If you enjoy a good pun and are seeking a campsite that feels rustic, has an element of luxury, and is close to Paris, then Huttopia Versailles might be just the ticket. Despite being one outlet of many and owned by an internationally expanding company, the overall experience is far from cult-like or corporate. In fact – I’m lovin’ it.
Developed within a fringe of woodland, Huttopia Versailles has a peaceful vibe. Only 20 minutes from the Eiffel Tower and with the Palace of Versailles even closer – an easy 3 km walk – Huttopia is still enjoyable for more than location alone. The site has a number of subtle touches, adding to the ambience of comfort. One of the shower blocks, bedecked in hotel-quality fittings, has a wood-burner wafting a fragrant aroma of pine into the air. Much more appealing than, say, damp feet. And a family shower room with basins and plenty of space to hold three makes life easier for parents. There’s also a nice compact play area next to the terrace, which is beside the restaurant and pool, creating a useful family base, as the kids can be seen from the terrace wherever they chose to wander. No surprise, then, that it’s families who most adore this place.
The beautifully designed huts that give the site its name are actually beautifully designed cabanes, sleeping up to six people. They also have roulottes, snug affairs accommodating up to four in a double and a couple of bunks. But if you just can’t sleep without the sound of rippling canvas above your head, there are plenty of regular tent pitches too, open and high at the rear of the camp. Mature trees shade much of the area, which means the ground can feel a little uneven due to tree roots. It’s easy enough to find a level spot, though, and besides – nature is lumpy.
Off-site activities need little introduction. You don’t camp on the edge of Paris without spending most of your time exploring the city, but went you want to return to your little pocket of nature, Utopia is always here. Huttopia we mean… though, for some, the two are much the same.
Leaving the Huttopia Versailles campsite and walking straight down the road for 160 yards (150 m) brings you to the closest supermarket. Continue another 440 yards (400 m) and you arrive at the railway station to central Paris. The Palace of Versailles is a 1¾-mile (3-km) walk, or you can hire cycles on site. Reception has plenty of information.