Camping Les Bois du Bardelet

In July–August 2026, we camped for 14 days with a tent and private restroom facilities. We were happy with our shaded campsite. The campground is a one-day drive from the Netherlands. Because of this, it seems to be popular with people passing through and can be a bit noisy. However, there are plenty of people to chat with.
There’s no swimming pond, so visit Étang des Puits instead: wonderful swimming water and a place to enjoy water sports!
The village of Gien isn’t really recommended for romantic walks and dining, but it does have large stores for (essential) groceries. The staff at the campground were great, and the restaurant was good. There’s one soccer cage, but there are few—if any—sports facilities or activities for adults. In addition to the outdoor pool, there are also two different indoor swimming options. There are plenty of fish in the fishing pond, making it possible for anyone to catch large carp.
There are many different types of accommodations, some a bit older than others. Despite the proximity to two ponds, there were no mosquitoes. In summary: a great, small-scale, typically French campground. Highly recommended for families with children up to 12 years old or if you’re just passing through. From here, it’s a 6–9-hour drive to the Netherlands.

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Overall, the campground is very pleasant, but the location of the mobile home we had was terrible. It was too close to the entrance, with a pretty deafening noise—probably from a transformer or something similar...
Also, while some people might appreciate the privacy, we felt a bit isolated from the rest of the campground and too far off to the side.

Finally, a particularly negative comment about the restaurant!!! On the first night we arrived, we tried to reserve a table. The earliest available time was 9:00 PM; otherwise, it was 9:30 PM or 10:00 PM.
When we arrived at 9:00 PM, the waitress was extremely rude—she told us right away that we had to hurry because after 9:30 PM, they stop serving... She came back two minutes later to tell us they were out of salads...
We ended up getting two takeout pizzas, which were really just so-so... big chunks of bacon / a Panzanni-style Bolognese sauce straight out of a jar slopped on top...

I should point out that we didn’t have any kids with us! Because with kids, I think my opinion would be quite different—the facilities and activities planned for families are really top-notch!!!

To top it off, the campground’s setting is still magnificent—a real change of scenery!!

We were very disappointed with the hospitality this year, mainly because of the manager’s behavior. Her tone was curt and aggressive; she made repeated snide remarks, was constantly on our backs, and spoke to guests in a manner that clearly lacked courtesy and diplomacy. Even when we were simply setting up our tent, she had to come ask us when it was going to be up…

We fully understand that a campground has rules, but there’s a difference between enforcing regulations and making guests feel like they’re constantly being watched and reprimanded. At times, we felt more like we were in a monastery than at a family campground with an outdoor pool!

As we’ve been reading through the reviews, we’ve unfortunately found that our experience mirrors that of many other guests regarding the manager’s friendliness and the way she speaks to people. When so many people make the same comment, perhaps it’s time to take a step back and reflect.

It’s a shame, because last year the welcome was much warmer and more pleasant. We come on vacation to relax, not to be talked to like children.

The campsite is lovely, quiet and shaded. The pitches are nice and spacious. The toilet and shower facilities are clean, but could be much more modern and spacious. The pool on the other hand is great.

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