"Lot, solitude and revelation: how the Cournoulises campsite adopted me"

Autumn 2012 : I'm on the road, alone, 600 km from home, on the banks of the Lot river . A few whole days rowing, walking, loading and unloading gear in the Zodiac, plunging my hands into dubious mixtures… My armpits stinging with a good old-fashioned, vomit-inducing organic Scopex from the 90s, my eyebrows frozen by tiger juice … I needed a shower, urgently!

It was in this dubious olfactory context, and somewhat by chance, that, while changing zones, I passed for the first time by the Les Cournoulises campsite in Montbrun , a providential haven for my hygienic relief… The campsite is simple, the setting magnificently natural—and naturally beautiful. Before returning to my fishing activities, and for a small fee, I washed my face there, without imagining for a second that this shower would be the beginning of a great story, which ten years later would lead to a major turning point for my family and me.

Indeed, since 2022, I have had the privilege of being the guardian of this temple, which I present to you here .

The temple

Nestled between fields and cliffs, on the banks of a river as magical as it is capricious, this small campsite has existed for about forty years. It is overlooked on one side by the rocky ridge of a cliff, and on the other by the charming hilltop village of Montbrun . The small town of Cajarc, with all amenities, is only 5 km away.

From here, one can admire the river flowing gently or fiercely depending on the mood of the upstream dams. The mind wanders among the overhanging branches, carried by an almost total silence, punctuated only by the small church which reminds us each hour of the passing time - far too quickly.

In this region, which is particularly hot in the summer, the land is densely populated with large trees and giant bamboo, offering ideal shade to the 33 spacious pitches, about a third of which are located directly on the riverbank. Tents, caravans, vans, motorhomes… and of course bivvies, brollys and any “carp fishing” apartment will find their place here.

For those seeking more comfort with their family, 7 unusual accommodations (accommodating up to 5 people) complete the offering:

• 4 large tipis

• 3 trapper tents

Still in the spirit of "nature", we have favoured a coherent aesthetic: comfortable, functional and economical.

Ah! There's the river…

No Mickey Mouse Club here… but by the river. And what a river!

By a happy coincidence, the topography adjacent to the campsite is particularly favorable for fishing: it is the deepest sector of this small stretch (approximately 1.5 km long and 80 m wide on average), just upstream of the large weir which separates it from the next stretch.

A strong counter-current runs alongside a good part of the campsite when the water level is high, creating a nice "pool" where the water is 3.5 to 4 meters deep (compared to an average of 2 to 2.5 meters across the entire stretch). The water level can vary by 30 to 50 cm, changing the current's intensity and regularly revitalizing the activity. A perfect setup for those who like to anticipate and plan their positioning.

As the canal section is inaccessible to heavy boats (no functional lock, no slipway), a light boat like a Zodiac is king here — especially outside the summer season, when canoes, bathers and paddleboards are scarce.

The campsite has been awarded the "Fishing Accommodation" label by the dynamic Lot Federation, which is heavily involved in fishing tourism. A region where all your dreams of catching big fish are possible.

 

Fish and other delights

You can find all the "fishable" species there: from the small cyprinid to the large carnivore (short circuit, from producer to consumer!). Swimming among the carpets of gudgeon in the summer, seeing the river "boiling" with rises, flushing out a pike disguised as a piece of wood from a canoe, encountering fish with vertical or horizontal stripes... And of course, the one that makes our hearts beat faster: Cyprinus carpio.

The populations are natural, free and mobile: no checklist to be ticked off like in some private estates. The reach is small, but with low weirs, floods or level variations, which can last from a few hours to several weeks, allow for regular mixing of populations with neighboring reaches. When the weirs are submerged, the carp can move about 10 km of river without being "impeded".

Spending most of my free time observing them from a paddleboard or fishing for them, I enjoy tracking their movements. I used to think it was just a minor detail, but over the years I've learned that these movements are actually quite frequent. Each long flood triggers a partial reset of the population, with a beautiful mix of common and mirror morphs: often hyperactive, sometimes massive, always surprising.

Well then… there’s nothing left to do but do it!

Whether for a stopover, a session, a relaxing weekend or a "family & fishing" holiday, the campsite warmly welcomes you.

Here, fishing requires no prerequisites other than your fishing license, as the Lot is a public river. During the campsite's opening season, you simply need to pay for your pitch rental.

• €15 per night for 2 people without electricity (€19.50 with electricity)

• approximately €460 per week in high season in a fully equipped trapper tent (for 4 people).

I also offer equipment rental: rod sets, zodiac, bedchair, bivvy… You can simply come with your own rigs and bait!

The high season (July 20th to August 20th) involves some sharing of the space, but nothing like the overcrowded tourist areas. The rest of the time: absolute tranquility.

For 2026, the planned opening is from April 24th to October 4th (dates to be finalized this winter). The campsite has five "direct fishing" spots on the riverbank. While it's rare to see fishing rods in action, these spots are very popular with tourists and regular campsite guests. To limit the number of anglers present at any one time, in order to maintain a certain quality of fishing, please contact me beforehand if you wish to use them. Reservations are made directly by email or phone.

We look forward to welcoming you there…

The campsite website: www.lescournoulises.com

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