Lot-et-Garonne. The Domaine de Quiescis has its head down in the face of the development of cycle tourism

On the heights of Marcellus, in the Marmandais region, Luc and Carole Charry manage the campsite. From April to October, it welcomes passing tourists, but especially cycle tourists.

Luc and Carole Charry are entering their third season as managers of the Quiescis estate . High up in the Marcellus valleys, tranquility is the name of the game. In fact, it's in the name: quiescis means "you rest" in Latin, which sets the tone.

The couple met in Agen and always wanted to stay in the region. "We said that if we were to open a campsite, it would be in Lot-et-Garonne, it's our favorite department," the managers confide. Between the two of them, from April ^1st to October 15th, they share all the campsite's responsibilities. "The first few years, we were running around everywhere, we couldn't even run into each other anymore. Now, we're more organized," they admit.

Perched above the Canal latéral à la Garonne , the estate is divided into two parts: the campsite below and the gîte and its unusual accommodations on the heights. Luc, a former cyclist, was keen for the campsite to have the Accueille Vélo label. In fact, 90% of their clientele are cycle tourists. "It allows us to appear on cyclists' maps and in exchange we have to meet certain criteria," he explains, while watching his grandson who is doing bike rides, precisely around the large garden table.

Under the marquee, Marie-Christine and Georges Poujade take advantage of the shade of the trees to plan the next leg of their trip. "We're following the canal by electric bike, from La Réole to Toulouse," the tourists explain. After traveling the world in their youth, the retired couple now indulges in quieter activities. "We want to take the time to discover things and travel slowly."

These are simple routes, they are flat and mostly shaded.

At a rate of around thirty kilometers per day, Marie-Christine and Georges allow themselves ten days of cycling along the canal. Going from campsite to campsite, they stay no more than one night at a time. During each of their vacations, they follow the canals of France by bike. "These are simple routes, they're flat and mostly shaded," adds Georges Poujade.

Under the still-warm late afternoon sun, Myriam and Fabrice Baudet are enjoying the campsite's swimming pool. The couple from Le Mans took the train south with their bikes to begin a cycle tour from Nice to Bordeaux. They got back on their bikes this year and are off to a flying start, as they plan to cover some 800 kilometers over four weeks. "We came across the campsite by following the signs, but we didn't know it," the couple explains.

During their journey, they follow the Canal du Midi, then the Canal Lateral de la Garonne, until they reach their final destination. Equipped with their tents, they decided not to plan in advance where they would sleep and went at their own pace. "Chance brought us here, and chance does things well," laughs Fabrice Baudet.