If you are discovering France for the first time, it seems only logique (logical) to start with la capitale, Paris, and discover le Louvre, les Champs–Élysées, and la Tour Eiffel. But once you’ve done all the “touristy stuff”, what else is there to do?

You may perhaps opt for what many French people do every year: Aller faire du camping (Going camping)!

The paysage (landscape) is absolutely fantastique: From the famous Saint-Tropez and Cannes, to the less known gems such as Cassis, Sète, Collioure, and Hyères, where you can admire the beauty of les calanques (inlets), known around the world as the “Mediterranean fjords.”

Even though you don’t really need to speak an impeccable French to go camping, here is a set of words and phrases that will help you enjoy a very pleasant camping experience in France.

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Avez-vous des installations pour préparer à manger?

(Do you have any cooking accommodations?)

Est-ce qu’il y a des prises de courant?

(Are there any power plugs?)

• E

st-ce qu’il y a de l’eau potable?

(Is there drinking water?)

Où sont les douches?

(Where are the showers?)

Organisez-vous des fêtes foraines?

(Do you organize country fairs?)

Nous préférons avoir du soleil

(We prefer to have the sun)

Nous préférons être à l’ombre

(We prefer to be in the shade)

Est-ce qu’il y a des ours dans les bois?

(Are there bears in the woods?)—Attention! 🙂

– Un canif

(a pocket knife)

– Un couteau suisse

(a Swiss army knife)

Un sac de couchage

(a sleeping bag)

Un hamac

(a hammock)

Un lit de camp

(a camp bed)

Une tente

(a tent)

Un matelas gonflable

(an air mattress)

Un karrimat

(a sleeping pad)

Un sac à dos

(a backpack)

Une lampe de poche

(a flashlight)

Le charbon

(charcoal)

Les “sardines”

(meaning tent pegs)

La trousse de secours

(the first aid kit)