“An awning, three fridges, a fan…”: around Montpellier, campers protect themselves as best they can from the intense heat

Noah, Linda, Sylvain, Loan et Maurice, profitent de l’ombre des pins. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

With the heatwave episode announced this week of July 29, vacationers traveling in tents and caravans are preparing, each in their own way, for the high temperatures. Meetings on the Hérault coast.

This Monday, July 29, while the Hérault department entered yellow heatwave alert, vacationers in tents and caravans tried to lower the thermometer as best they could, near La Grande-Motte.

Shifting the aperitif time

For thirty years, Sylvain, Linda and their family have been spending their summers at the Le Garden campsite, “always in the same location”.  Accustomed to periods of intense heat, the Lyonnais are well equipped: “an awning, three fridges, a fan”, lists Linda. She adds, amused: “the air conditioning is installed in the caravan”. While nodding, her husband Sylvain specifies: “thanks to the proximity of the sea, there is always air”. As for Maurice, a friend who pitched his tent behind the caravan, he is happy to have “an ice maker”. But for Loan, the youngest of the group, “a fan would sufficet”.

The family adapts its lifestyle, shifting afternoon activities to evenings. “Like pétanque, swimming … and  aperitif", explains Sylvain. His wife mentions "a great evening with a DJ, on the port". But usually, “they”play cards and then go to bed around midnight”, says their second”son Noah.”The latter is more affected by the rising temperatures: in his tent, adjacent to the caravan, it is muggy, “especially in the morning”. The vacationer has developed a stratagem: “I go to bed late, like that, it is cool. And I sleep all morning".

Maximizing your time in the shade

Joffrey and Stacy, who come from the Jura, have settled in at the nearby La Petite Motte campsite with their daughter. These regular campers are trying out the experience in the South of France for the first time. Joffrey wants to maximize the time spent in the shade, especially with a young child: this is a factor to consider. As for Stacy, she is amused by the fact that they did not bring any electrical devices that could lower the temperature: “We are real tourists”. Her companion, who points to the faucet located between their site and the adjacent one, specifies: “In addition to having water right next door, we brought ice packs”. But without a refrigerator, it's hard to imagine the usefulness of such a device.

Even though their tent is in full sun, Joffrey and Stacy are optimistic. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

Don't forget the dogs

A few pitches away, Maya and Myrtille are resting peacefully on the dirt floor. They enjoy the shade of the awning and the air current circulating between the tents. Jacky and Sandrine, their owners, have been loyal to La Grande-Motte for 30 years. “I have always travelled with my dogs”, explains Sandrine, who proudly sports a canine tattoo on her left arm.

Jacky and Sandrine make sure that their two dogs Maya and Myrtille do not get too hot. so that their two dogs Maya and Myrtille are not too hot. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

The holidaymaker congratulates an initiative of the campsite. This year, "they have set up a dog shower system". This consists of “a special bathtub, like those found in grooming salons”, accompanied by a booster seat “for small dogs”, explains the Ardéchoise. The couple walks Maya and Myrtille in the cool of the day, “early in the morning or at the end of the day”, concludes Sandrine.

On the side of the operators

L’Oasis Palavasienne à Lattes offers water points "a bit everywhere", as well as shaded areas. But "it's up to them to equip themselves", emphasizes a campsite employee.
An employee of GCU, in La Grande-Motte, mentions the presence of trees, “allowing to avoid exposure to direct sunlight”. Also, in case of extreme heat, the campsite provides a room as well as outdoor showers. The Domaine de l’Arnel, located in Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, also offers shaded pitches. An employee "It mentions exceptional measures, put in place in the past: "We have already offered bottles of water and we have put the drinks of those who did not have a fridge in the fridge". Now equipped, holidaymakers are less dependent on the help of operators. “The caravans are “equipped with air conditioning, they are autonomous”, explains the co-director of the Garden of La Grande-Motte.

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