S
pare a thought for Agricola, the legendary Roman general and conqueror of Britain. With his military prowess, he was made governor of these shores to preside over a land of wind, rain, snow and, to be fair, the occasional scorching summer.
But when he was shivering in his Londinium villa on a wet Tuesday in February, did his thoughts ever stray back to the place of his birth, Forum Julii on Gaul’s Mediterranean coast?
Today, Forum Julii, an important port in Caesar’s day, is Frejus, one of the Côte d’Azur’s most popular (and affordable) resorts. And it’s very popular with the descendants of Agricola’s subjects – thousands of us must spend our wet Tuesdays in February dreaming of its golden sands and comfortable climate.
It’s home to its fair share of smart hotels and villas but, with 14 holiday parks boasting thousands of generally well-appointed ‘mobile homes’ (static caravans to you and me), the vast majority of British holidaymakers who storm down here for a week or two of balmy sunshine every year choose this type of accommodation as their base.
And it’s not a bad choice.
Siblu’s Le Montourey holiday village, a self-contained, compact, complex that’s a flat and safe 20-minute bike ride from the pristine sandy beaches of the resort, is typical of the parks many of us have come to love through repeated visits.
The spotlessly clean, chalet-style mobile homes, neatly arranged around the park in well-maintained avenues, can accommodate up to six people in great, air-conditioned comfort. Our home for the week even had a washing machine, along with all the other essential kitchen appliances.
In late summer, when my wife and I visited, it’s probably at its best: the French families have thinned out thanks to the end of their school holidays but the weather remains sunny and boasts the balmy 25-28°C temperatures that make the Riviera the late summer choice of Europe and America’s beautiful people.
Thankfully, for those who, like us, bring children and grandchildren along for the ride, the end of the French peak season doesn’t mean the end of organised fun at Le Montourey.
Its three lovely swimming pools and two tip-top water slides remain in full use and Siblu’s hard-working and delightful animation team put on a full programme of entertainment that is sure to keep children of all ages amused throughout the day, while drawing the grown-ups to concerts and dances after the sun has gone down. Indeed, such were the facilities at the park (good restaurants, bars, wellstocked supermarket etc) that it’s quite possible to spend a full week ensconced here and still have a great time. But it would be a shame to miss out on all that the Frejus area has to offer. The town’s location at the heart of the Cote d’Azur means that some of the world’s greatest resorts and sights are within an easy drive, and those families with a car should ensure their list of excursions includes St Tropez, Monaco and Monte Carlo and, an hour or so inland, the Gorge du Verdon, France’s own ‘Grand Canyon’. There are also, of course, miles and miles of wonderful Mediterranean beaches and myriad coves and charming seaside