Flower Camping Les Bouleaux

Flower Camping Les Bouleaux is a friendly four star campsite in Ranspach, deep in the Thur valley at the foot of the Alsatian Vosges. Brigitte and Isabelle run the place, and it shows: the grounds are full of flowers, birch trees give shade and the atmosphere stays relaxed even in high season.

The site is open almost all year. Pitches are spacious, around 100 m², and come with or without a 6A electricity hookup. If you would rather not bring a tent, there are wooden chalets for two to six people, small Pods for a simple night, and a Spa chalet for couples.

The heart of the campsite is the heated indoor pool, open in summer and winter alike, with a water slide, a paddling area, a jacuzzi and a hammam. Massages and treatments can be booked on site. Next to the pool you find the restaurant serving flammekueche and other Alsatian dishes, plus a bar and a small shop.

Children have a large playground with a giant trampoline, a games room, a multisport court, beach volleyball and boules, and in season there are kids activities with the Dino mascot and evening entertainment. Wi-Fi covers the whole campsite.

You can start walking and cycling right from the gate. The river Thur runs about 500 metres away, and the Lac de Kruth Wildenstein, about 9 km up the valley, is a lovely spot for swimming, pedalos and a forest adventure course. Fishing is possible about 1 km from the site and paragliders take off a few kilometres away.

In winter the ski slopes of the Upper Vosges are close, with the nearest resort around 19 km away, and Le Markstein and the Grand Ballon are about half an hour by car. Farm inns in the mountains serve the traditional marcaire meal, and the Hartmannswillerkopf memorial tells the story of the First World War in Alsace.

The Alsace wine route starts about 10 km away, with plenty of wineries offering tastings. Mulhouse, around 40 minutes away, is known for its car, railway and electricity museums and its zoo. Colmar with its Little Venice district is about 50 minutes away, and the border triangle of France, Germany and Switzerland is within easy reach for a day trip.

Check in is between 14:00 and 18:30. Pitches must be vacated before 12:00, rentals between 08:00 and 10:00.

The campsite is open all year except 16 to 29 March, 21 September to 4 October and 9 to 16 November. The restaurant follows the same opening periods.

Reception is open from 8:30 to 18:30 in July and August, and from 8:30 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 the rest of the year.

Dogs and cats are welcome for a fee on pitches and in rentals. Dogs must be kept on a lead, category 1 and 2 dogs are not accepted, and a valid rabies vaccination certificate is required.

For rentals a 200 euro security deposit is taken on arrival. Bed linen can be rented, and electricity in the chalets is charged by consumption.

Children under 2 stay free on pitches. Minors are only accepted together with their parents.

A local tourist tax of 0.66 euro per adult per night applies.

Fresh bread is available every morning except Wednesdays, and a supermarket is about 1 km away.