Camping Le Monteil review: Magical glamping on the fringes of the Massif Central

Discover a spectacular glamping site in an exceptionally tranquil and biodiverse region of France in this Camping Le Monteil review. Practical perfection coupled with charming character makes this a truly special campsite for anyone looking for something a little off-the-beaten path this summer.

Nestled amongst the rolling hills and meandering lanes of the Creuse lies Camping Le Monteil, a campsite with a difference. Although campsite somewhat undersells it. This is glamping at it’s very best. Here you’ll find a handful of pretty bell tents buried amongst lush hedgerows, a huge golden sandstone barn and the sort of peace and escapism that’s increasingly hard to find in France these days, or frankly, the twenty-first century.

Camping Le Monteil was opened in 2024 by it’s British owners, Tony and Kirstie, who – full disclosure – are old friends of mine. But we arrived in July as paying guests to experience something that I’d only seen snippets of on Whatsapp. And I can assure you that snippets on Whatsapp will never prepare you for the feeling of pulling in at the front gate and realising just how special this place is. 

The Creuse is a quiet part of rural France, well-off the established tourist trails. The landscape is a tapestry of fields and woodlands, scattered with ancient barns and hamlets – plus a handful of graceful wind turbines rotating gently on the horizon. Camping Le Monteil offers both a well-equipped base to explore this area, but also a tranquil space to unwind and forget the modern world.

Five days flew past in this little piece of paradise. And yes, it’s certainly a joy to catch up with old friends. But honestly, Camping Le Monteil was a joy in it’s own right (and I wouldn’t be writing about it here if it wasn’t). It’s the sort of place all other campsites will now (unfortunately) be measured against in my mind. Surrounded by nature and baking in the sun, you really can switch off and just enjoy life’s simple pleasures on this campsite.

There’s no AI here! Every post on Travels with a Saddle Bag is written by myself and based on my own travels. This post was published in August 2026 and based on my visit to Camping Le Monteil in July 2026.

The campsite location

Camping Le Monteil is 3km from Èvaux-les-Bains, an under-the-radar spa town in the department of the Creuse. At the very literal centre of France, you’re a 45 minute drive from Montluçon – the nearest large town – and on clear days Puy de Dôme and the peaks of the Massif Central impose upon the horizon.

Èvaux-les-Bains is a sleepy town with a surprising amount of history and character. Its impressive Romanesque church really is built upon Roman foundations and the winding streets of its centre conceal a handful of vibrant local businesses and a delightful array of French architecture, from sweeping slate roofs native to the Massif Central to chic turn-of-the-century villas. There’s a smart contemporary spa complex for those looking for ultimate relaxation and a small but perfectly formed modern community pool that’s great for a family splashabout. Nearby Chambon-sur-Voueize is another gem of a small market town, with an elegant abbey complex at its heart and two rivers snaking through its centre. Both have escaped significant modernisation and are a joy to stroll through, and stop for a coffee.

You’re in the heart of rural farming country here. Gently rolling hills are patchworked with wheat fields, sunflowers and cattle pastures. Little roads and tracks criss-cross the landscape and connect little hamlets, creating a spiders web of routes for walking and running. The towns and villages in this region may be small but they’re full of charm, character and authenticity.

Best reached by car, Camping Le Monteil is about a 45 minute drive from the motorway at Montluçon, where there are easy connections to Paris and Limoges, just a few hours away. Paris offers connection by air and road to most of Europe. Like the majority of guests here, we drove – although some more intrepid visitors have also arrived on two wheels on bikepacking trips.

The accommodation at Camping Le Monteil

There are six pitches at Camping Le Monteil. Enough to cultivate a little convialité, as they say in French, but not so many that this site could ever feel busy or crowded. Each pitch is vast, and surrounded on three sides by rich hedgerows that create shade when needed and are home to dozens – if not hundreds – of species of flora and fauna. There’s plenty of space for kids to run around on your own pitch, for you to park up to unpack or simply to feel like you have the space to yourself. Each has a deck that creates a spacious area for sitting, dining and cooking as well as a solid base for each tent (there’s no sleeping on a slope here). You’ll also find comfortable patio furniture, a Weber charcoal barbecue and an outdoor kitchen unit with two gas rings on each deck. 

And then there’s the tents. These beautiful bell tents have been thoughtfully kitted out by Tony and Kirstie. Full carpeted with additional cosy rugs underfoot, they feel very home-like. At the centre – naturally – there is an extremely comfortable king-sized bed (so comfortable in fact that I’m not the first person to ask where I can buy the mattress. It was THAT comfortable). Plus single beds can added for extra guests, or in our case there was ample space to put up our travel cot for little girl. There’s storage trunks and shelving to stash away your luggage and a small kitchen unit that contains all the crockery and utensils you need for cooking and assembling meals during your stay. There’s even a thoughtful basket to help you carry your supplies to and from the barn to use the kitchen.

Naturally, all of this sounds very practical. But it’s more than practical, it’s magical. Waking in the cool air and muted dawn light of a bell tent on a hot summer’s day is wonderful. Hearing the tip-toes of a fox sniffing round the edges of your tent when you’re tucked up is very special indeed. And sitting on the deck with the fields glowing before you, as the sun slips below the horizon behind your back, is priceless. 

The facilities at Camping Le Monteil

You can tell that the facilities at Camping Le Monteil have been designed by folks who’ve done their homework when it comes to camping and glamping. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed at such a well-equipped glampsite.

The stunning stone barn at the entrance to the site has been partially renovated to provide facilities for guests. This includes a private shower room for each glamping pitch as well as a shared kitchen and storage room for the use of guests. The bathroom was a delight – I’m not used to such luxury when camping! Recently fitted out to a high standard, they each include a large, accessible shower with waterfall shower head (and copious hot water on tap) plus plenty of storage. This is not draping-your-wet-towels-over-guy-ropes camping. 

The kitchen includes a full-size fridge for each pitch, several large sinks and plentiful space for food preparation. You’ll also find additional cooking utensils, a microwave, kettle and toaster – as well as complimentary free-range eggs from the owners flock that live next door. I highly recommend making the most of these and enjoying a meal or two that’s as local as can be.

The storage room is a thoughful touch that proved very useful. You’ll find secure lockers in here if you’d prefer not to leave any valuables in your tent when you’re out and about. There’s also space to store bikes and other pieces of kit you’d like to leave behind locked doors, with keypad only entry to this room. Lastly you’ll find games and additional chairs here to help you enjoy the outdoor space – a big hit with our toddler.

Outside the barn is a large paved area furnished with chunky dining benches and generous parasols to create shade, making it the perfect spot to enjoy sociable dinners or simply to sit with a morning coffee (with the kettle close at hand). This spot catches the breeze perfectly, a delight on a hot summer day.

Whilst this is off-grid camping, there’s guest wifi at the barn that reaches most pitches. The barn is illuminated with subtle lighting at night to help you navigate and each tent has solar lights and lanterns for you to make use of. It’s easy to feel a million miles from home, but at the same time not feel too far from home comforts.

Last but by no means least, you’ll also find a sweet little welcome hamper on arrival, containing tea, coffee, a delicious local baguette and jam. Along with eggs in the kitchen you’ll have everything you need for your first breakfast so there’s no need to rush out. Simply enjoy one of life’s genuinely great pleasures – a slow, delicious breakfast in a stunning location.

What to do at Camping Le Monteil

Camping Le Monteil is ideal for anyone looking for a relaxing rural escape. The glampsite itself is perfectly set-up for anyone looking to slow down – enjoy peaceful morning coffees, quiet time with a good book and convivial family meals.

But it’s also a great based for exploring the Creuse Confluence region on foot or two wheels. Owners Tony and Kirstie have an infectious enthusiasm for the local area and can share great recommendations – especially for walking, running and cycling. Take a gentle stroll around nearby towns, and consider checking out local events (Èvaux hosted the Tour de France as recently as 2024, and there are heaps of local festivities throughout the summer). Further afield you’ll find attractions like Les Pierres Jamêtres, and Puy de Dôme and some of the Massif Central’s most iconic peaks are just over an hour away.

For more inspiration, check out my beginner’s guide to Summer in the Creuse Confluence.

Useful things to know about Camping Le Monteil

Nothing beats real-life experience when it comes to a new destination. Here’s my top recommendations for anyone considering a stay at Camping Le Monteil;

• You’ll want a car. There are lots of walking, running and cycling routes from the property but you’ll want four wheels to properly explore the area and access Èvaux-les-Bains.
• On which note, Èvaux has everything you need. Two artisan boulangeries (we thoroughly tested both and can confirm the pastries were excellent!) and a small but well-stocked Super U supermarket with petrol station. There’s a café and several places to eat (although check opening hours as not everything is open every day).
• Chambon-sur-Voueize has a slightly larger Intermarche supermarket and more places to eat and drink. We loved dinner from the Chat Patate, a vibrant weekend food truck, and drinks at L’Alibi under their shady terrace. Meya pizzeria was also highly recommended.
• Tony and Kirstie have thought of everything. From solar lanterns to charging points, washing-up supplies to garden games, even charcoal for the barbecue, the tents and barn are genuinely well-stocked and there is no need to pack as if you are camping.
• If the weather is hot, note that the tents can get very hot during the day but cool down again at night (be patient!). There isn’t much daytime shade on the decks so we preferred to retreat to the barn and its patio at lunch and in the afternoon – and to take a dip at the local pool in Èvaux. You might want to do the same in wet weather as cooking/dining options on your deck may be limited.
• This is a super-biodiverse, organic agricultural landscape. It means you can expect to find heaps of fauna, and at ‘busy’ times of year a lot of farming activity going on. This delighted us and especially little girl, and I would genuinely recommend the site for these reasons as the countryside feels alive in the best possible way. But if this isn’t your cup of tea consider a stay outside of harvest time.

How to book Camping Le Monteil

Head straight to campinglemonteil.com to book direct with the owners. Whilst you’re there, don’t forget to check out all their resources about the local area. And drop them a line if you any questions or requests, they’ll be happy to help.

The very definition of a rural escape

Two things really stood out to me at Camping Le Monteil.

This really is glamping at its very best. Everything you need, and nothing you don’t. An extremely well-considered site layout and practical pitches that also charms with its characterful tents and twinkling lights on an evening. And yet simple enough to let the beauty of the surrounding landscape speak for itself (and provide more than enough entertainment too).

And as for the location, the Creuse was a delight. This is not tourist territory and it feels a little special to explore somewhere off-the-beaten-path, especially in France, which can hum with visitors during the summer months. You really feel like you’ve found somewhere others have failed to spot. Simple beauty and biodiversity right in front of you, with no need to share with crowds. There may not be heaps of attractions but there is plenty to do if you prefer a peaceful pace and are confident exploring on two feet and speaking a little French when you need to. And whilst this is a very quiet part of France, there is character and community in the local towns – and on the campsite, where guests clustered around tables at the barn at breakfast time. Contented with the company of our own friends and family but with a cheery bonjour to our nearby neighbours.

I’m always going to be a little biased – I’ve seen the love that my friends have poured into this place over the past few years. But I also truly think this is a really special slice of France. I hope this Camping Le Monteil review brings this to life.