Pool complex
We loved that this small, family run campsite had such a nice pool area. It was clean, well kept and featured a shaded area with sun loungers, a large pool and a shallow pool. Our daughters spent hours here.
The depth was good for adults to stand in and great for cooling off on the hot Summer days we had during our stay. We really appreciated the shady covered area to stay out of the sun. The pool isn’t supervised and nobody questioned men wearing longer swim shorts.
Campsite Facilities
For a small site, there were still a few things to do.
Receptions, Customer Services and Check in
Check in here was slightly different to usual. When we arrived the owner was at the reception and seemed shocked to have an arrival – I questioned if I got my days wrong, but perhaps we were just a little earlier arriving than she expected. We didn’t get handed a map or written information, instead we were informed of the themed nights, number of our emplacements and given a quick warning not to break the speed limit. She put the wristbands on each of us herself.
I’ll admit, after visiting nearly 100 campsites, this was definitely my least friendly welcome. I felt more like I was entering a prison stay than a holiday. I personally felt like either she didn’t like children, which we had two of with us, or they didn’t like the English.
Play Areas & Sports Field
There were a few different play facilities available.
Play park
The play park was ok but definitely needed some work. The facilities seemed like they were breaking and the trampoline had been completely abandoned. The sandy ground was full of weeds and the whole area just felt very unloved.
Table tennis
There was a table tennis table outside the bar area which seemed randomly placed outside a building and I didn’t see anyone using it.
Petanque
The main sport and play area was definitely the Petanque court which was located at the back end of the bar. Here they held many evening tournaments and it seemed like a great location to socialise and make friends.
Suggestions
The play and sports facilities here were very slim and I feel like it’s perhaps because they don’t want to attract families. However, there seems to be lots of green space where they could easily set up some football nets or add some arcade style equipment to one of the derelict looking buildings around. There is a shed outside the sanitary blocks which says kids club but now seems to be used as a storage area.
Animation and entertainment for kids and adults
There was no entertainment or animation for children but adults could enjoy themed meal evenings with live music from bands and Dj’s aswell as late night petanque tournaments. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of these evenings, although I was a little shocked when the music started just as i got in to bed at 10pm – thankfully, I can sleep through anything and it really wasn’t a big deal to me, but if you are sensitive to noise, you may want to ask to be located further from the bar area.
Bar, Restaurant,shop and Takeaway
The bar area was nice, friendly and welcoming. We had a few drinks here in the morning and afternoons. The prices were reasonable and it also doubled as a small epicierie. We, unfortunately, didn;t get to try any of the themed meal evenings but we did order the fish and chips takeaway one night and it was delicious and amazing value.
Pets
Animals were welcome on-site and we often saw guests walking their pets around.
Shower blocks & Laundry
The shower blocks were functional but could definitely do with some work. The soap dishes were rusty and in one of the showers, the light switch was hanging off the wall which felt very dangerous to me. The washing up sinks were extremely low and as a 5ft 5 woman I got a sore back each time I washed up, I think I’d have been better off washing up with a chair. There were disabled showers available but this door was always locked so I wonder if a key was needed? The sink areas had soap which was good and the water was always warm in the showers.
Day Trips
One of the main things that attracted us to this campsite was the proximity to La rejallant swimming area.
Rejallant
Aire de Loisirs de Rejallant is locate adjust footsteps away from the campsite and the main reason we chose to stay there. It’s a fantastic family friendly spot on the river in Condac with a safe natural swimming area in July and August (supervised by lifeguards). There are a variety of watersports including: canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and pedal boating. There are picnic spots, parks, shallow paddle areas, fitness equipment, walking and cycle routes and even a gorgeous restaurant.
Vallee de Singe
Le Vallee de Singe is a renowned monkey park located about an hour north of the campsite. It features a large, shaded territory where visitors can observe a wide diversity of monkey species roaming in semi-natural environments up close. The park emphasizes animal welfare and educational experiences, frequently hosting feeding demonstrations that engage and inform visitors of all ages. It also has picnic areas and playgrounds, making it a full-day family-friendly outing in nature with great interactive learning opportunities.
Angouleme
The nearby city of Angoulême is known for its beautiful historic ramparts, comic book heritage, and cultural attractions. Visitors can stroll the old town’s ramparts and cobblestone streets, explore over twenty painted murals of comics, and visit the Cité internationale de la Bande Dessinée museum—Europe’s unparalleled comic art museum. It’s a small city, so easily walkable with young children and there are plenty of places to stop for a coffee, cake or ice cream.
Ruffec
Ruffec itself is a quiet town with historical charm centered around Armes Square and Saint-André Church, which features notable Romanesque architecture and contemporary stained glass windows. Visitors can explore remnants of a small castle, a 19th-century lavoir by the river, and enjoy peaceful walks. The town has a good selection of shops and restaurants catering well to English-speaking visitors.
Chateau la rouchefoucould
Just a short drive from Ruffec, Château de La Rochefoucauld is an impressive Renaissance castle with a thousand-year history tied to the powerful La Rochefoucauld family. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the richly furnished interiors, Renaissance galleries, Romanesque keep, rib-vaulted chapel, and extensive libraries containing rare manuscripts. The gardens and grounds are picturesque, and the castle hosts cultural events and exhibitions. Children and adults alike enjoy dressing up in period costumes to enhance the visit experience. It’s a beautiful cultural excursion into French history and architecture.
Available Accommodation
We stayed in our own tent on an emplacement that had electricity and water. It was a decent size, grassy and shady. There were plenty of pitches available as well as mobile homes.
Do You Need A Car To Get Round?
Yes. This site is not walking distance to anything except for the river.
How To Get To The Campsite
To get to camping Du Rejallant you would typically have to drive from either one of the Frances northern Ferry ports; Calais, Caen, St Malo, etc or via the Eurotunnel. You would then need to travel southwards. If you are flying and hiring a car, your nearest airports would be Poitiers, Limoges or Bordeaux. Public transport options in rural France are very limited and although Ruffec has a train station, it doesn’t run often and transfers would be extremely costly.
Should I Hire A Car?
Hiring a car is highly recommended when visiting Camping du Rejallant from the UK. The campsite is situated in a rural area where public transport options are quite limited. Having a car gives flexibility to explore the surrounding countryside, access local shops, supermarkets, and nearby attractions, and easily carry camping gear. Also, public transport connections from Ruffec station to the campsite area are scarce, making a car the most convenient choice.
Ferry Port
The nearest and most convenient ferry ports are Caen (Ouistreham), St Malo, and Le Havre along the northern and western coasts of France. These ports are closer and more practical than Calais for reaching Ruffec. For example, Brittany Ferries operates routes from Portsmouth to Caen (around 6 hours crossing), to St Malo (about 9 hours), and to Le Havre (around 3 hours 45 minutes). After arrival at these ports, the drive to Ruffec is easier and shorter (roughly 4 to 5 hours) compared to coming from Calais (7 hours). This makes them good choices for a family camping trip in the Charente.
If preferred, other smaller ferry options or Eurotunnel crossings to northern France can be used but will involve longer drives to reach the campsite near Ruffec. Ports like Caen, St Malo, and Le Havre are more geographically convenient entry points for southern Charente travel than Calais.
Driving Directions
- After disembarking at Caen or Le Havre, take the A13 or A28 highways south towards the A10 motorway.
- From the A10, head southbound towards Poitiers and Angoulême.
- Near Angoulême, take the N10 road south toward Ruffec.
- Follow local roads D911 and D910 toward Condac and the Camping du Rejallant site near Ruffec.
- The final approach to the campsite is on a narrow single-lane road with signage directing you to the site.
Cleanliness and Maintenance
Cleanliness and maintenance was ok. It could definitely do with some work but as the owners have only had the site just over a year I imagine it’s something that will come with time.
Children's play facilities and the sanitary facilities do need to be prioritised though as I feel these are fairly unsafe.
Family Friendliness
I didn’t find this site overly family friendly. More of a quick stopover for one night for travelling couples. However, we stayed for an entire week with a 2 & 5 year old. It worked. They loved the pool and we spent most of our on-site time there and went on a few days out. The sun definitely helped our enjoyment.
Pricing and Value for Money
Camping Du Rejallant was extremely good value for a week in the height of the school holidays. We paid 184.86 for 7 nights with electricity and water. The prices while on-site were also really reasonable too. Our fish and chips dinner one night cost us just 6euros each!
FAQ’s
Are The Emplacements Close Together?
The emplacement sizes were smaller than I expected, but I still feel they had a fair amount of size without being so overlooked. Shrubbery in between helped keep pitches privatised..
Is The Campsite Flat?
Yes. Though the walk to and from the river is down/uphill
Are There Mosquitos?
Yes. We had a few mosquito bites during our stay, pack repellant if you are susceptible.
Is It Easy To Get A Sunbed Around The Pool?
Not always. We occasionally struggled but we were fine putting our stuff on the floor.
Do You Need To Wear A Wristband?
Yes and the site are strict about it.
Do Men Have To Wear Swim Trunks?
No. There was no supervision at the swimming pool so it was never questioned.
Are There BBQs On Site?
Yes and No. We did see some communal bbq’s but there were signs at reception saying bbq’s were banned.
Can You Use Inflatables at the Pool?
We did as although the pools were small they were usually empty. I would have removed the inflatables if it started to get busy though.
What's The Weather Like In Spring/Summer?
We had gorgeous weather for the full week, almost to the point of being too hot. These region is known for being one of the sunniest with good weather.
Can You Park On Your Pitch/Emplacement?
Yes, we had no problems parking next to our tent.
Can You Take Pets On The Campsite?
Yes. There were plenty of holiday makers with their dogs.
Where's The Nearest Supermarket?
The town of Ruffec has an Intermarche, Leclerc and a Lidl all just a short drive away. The leclerc is the biggest.
Is It Loud In The Evenings?
On some nights. On the nights when they have live music it does go on quite late, otherwise the evenings were lovely and peaceful.
What Can We Do If It Rains?
Ruffec has a local swimming pool and cinema, as does the nearby town of Civray. There are also museums and chateaus to explore nearby.
Can I Use My Transferwise Card On Site?
Yes, we used our currency card to pay for everything on the campsite.
Our Thoughts on Camping du Réjallant
Review Conclusion & Our Experience
Other than the unfriendly welcome, this campsite was pretty much what we expected from a low cost trip. It was functional but not luxury and the fact it had a good swimming pool was a definite hit.
I would suggest some better people skills for the owners and a tidy up of the sanitary facilities and the play areas, but with a bit of work – this campsite could be a great one. Location wise, it’s fab for exploring the Charente and the fact that you can swim, kayak and paddle in natural water nearby made it even better.
I’m not sure I would make the effort to return unless it became more child friendly, but for travellers without young children, it makes a nice base or stopover site.
FAMILY CAMPING EUROPE SCORE
