Les Étangs de Saint-Pancras

A campsite along the water

Les Étangs de Saint-Pancras nestle between Betoncourt and Dampvalley-Saint-Pancras, deep in the countryside of Haute-Saône, on wooded grounds in the southern Vosges. The name isn't just for show: four ponds line the campsite with free access for swimming, plus an unheated pool for the hottest days. This is far from the crowded campsite vibe, everything here breathes calm and nature.

The grounds are split into three distinct zones. La Prairie gathers the structures and services, le Revers dips into the woods for more privacy, and la Vignotte completes the set. Only thirty pitches, which leaves plenty of room and air between the setups.

Where to pitch your tent

On the accommodation side, the choice is wide for a naturist campsite of this size. Classic pitches for tent, caravan or camper van, but also furnished tents, tipis, bubbles and hammocks for those wanting to try a slightly different night. Enough to welcome both traditional camping regulars and the curious ones after an offbeat experience.

A snack bar offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and picnics, handy for those who don't want to cook every day. Wifi covers the prairie zone, which is usually enough for day to day needs without turning the stay into a fully connected open space. The campsite also bets on cycling, with a dedicated service that earned it the Accueil Vélo label.

Atmosphere and commitment

What comes up often in reviews is the warm welcome from Chantal and François Kohler, who run the place, and the campsite's thorough environmental management: eco friendly water filtration, dry toilets, wood recycling, LED lighting, solar energy. The campsite has actually been rewarded for this approach, with sustainable development and ecology awards earned in recent years, on top of the Camping Qualité certification.

Visitors mostly praise the site's tranquility, the quality of the facilities and that feeling of real disconnection, far from standard campsites. The only downside noted from time to time: the wifi limited to the prairie zone, which can frustrate remote workers.

Practical info

The campsite is open from April to September. Rates vary depending on the type of accommodation and time of stay, with the option to eat meals on site. Be sure to contact the campsite directly for exact season dates and availability, especially for the offbeat accommodations, which go fast in high season.