Flower Camping Le Lac aux Oiseaux

Flower Camping Le Lac aux Oiseaux is a friendly four star campsite in Martiel, in the west of the Aveyron, where the Rouergue meets the Quercy and the Lot. It lies next to the Lac de Bannac, a quiet lake loved by birds and anglers, surrounded by oak woods and gentle hills. Ludovic and Marien run the site and keep it on a human scale: relaxed, green and made for families.

You can stay on a spacious pitch, on a Freecamp pitch with your own little shower and toilet cabin, or rent a mobile home, a safari lodge or a canvas tent on stilts looking out over the trees and the lake.

The heart of the campsite is the water area, with a heated covered pool, a three lane water slide and two paddling pools full of water games for the little ones. In July and August the restaurant La Table de Bannac opens, together with the kids club, evening entertainment and family activities. Children also love the small farm with goats, sheep, a donkey and hens. There is free WiFi across the site, a laundry and a small grocery corner for the basics.

The Lac de Bannac lies just below the campsite. A path runs around the water, dotted with wooden sculptures by a local artist, and early mornings are lovely for watching the birds. Fishing on the lake is catch and release, and you can get your fishing card at reception.

From the village of Martiel a marked 8.5 km trail takes you past the dolmens the area is known for, and the fortified Cistercian abbey of Loc Dieu is about 7 km from the village. Villefranche de Rouergue, around ten minutes by car, is a medieval bastide with a big market every Thursday morning and plenty of shops.

The Gorges de l'Aveyron start about 35 km to the south around Saint Antonin Noble Val, a great area for walking and canoeing. Najac and its castle are about 40 minutes away, and Saint Cirq Lapopie, perched high above the Lot valley, about 30 minutes. The Foissac cave, around 20 km from the site, offers guided visits that children from six enjoy. Cahors and its vineyards are less than an hour away, and Millau with its famous viaduct about an hour.

Rentals are available from 16:00 on arrival day and must be vacated by 10:00. Pitches are available from 14:00 and must be left by 12:00.

The campsite is open from early May to late September. The covered pool is open all season, while the water slides, kids club, restaurant and evening entertainment run from 1 July to 31 August.

In July and August rentals start on a Saturday, Sunday or Wednesday. Outside the summer holidays you can arrive on any day.

Dogs and cats are welcome for a fee on pitches and in most rentals, but not in the Premium rentals. Dogs must be kept on a lead, category 1 and 2 dogs are not accepted, and the pet's health booklet with a valid rabies vaccination must be shown on arrival.

For rentals a security deposit of 220 euro is required, and 70 euro is charged if the accommodation is not cleaned before departure. Bed linen and linen packs can be rented.

Minors are only accepted when staying with their parents or grandparents.

A local tourist tax of 0.66 euro per adult per night is added to the price.

You can pay by card, bank transfer, holiday vouchers (chèques vacances) or cash.