Discovering Castel Camping La Garangeoire
Could you introduce yourselves?
I’m Anne de Kerautem, granddaughter of the founders of Camping La Garangeoire. I spent all my childhood summers here, and later worked as a seasonal employee. In 2006, when we were in our forties, my husband, Éric Bourgon, and I chose to leave our established professional and family life in the Paris region to take over the running of the campsite.
What is your role within your Les Castels campsite?
We share the operational management of the campsite and are very present, both for our team and for the holidaymakers we welcome.
When was your campsite created? Could you describe it to us?
Created in 1964 and classified 4 stars from the outset, the campsite originally welcomed 200 campers in the heart of a 200-hectare estate. Its purpose was to diversify activities alongside the existing agricultural and forestry operations.
At La Garangeoire, every pitch has a name—of a bird, a flower—never a number…
Ecolabel-certified, the campsite now offers 350 pitches, half of which are dedicated to traditional camping and caravanning, along with a wide range of sporting and outdoor activities.
Three words to describe your campsite?
In three words: space, family spirit, and nature.
Three things most people don’t know about running a campsite?
Every year, it feels like recreating a business almost from scratch. It’s incredibly demanding, yet exhilarating at the same time. You need a great deal of enthusiasm, every single day.
Which well-known personalities have you seen?
I won’t mention any names, because those who come here are seeking a degree of anonymity.
But we can mention Lucie Kakuta and her sister Marie Gabossi, Instagram influencers who brought us a wonderfully pleasant French clientele. It was quite surprising.
What has been your best season, and why?
Certainly not the first one—it was absolutely exhausting.
However, all the seasons following a major investment tend to be the best: loyal guests notice the improvements and give us feedback every year. There are substantial investments almost annually.
What is your next project?
We have several, but the next will be to redesign part of the campsite, increasing vertical elements, reducing straight horizontal lines, and creating a space that feels more like a natural pathway.
What is your greatest fear?
Unpredictable weather events. We have many people to look after, and when something sudden occurs, it’s difficult to manage.
Your greatest pride?
For both of us, being recognised within the local community.
And I’m also very proud to have tripled the number of permanent contracts and doubled the number of seasonal contracts, while having exactly the same number of pitches for the past 15 years. To me, that’s a true sign of being customer-focused, and I’m very proud of it.
Your greatest achievement?
Ensuring long-term employment, settling in, achieving stability… and working with joy.
Your craziest anecdote?
A young camping couple who, despite the information given, set themselves up… right up against a hedge.
When I went to see them that evening, I found them huddled in a corner, convinced they were disturbing the neighbours. They were utterly bewildered when I confirmed that the 200 m² were for them—and only for them. They simply weren’t used to pitches that large!
Your passion?
Let’s say it may have something to do with horses…
In your view, what does it mean to be “Castels”?
Perhaps it’s easier to define by what it isn’t…
But for us, it’s strongly linked to the notion of the estate: when you are at home, you take care of your home, which you share and offer to others. That’s what makes us a little different. We are masters of everything that happens here.
