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Yvoire what to see and do?
Yvore is a dream destination in the neighboring country, a village listed as one of the most beautiful in France. Discover this unforgettable place.
Live it!
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 a summary of in a video on our YouTube channel , that we discover Lake Geneva and Lake Yvoire in all their splendor.
Stay on our journey through our posts on our blog and start traveling with us to France by motorhome.
Yvoire: what to see and do
Yvoire what to see
Medieval fortified village one of the most beautiful in France
The fortifications of the medieval town, walls and gates, made it possible to defend the town located at the foot of the castle. In the Middle Ages, the road crossed the village and the fortified gates built by order of the Count of Savoy Amédée V controlled the passage.
Don't miss the two medieval gates of Yvoire and the ancient wall between the gates, decorated with houses for local animals. You can even safely see a bee hive through its wooden hut!
The old fishing port
If you consider in Yvoire what to see as essential, this is one of those places.
Behind the church you will find what is surely the most photographed corner of Yvoire, the old fishing port of the town. A place that you will love on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Yvoire Church
The church of Saint Pancrace d'Yvoire is very old and has undergone many changes. Listed as a Historical Monument, it is essential in your visit to the town. Its characteristic bell tower draws attention.
The Castle of Yvoire
Built in 1036, Yvoire Castle is the goal of all amateur photographers and tourists in Yvoire. When built in the XNUMXth century, the military fortress was used to monitor shipping and control the road linking Geneva to the upper Rhône valley and to Italy. Today, the majestic silhouette of Yvoire Castle still stands like a sentinel on Lake Geneva and is a delight.
However, if you want to visit it, it's not open to the public. A real shame. If you're wondering what to see in Yvoire as a must, this is another place on the list, but remember, you can only see it from the outside.
What to do in Yvore
Awaken your 5 senses in a garden
A jewel of vegetation in the heart of the town, the Garden of the Five Senses is a small natural paradise classified as a Remarkable Garden by the Ministry of Culture and Communication. You will awaken your 5 senses thanks to wonderful plants!
On this occasion, when traveling in winter we could not visit it, it is closed. But if you go in summer don't forget to visit it!
Buy crafts in the local workshops themselves
Yvoire is full of beautiful shops with their own workshops that make traditional crafts. Shops of masters of glass, metal, wood, jewels, stones, ceramics ... You will love walking through its shops and you will take a most original souvenir for sure!
Stroll among flowers and old stones
Flowers are the smile of Yvoire, one of the most beautiful villages in France. It stands out for the charm of its alleys overlooking Lake Geneva and its ancient stones that invite you to immerse yourself in history.
In winter you can't see so many flowers, but everything and so we saw a beautiful town.
See Lake Geneva and Yvoire Harbor
At any time and at any time of the year, Lake Geneva is a source of pleasure. The sound of the waves, the reflected sun, the view of the surrounding mountains. Take advantage of these magical moments to enjoy the lake!
Enjoy local culinary specialties
The old fishing village invites you to try the fish from the lake, do not refuse.
It has many restaurants with menus there called formules of different prices.
We ate at the restaurant called Restaurante Le Bateau Ivre, it had a lunch formula with two courses and dessert for 20 euros of very good quality and the children's menu was great for about 12 euros, I think I remember. On top of that they were given to paint, a detail for the little ones. The truth is that highly recommended.
Walk to La Chataîgnière - Domaine de Rovorée
The Domaine de Rovorée – la Châtaignière is a picturesque natural site, ideal for a pleasant walk from Yvoire.
Stroll through Christmas Yvoire at Christmas
Don't miss out on Christmas Yvoire. On this trip we have gone during this time of year and it has been a great success. No crowds or crowds and also the Christmas atmosphere of the decorations and lights in Yvoire is beautiful.
Discover Yvoire by boat if you go in summer
Thanks to its ideal location at a point in the middle of Lake Geneva, the town of Yvoire is a central point for enjoying the pleasures of the lake by boat. Athletes, tourists, environmentalists, sailors, there is something for everyone.
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 Yvoire in a motorhome
At the entrance to Yvoire you will find the different car parks in the municipality, you will immediately see the signs for the parking for motorhomes and campers.
Parking is free in winter but paid in summer. It has no services and camping is totally prohibited. In summer they let you park on the grassy area.
If you prefer to spend the night in a motorhome area, there is one 3 km from Yvoire next to a Lake Geneva bathing area. It is a private payment area with all the services that belongs to the campsite opposite.
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.
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.
