LES ARCHES

What LES ARCHES does

LES ARCHES (commercial name Camping les Arches) is a privately held, family-owned 4-star campsite operating on a 10-hectare site at 600 Route de Mirabel in Saint-Jean-le-Centenier, southern Ardèche, France, at 300 meters altitude. Founded in 1981 by Patrick Gaschet's mother with 47 pitches, the business has been operated since 1996 by Patrick Gaschet and his Dutch partner Marleen as a Franco-Dutch family enterprise, expanding through two major phases to 97 pitches in 2005 and to approximately 177 pitches (including chalets) by 2013. Current inventory comprises 146 bare pitches, 38 chalets, 8 mobil-homes, 2 gîtes, and unusual lodging units (safari tents, Lakota Camp), supported by an on-site restaurant and bar, poolside snack service, a water park with balneo zones and slides, and a natural bathing area of approximately 1,200 m² created each summer on the Claduègne river, plus an adjacent swimmable waterfall.

The core offering is a unified accommodation-and-leisure portfolio sold direct-to-consumer via the multilingual camping-les-arches.com website (French, English, Dutch, German) and walk-in reservations. Revenue streams are campsite pitch rentals (seasonal, April 24 to September 27), year-round rental accommodations, restaurant and bar services, daily bread and pastries, and on-site equipment rental. The campsite holds European Ecolabel certification (obtained 2023 with ADEME support), is listed in the ADAC 2025 German camping guide, is a Glamping Guide Europe member, and holds Cycling Friendly certification. It is staffed by 3-4 permanent year-round employees plus approximately 20 seasonal workers, and carries a 4.7/5 rating across 725 Google reviews.

The customer base is exclusively consumer-facing and diversified: families with children ages 6-12 as the primary segment, followed by Dutch-, French-, and German-speaking tourists, nature and tranquility seekers, and outdoor enthusiasts/cyclists. The site holds no external investors, has no parent company, has no subsidiaries, and reports no funding rounds; ownership, operating geography (single southern Ardèche site), and pricing (not publicly disclosed, directed to contact) are stable. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, or third-party reseller channel has been identified — operations rely on standard campsite management and booking systems.

Name

LES ARCHES

Legal name

Camping les Arches

Website

https://camping-les-arches.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned 4-star campsite in southern Ardèche, France, operating 146 pitches, 38 chalets, and rental units on a 10-hectare site with river swimming, serving primarily Dutch-, French-, and German-speaking family campers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Hospitality & Campsite Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds (721211), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Campgrounds (Tent & Mixed-Use) (THAMAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Campgrounds & RV Parks (Developed Sites) (THAGAOAA)

Keywords

• Campsite pitch rentals
• Holiday accommodation
• Outdoor hospitality
• Nature camping
• Family camping resort

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-jean-le-centenier

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Campsite Pitch Rentals: Bare campsite pitch rentals for tents, caravans, and camping cars. Open from April 24 to September 27 for pitches.
2. Rental Accommodations: Rental of chalets, mobil-homes, gîtes, and unusual lodging (safari tents). Available year-round.
3. Restaurant and Bar Services: Restaurant serving traditional cuisine open mid-May to mid-September. Bar service with extended terrace. Snack/pizza service at pool during July-August from 11am-8pm.
4. Bread and Pastries Service: Daily bread and pastries ordering service for guests.
5. Equipment Rental: Rental of camping equipment and materials on site.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Les Arches operates a 4-star family campsite in southern Ardèche, France, offering bare pitches for tents, caravans, and camper vans (open April-September) plus year-round rental accommodations including 38 chalets, 8 mobil-homes, 2 gîtes, and unusual lodging such as safari tents and Lakota Camp units. The site provides complementary on-site amenities: a 1,200 m² natural bathing area on the Claduègne river, a water park with balneo zone and slide, a restaurant/bar with panoramic terrace, a poolside snack/pizza service, a daily bread and pastries service, equipment rental, children's animation for ages 6-12, and family-oriented leisure activities.

Product overview

Camping les Arches is a 4-star holiday campsite offering a unified portfolio of accommodation and leisure services. The core offering combines bare campsite pitches (146 emplacements on 10 hectares) with four types of rental accommodations: 38 chalets, 8 mobil-homes, 2 gîtes, and unusual lodging options (safari tents, Lakota Camp). Leisure infrastructure includes a natural swimming lake (1,200 m²) on the Claduègne river, a water park with balneo zones and slides, restaurant/bar with panoramic terrace, poolside snack bar, and a seasonal animation program for children and families. The site operates from April to September for pitches and year-round for rentals, positioning itself as an eco-certified, family-oriented nature camping experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Restaurant Les Arches: On-site restaurant and bar offering traditional cuisine with panoramic views of the arches and river, open mid-May to mid-September

Products and services

• Emplacements (Campsite Pitches) 146 bare campsite pitches for tents, caravans, and camper vans spread across 10 hectares, some equipped with wooden pergolas for shaded relaxation and others with panoramic terraces on stilts. Open from April 24 to September 27.
• Chalets 38 rental chalets with terraces and garden pergolas, designed for longer lifespans than mobil-homes and offered year-round.
• Mobil-homes 8 mobil-home rentals available for holiday accommodation, offered year-round.
• Gîtes 2 gîte rentals for holiday accommodation, available year-round.
• Logement insolite (Lakota Camp & safari tents) Unusual accommodations including safari tents and Lakota Camp units providing a glamping experience on the campsite.
• Restaurant / Bar Les Arches On-site restaurant and bar serving traditional cuisine on a panoramic terrace three times the original size with views of the arches and the Claduègne river; open mid-May to mid-September.
• Snack / Pizza at the pool Poolside snack bar serving pizzas and light meals, open daily from 11am to 8pm in July and August.
• Espace Aquatique (Water Park) Aquatic area featuring balneo zone, slide, and playful and relaxing pools for swimming and recreation.
• Plan d'eau naturel (Natural Swimming Area) Natural bathing area of approximately 1,200 m² set up each summer on the Claduègne river, a primary on-site swimming attraction.
• Animation & Activities Program Seasonal children's activities (6-12 years), sports, creative workshops, mini-disco, evening entertainment, concerts, circus shows, and outdoor cinema during July and August.
• Pain et viennoiseries (Bread and Pastry Service) Daily bread and pastries ordering service for campsite guests.
• Location matériel (Equipment Rental) On-site rental of camping equipment and materials for guests.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.7/5 average customer rating based on 725 reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Coopérayette / Maison LatourminorOthersWine cooperative and winery located in Alba la Romaine that handles winemaking for Patrick's family vineyard. Approximately 10 hectares of vineyard in production. Campsite offers wine tastings to guests.
• ADEMEminorOthersAgence De l'Environnement et de la Maitrise de l'Énergie (French Environment and Energy Management Agency). Provided support for obtaining European Ecolabel certification.
• CM2C Mediation ServiceminorOthersCentre de la Médiation de la Consommation des Conciliateurs de Justice. Consumer mediation service for dispute resolution as per French Consumer Code requirements.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• European Camping Group (ECG): Multi-country European campsite operator (Pitchup, Vacanceselect-style portfolio) with family-oriented outdoor sites. Comparable offering mix and inbound European customer base.
• Huttopia: French eco-camping and glamping chain with multiple nature-immersed sites across Europe. Highly comparable to Les Arches on eco-certification, family-outdoor positioning, mixed tent/cabin offerings, and multilingual (incl. Dutch) marketing.
• Tohapi: European multi-site camping operator with sites across France and Southern Europe, focused on family-friendly outdoor holidays. Comparable product mix and target customer base.
• Sunêlia: French 4-star campsite network marketing family outdoor holidays with on-site amenities, animations, and F&B. Closely comparable to Les Arches in tier, family-targeting, and integrated services.
• Vacanceselect: European camping operator with a broad portfolio of family campsites, often brokered through travel platforms. Comparable product (pitches + rentals, aquatic areas, animations) at greater scale.
• Camping Les Castels: French network of independently-operated quality campsites, many with eco-orientation and family focus. Comparable on independently-run, quality-tier, eco-conscious positioning across multiple French regions.
• Ciela Village: French family camping operator running multi-star campsites with aquatic parks, animations, and rental units. Comparable tier, family focus, and aquatic-area-led positioning.
• Yelloh! Village: Major French 4- and 5-star campsite chain with a strong family/children-animation focus and premium accommodations. Comparable on tier (4-star), family programming, and broad accommodation mix (pitches + chalets/mobil-homes).

Broad incumbents

• Sandaya: Largest French campsite operator with a broad portfolio across price tiers and regions. Comparable business model (pitches + rentals + aquatic areas + F&B + animations) but at significantly greater scale and geographic diversification.
• Camping Paradis: French branded campsite network tied to the popular TV show, marketed to family campers with aquatic and entertainment offerings. Comparable tier and family-outdoor positioning across multiple French regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/camping.arches07
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camping-les-arches

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LES ARCHES