy. Very kid friendly, very good food, very welcoming owners. The views are spectacular. It's very close to Ventimiglia and the beaches, but seriously who wants to leave that mountain?

Weatherbury Farm in Pennsylvania, USA

We spend a lovely couple of days at the Weatherbury Farm in Pennsylvania. There's a beautiful white house where the kind owners live, and a barn that has been converted into 4 apartments. It has a gorgeous view over rolling hills. At night we would roast marshmellows and look at the fire flies. There's a swimming pool for hot afternoons. And animals to feed every morning. For kids it's heaven. And frankly for me as a parent too.

Maison Coste

On your way to Spain? Then spend a night in Maison Coste in the old town of Carcassonne. Not to be confused with La Cité, which features a real medieval town, with shops, restaurants, hotels and a castle. Maison Coste is located in a maze of narrow and dark streets. Be amazed when the owners, a male couple, open the door to their beautiful building: a decorating shop, a salon de thé and the most beautifully decorated and luxurious rooms.
We were received with the utmost elegance, recommendations to the best restaurants, and exquisite room service.


Reservations are made through their ultra-modern website. Very convenient. Breakfast is served in the garden, that also features a jacuzzi. We only regret spending just one night in Carcassonne. This is a jewel to be cherished for at least two or three nights.

For more information visit www.maison-coste.com.

Chateau de la Rue

Chateau de la Rue is a very charming XVIII century country mansion at a 10 minutes drive from Chateau de Chambord in Blois. The owner Madame Véronique de Caix lives on the property and is most welcoming. Breakfast is served every morning in her own dining room at whatever time is convenient for her guests. Upon arrival we were welcomed by an American girl from Racine, Wisconsin who combined a perfect French with a perfect sense of hospitality.

We stayed in the big Orangerie that was just next to the antique greenhouse and a pleasant pool. The decoration was exquisite, albeit the beds short and slightly uncomfortable for our long limbs.


The room price is quite high, but well worth it for such a unique location. We felt very privileged to have been able to stay in such an old and beautifully maintained 'castle.'
All the main castles like Chambord, Cheverney, Blois and Chenonceaux are within a 45 minute drive.


For more information (and a beautiful website) visit www.chateaudelarue.com.

La Vieille Ecole in Bourgougnague is a Dutch owned bed and breakfast in the departement Lot-et-Garonne in the region Aquitaine in France.
Fred & Rens Olthoff realized four guestrooms in a former Catholic girls' school. And every Summer season they set up four castle tents in the garden that is equipped with a charming little pool. Each tent has its own private - very large - bathroom.
The couple offers table d'hotes almost every night, either in the communal hall under the chapel or in the garden with spectacular sunsets.


We spent a week in one of the big tents with our two children and found both the 'glamping' and the area very relaxing. The landscape is friendly, with field after field of sunflowers, unexpected views of rolling hills, a minimum of tourism, charming little towns called 'bastides,' good food and kind people.

Bourgougnague is close to the airports of Bordeaux and Bergerac. For more detailed information go to: www.lavieilleecole.eu