Camping d'Artagnan

Driving through the sunflower fields and small rural settlements of Gers, it’s easy to get lost in the moment and forget where you’re headed — until you see a handpainted representation of a 17th-century musketeer standing guard at the gates of Camping D’Artagnan, that is. The man fictionalised by Alexandre Dumas as “the fourth musketeer” is something of a hero around here as he was born in nearby Lupiac. And while many of us know little about Charles de Batz himself, the character of D’Artagnan provides a perfect mascot for this family-run campsite in the Midi-Pyrenées. Like him, the campsite is stylish, clever and full of camaraderie.

The style at Camping D’Artagnan can be found in its equipped bell tents, on its lovely sun terrace and in the rather nice washrooms. The cleverness is down to British owners Rob and Gemma, who’ve transformed a derelict site into a beautiful place to stay. And the camaraderie? Well, that’s brought about by having just a few pitches and bell tents on-site. It’s a place where you’ll find yourself saying a friendly bonjour to your neighbours and perhaps sharing a drink at the on-site bar. You’ll be forgiven for slipping back into English there, as the place is styled as a British-themed pub.

There are just eight pitches here and five bell tents all tucked in a green and pleasant garden with views over the countryside to the distant Pyrenées. The simplest way to stay is in a two-man nature pitch, which means no electricity and a tent-only space. The most luxurious is the spacious emperor bell tent which comes with its own hot tub. Whichever you book, you’ll have access to the on-site, above-ground swimming pool, children’s play area and a host of bookable extras from an off-ground fire pit to a Champagne reception.

Camping D’Artagnan is located in the tiny settlement of Margouët Meymes, where the only things to do are to explore the countryside, enjoy the views and perhaps go fishing in the nearby lake. There’s more of that at nearby and not-to-be-missed Lac d’Aignan which has a sandy beach, swimming, watersports, a treetop adventure park and lakeside dining too. The region is known for fine food and Armagnac and there are plenty of opportunities to sample both in the towns and villages you’ll want to explore. Perhaps start with Lupiac, where you can pay homage to D’Artagnan at the statue in the village square or the town’s little museum.