Lisa and Sven are a wedding photographer couple and travel all over Europe for love. Traveling is part of their everyday work. It goes without saying that the two new parents also had a great desire to take a maternity leave trip with their four-month-old daughter. To do this, they were drawn across France: via Clermont-Ferrand and Bordeaux to the sun-drenched Atlantic coast of Arcachon and Biarritz.
The coastline of France is 5,000 kilometers long, steep cliffs alternate with wide sandy beaches. In addition, there are idyllic harbour towns that are known for their oysters (Cancale) or scallops (Saint-Brieuc). Above all, we were drawn to what is believed to be the cradle of European surfing: to Biarritz, the elegant seaside resort on the Basque coast. Which motorhome would be better suited for this than the equally elegant and extremely comfortably equipped flagship HYMER MasterLine I 880?
Get to know the HYMER B-Class MasterLine I now and start your own adventure today.
Starting in Freiburg im Breisgau, our four-week journey took us via Chalon-Sur-Saône, Vichy, Clermont-Ferrand, Bordeaux and Arcachon to Anglet, Biarritz and Hendaye, the port town just before the Spanish border. We should cover a little more than 3,000 kilometers there and back. Since we were able to plan enough time for this trip, we decided to travel as little as possible on the motorway and instead mainly travel along the Route Nationale. We were often able to drive to the large French supermarkets to fill up, do the service - and of course to shop extensively and enjoy the wide selection of fresh food.
Thanks to the solar panel and the smart battery system in the HYMER B-ML I 880, we managed completely without an external power supply.
The largely rural and mountainous region of Auvergne, with extensive forests and dormant volcanoes such as the Puy de Dôme, is a popular hiking destination. The largest city in Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand is both a university city and one of the oldest cities in France. We parked our HYMER on the outskirts and just walked to the center.
We enjoyed the sunny weather on the Place de Jaude with its numerous bars and cafés and let ourselves drift while window shopping to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption. This imposing Gothic cathedral was built entirely of black lava stone and has some beautiful frescoes inside. There are some nice squares and restaurants around the cathedral. Above all, we recommend L‘Ostal with its fine French cuisine and the attentive team led by Emmanuel Hébrard, who has earned a star in the Michelin Guide.
Get to know the HYMER B-Class MasterLine I now and start your own adventure today.
Our journey continued to Bordeaux, a port city on the Garonne and the center of the famous wine region. We decided to visit Château Pape-Clément, a well-known winery in Pessac on the outskirts of Bordeaux. The estate dates back to the Middle Ages and is considered the oldest continuously operated winery in the entire Bordeaux region. It is worth reserving one of the programs and tastings offered by the estate in advance. For example, the privately run LE SECRET D'UNE ICÔNE, where five vintages of Château Pape-Clément Rouge are tasted after a historical and technical tour of the estate. The castle also offers five historic suites for overnight stays.
In Anglet near Biarritz we found a nice pitch right by the sea and settled in there for a few days. We explored the area comfortably by bike or by public bus, which takes us to Hendaye at the foot of the Pyrenees.
The beautiful Corniche Basque, the stretch of coast between Hendaye and Saint-Jean-De-Luz, was one of our scenic highlights of the trip. Just like the fine sandy beaches and roaring waves at Anglet, which demanded a lot from us on the surfboard.
After a great day at the beach, preparing fresh fish in our HYMER in the evening, enjoying the sunset and falling asleep to the sound of the Atlantic was pure relaxation for us. Thanks to the solar panel and the smart battery system of the B-ML I 880, we managed completely without an external power supply, which gave us the freedom to extend the stay by another night.
Before we started our journey home towards Germany, we did some more shopping at the port and conjured up a menu of scallops in saffron sauce in the spacious kitchen of the HYMER . Of course we share the recipe with you here.
Hurrengo arte (Basque: goodbye) Côte Basque!
You can experience stories like these with any HYMER.
In our model overview you are guaranteed to find a motorhome or a camper van that also goes with your travel plans.