Camping Les Granges Bas

Whatever your flavour of French mountain hol, you won't have to travel far to find it from here. A lot of what you fancy should be at Gérardmer lake a couple of kilometres from the site, where the active can tackle sailing, canoeing and kayaking on the lake's surface, or plunge into its waters for a swim. The less active can plump for a lounge on the sandy beach while the kids investigate the play area and waterslide; both types should take the walking trail meandering around the lake for a peaceful time afterwards. There's also an uphill trail leading to the Observatoire de Merelle, for spectacular views of the lake and town below. Access around 300 kilometres of hiking and mountain bike trails in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park surrounding the site, or you could stick closer to home and to snow with days at the ski resort of Gérardmer, six kilometres away. There are 40 ski runs here, including two black runs for the experienced brave, as well as 18 kilometres of snowshoe paths and several mountain hikes starting near the town. A tourist office on Gérardmer and the Upper Vosges is at the Place des Déportés.