Where is this campsite in France?

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We’re ‘planning’ to take the camper van plus a large tent to France this summer but haven’t got very far. I’ve bought the Wild Swimming book and the Take the Slow Road book but France is a big place! We’re looking for a quiet campsite (with toilets and showers) near a lake or a river for swimming and fairly flat countryside for cycling. It’s for DH and me and two older teens. We’re not looking for entertainment on site but would like access to a village for food and nice walks/cycle rides. Oh, and we’d like good weather so middle to south.

Can anyone suggest where we should start looking, please?

No suggestions, but following!
We took our van to Brittany a few weeks back and had hots and misses with municipal sites

There are a few groups on FB for wild swimming and camping . They often have lots of suggestions for France . I would join some of those 😀

www.laplainetonique.com

It's in the Bresse part of Burgundy (famous for its chickens), which is the flattest part of France and perfect for cycling.

It's also close enough to drive to visit Lyon, Dijon, Beaune and even Geneva for days out, and far enough south that good weather is pretty much guaranteed.

Have a look at the area around Montignac/Thonac in the Dordogne. We canoed along the Vezere last year and spotted several lovely looking campsites along the way. There's lots to do in the area - Montignac is a lovely town very close to the caves at Lascaux (well worth a visit!).

https://www.forestviewfrance.com

You can fit in the lake on site and swim down the road in the river, which is lovely. The cycling is all flat and plenty of traffic free cycling. Ive camped here for one week and used it as a b&b on another trip. I was cycling from Paris to Mont st Michelle and back - so stayed twice that trip. they are an English couple and the wife cooks one or two nights a week and its worth booking for a meal before you get their as she gets full. There is a village or two down the road. and a few there places to visit by car or camper. I cycled on to Alancon from here which is 65km but there are plenty of places between these two places to get to on bikes on the old railway line. Its a forest area.

Not sure whether it is far enough south for you

fish in the lake - not fit!

Cosy Camp in the Auvergne and Huttopia Beaulieu sur Dordogne

The french love a good 'Lac' they are usually flat walking, cycling and have a swimming area too.

They are lakes some natural usually man made.

There is always a campsite nearby.

Personally I love the Loire valley, not too far to drive, great wine good food.

Camping Belle Riviere near Nantes should tick most of your boxes.

I've been to lac carcassone, it's not to hilly. Swimming area, huge circuit to walk or cycle too.

The canal du midi to cycle along as well , a castle and a beautiful centre ville with lots of cafes, shops and restaurants. And along the canal lots of stop off villages to eat and drink.

It's a 13 hour drive down south and is a very long, we stopped off overnight on the way down a few nights with lots of driving 5+ hours in between

Oh I forgot to mention Chartres from the first campsite I mentioned, its worth a visit just for the cathedral, beautiful city. There are plenty of cycle rides towards here from the site (Id cycled fro the other side of Chartres to get to the campsite.

It maybe writ booting the site for a stop of on the way to or from Calais if you are using that port.

My other favourite stop over campsite is at Neufchâtel-en-Bray http://camping-sainteclaire.com. you can easily walk into the town which is pleasant and has some excellent bakeries and again this site is on an old railway line and you can cycle as far as Dieppe one direction and the other, so a couple of days of cycling should you wish to stay more than one night. The sit is very near to the supermarket to stock up with food.

Lac Lacanau near Bordeaux. Shallow safe lake, lots of campsites, pretty villages and you can cycle to the sea for surf boarding and beaches. Not too far for a day out in Bordeaux too.

www.cosycamp.com/

Friends have stayed here, looks beautiful.