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Thollon les Memises, a wonderful place to go with the family
Thollon-les-Mémises is one of the dream destinations in our neighboring country. Discover this unforgettable place where you can ski or stroll with breathtaking views of Lake Geneva.
Live it is spectacular!
On a route through France in a motorhome, we discover fairytale villages, emerged from a freezer of the most remote history of Europe, pirate villages and beautiful coves on its coast, impressive natural parks and surprising archaeological sites. In addition, we discovered France with children and with our dog Max, who broadens our gaze and makes us enjoy it 200%.
This time we're taking a 10-day winter trip along the Rhône River, from its source to its mouth in France. It's on this route, which you can see summarized in a video on our YouTube channel , that we discover Lake Geneva and the Thollon-les-Mémises in all their splendor.
Stay on our journey through our posts on our blog and start traveling with us to France by motorhome.
Thollon les Memises: what to see and do
What to see and do in Thollon les Memises
Thollon is a mid-mountain Pre-Alpine resort ideally located: it overlooks the entire Chablais Geopark and enjoys an exceptional view of Lake Geneva.
In both winter and summer, many activities await you in Thollon!
Views that take your breath away
Thollon-les-Mémises is surrounded by imposing mountains: La Dent d'Oche (2.221 meters) and Pic de Borée (1.974 meters). It offers views of Lake Geneva, the Jura, the Swiss Alps and the Swiss cities of Lausanne and Montreux. The city is divided into several parts: the village with its church (922 meters), its post office and town hall, the station with the tourist office, ski lifts and shops, then two residential and tourist areas with many chalets, Le Maravent ( 962 meters) and Grand-Roc (1.052 meters).
We are located at the foot of the cable car in front of the tourist office.
An accessible ski area, popular with families in winter
Our goal at Thollon les Memises is precisely this. We have heard about this station for its great views and also for being an ideal family station for families with children and beginners or intermediate level skiers, ideal for us!
To access the station and the snow, we have to go up the cable car first, when we go down there is hardly any snow. For non-skiers there is a restaurant and snowshoe trails or on foot and there is a pedestrian pass that only goes up the cable car to the top.
It goes up to 2000 meters, but it is particularly suitable for those who classify themselves among the beginners in terms of alpine skiing. The experts, for their part, will be left a little dissatisfied… There are 16 tracks in an area of 50 km, facing north. If you are looking for strong emotions, it may not be the great station you are looking for, although its views of Lake Geneva leave no one indifferent.
Walking trails
Whether for beginners or the more experienced, there is something for all levels at Thollon. There are more than 80 kilometers of marked trails in and around this area, which go from the mountains to the lake. If it's winter there are snowshoe trails as well.
The Path of Man and the Mountain
This route will take you from the top of the cable car and take you back to the heart of the town. 14 panels mark the walk and will make you discover Thollon: its history and its peculiarities.
The Chablais Geopark
This place allows us to understand the history of the formation of the Alps, change our perspective on the landscape and appropriate the local wealth. Traditional constructions, the use of the mountains, life in alpine pastures, legends, natural resources and products from the land...
The Dent d'Oche Refuge
Whether to spend the night during a hike or simply to discover the atmosphere of the height, you can go to the Dent d'Oche refuge located in Bernex.
Dranse nature reserve
Between Publier and Thonon, at the mouth of the river of the same name, Haute-Savoie's smallest reserve (53 hectares) offers an astonishing diversity of environments, from marshy soils to dry stony moors. A large number of migratory birds, such as herons and birds of prey, stop there.
We advise, manage, solve doubts, give support and set up a route or trip in a motorhome personalized to your tastes and needs, so that you can go calm, safe and your trip in a motorhome is unforgettable.
With this service you will really enjoy a motorhome trip without setbacks or loss of time.
Park and spend the night in Thollon les Memises in a motorhome or camper
In the parking lot of the ski resort you can park and spend the night, never camp. There is a toilet and if you need electricity, the tourist office offers it for €5 a day, ask there.
In the same car park there is a grocery store and around restaurants, souvenir shops, sports and ski rental.
To finish ... 3 maxims about France in a motorhome
1 Don't forget winter chains or tires in winter
You should know that between November 1 to March 31 in 48 departments of France, including those bordering Spain, it is mandatory to wear chains (at least for the two driving wheels) or winter tires.
If you want to see an article about which snow chains and/or winter tires are best for a motorhome, here's an article we wrote based on our experience with our motorhome.
Finally, here's an article with recommendations on what you should never do in the snow in a motorhome.
2 Do not forget the necessary documents
To go to France, you must carry valid ID cards or passports for adults and children as identification documents.
You must also bring your Covid vaccination certificate or QR code , or a negative PCR or antigen test for those over 12. This may be requested not only at the border, but also in many restaurants, museums, and other places of interest.
On the other hand, for medical matters, you must have a valid European Health Insurance Card , although you should know that in France there is a co-payment for foreigners in most medical procedures. Therefore, and based on the experiences of several colleagues, we decided to always have travel medical insurance , which, given the cost, gives us peace of mind. We always use Iati Escapadas insurance, which is designed for family trips in motorhomes or campervans. Besides medical insurance, it even includes accident insurance for any pets you travel with and a small amount of insurance against theft from the motorhome's interior. For the price, it's truly worthwhile, especially with Covid still present here. We're including a 5% discount on the insurance we mentioned, in case you'd like to request a better price.
3 Learn about the regulations on parking, spending the night and camping in a motorhome in France
We make it easy for you, here is a small practical guide about France by motorhome with everything you need to know.
Traveling in France in a motorhome is the easiest. Without a doubt, the motorhome routes in France are among the best in Europe.
Regulations on parking and spending the night in a motorhome in France freely
The regulations in France regulate that you can park and spend the night anywhere that a vehicle can do it, as long as it is not camped (you leave the perimeter of your vehicle, that is, take out tables, chairs, etc.), as in Spain although with particularities, which we will see later. This is the general rule, you can park and stay overnight without problem if there is no explicit prohibition.
Regulations on camping in a motorhome in France
Camping in France is meticulously regulated in various ways depending on the region and site.
However, as a general rule , free camping (setting up tables and chairs, opening windows, putting up awnings, etc.) is prohibited in these places throughout France:
- By the sea
- In natural parks or protected environmental areas
- In the streets and public roads
- Less than 500 meters from a tourist attraction
- On private farms without permission
Outside of these sites, you have to look at each case about the region we are in and place, a normative tidal wave.
But as a general rule, outside of the sites mentioned above, if there is no prohibition, we could take out our awning, table and chair to eat without problem.
Another important thing to know is that the French motorhome culture is of great respect and education, which means that no one thinks of leaving their table and chair and awning anywhere all day. They only do it at the time of use and then they collect everything quickly. You must always do this as well, so that free camping is still tolerated in France outside of the sites we have mentioned above.
Motorhome services and areas in France
Traveling through France by motorhome is very easy, as it boasts the largest network of motorhome areas in Europe, with over 6000 sites . These areas offer full services, including waste disposal and water filling, and many also have electricity.
Most of the overnight areas for motorhomes or campers are municipal and free or at very low prices, less than € 10 for 24 hours.
In practically all points of interest or tourist towns you will find a motorhome area, and generally always central or well connected to the center of the towns.
The French have a PhD in camping and caravanning and it shows.
In addition to these motorhome areas, we find a network of overnight areas in very important farms and vineyards where they allow to spend the night and camp in exchange for the purchase of km0, this network is what makes France Passion.
Routes
In general the roads are very good in France. The national ones usually have a hard shoulder and are usually fine, although depending on the area you will find many changes in grade, curves and a lot of two-way traffic.
The highways are great, but against the extortionate prices. In some sections there are highways, however they are minimal.
Finally, you should know that between November 1 to March 31 in 48 departments of France, including those bordering Spain, it is mandatory to carry chains (at least for the two driving wheels) or winter tires.
If you want to see an article about which snow chains and/or winter tires are best for a motorhome, here's an article we wrote based on our experience with our motorhome.
REMEMBER, CAMPING IS OUTSTANDING THE PERIMETER OF YOUR VEHICLE (taking out a table and chairs, awning, opening windows, spending more than 72 hours in the same place ...). For camping you can go to private areas or campsites.
