Award-winning campsite in a beautiful location with good turnover Castelnau d'Auzan 32440 Gers France

Introduction:
Domaine Le Poteau, winner of the 2020/21 French Campsite of the Year, is a beautiful small site located in the beautiful Gers department in the south-west of France, halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse. It sits on top of a hill, overlooking vines, primeval forests and the local village with its ancient church tower. Gers is unique, known for its rolling hills, primeval forests, winding roads and beautiful medieval 'bastide' villages and towns. It is of course also the region of Armagnac and in terms of gastronomy it is very highly regarded.
We came across this region by chance and fell in love immediately. It has so much to offer, both for residents and tourists. In the 7 years that we have been here, we have built up a very loyal customer base. Many guests return regularly and say 'it feels like we are home again'. Whoever takes over the campsite will certainly also benefit from this loyalty; a significant amount of repeat business, a healthy outlook for bookings, and an excellent reputation with excellent online reviews.

The campsite and chalet:
The campsite has a permit for 15 places. The main, 'upper' site, contains 12 large, level pitches, as well as a new 3-bedroom chalet. The facilities on the campsite have been modernized to a very high level; there are 3 showers, and laundry room and 4 toilets, all in separate cubicles. We also have a lower site that we promote as “Something Wilder Camping”; this place also has its own toilet block.

Le Poteau attracts people who fall in love with the relaxing and welcoming feel of the campsite and the quirkiness and authentic character of Gers. In the summer months we offer a very popular evening meal which we normally serve in a covered area of our orchard. These evenings ensure that guests can meet each other, catch up and share their stories. Lifelong friendships are formed and we now have an established group of loyal customers/friends who meet here annually.
Originally, Le Poteau was a small farm with cattle and a vineyard. There is a house and several outbuildings. The 4-room house has undergone a significant renovation. The electricity and pipes were completely replaced in 2018. Wall and roof insulation has been installed. The kitchen, bathroom and floor (mainly oak and travertine) are new and the new double glass garden doors are handmade. It is a very energy efficient house. In winter it is very cozy and warm due to the efficient wood stove. And in the summer, thanks to the insulation and a large covered terrace, the house remains pleasantly cool. Although the house borders the campsite, the garden is well screened and you will not be disturbed there. The natural stone terrace, overlooking a vineyard, is an additional asset. It is located separately from the campsite and is a wonderful place to eat and receive friends.

The outbuildings have also been given a different function in different ways. Most have a completely new roof. The toilets and showers are housed in a few of the buildings. In another outbuilding we have a professional kitchen that was completely renovated with stainless steel in 2021. There is also a laundry room, a storage shed, a tractor shed, and another outbuilding that serves as a workshop. There are a few other outbuildings with potential, all in reasonable condition. And we are currently working on a place where indoor dining and events can be held.
The site also has a very good website and booking system.

Income sources:
• Camping pitches
• Chalet (booked until April 2027)
• Evening meal
• Alcohol license
• Bread service

Potency:
It is a well established company with good income. Although we have already increased profits fivefold in 7 years, there is still a lot of room for further growth in the future. We have consciously chosen to run Le Poteau as a 'lifestyle business', focusing on what we enjoy, what we can be proud of and what we benefit from living in a beautiful part of the world. More focus on the potential income of this campsite will certainly lead to an increase in profits and further growth.
Potential buyers can take a look at our website:
www.le-poteau.com

Search for Domaine le Poteau, on Google, Trip Advisor, Pitch Up, Camper Contact, Hip Camp (formerly Cool Camping) to read the rave reviews
Please note that our 2 gites are not for sale; these are located in a separate place, away from the campsite and chalet.

Location:
One of the charms of Gers is that it is the only region in France without highways. Fortunately, the local roads are in good condition and very quiet. This also means that Gers has the best air quality and also the highest life expectancy in France. Most guests opt for a longer stay of one or more weeks rather than a few days, but we also receive a significant number of people heading to Spain or Portugal and looking for a shorter stopover en route.

There is more than enough to do in the summer. Marchés nocturnes (night markets), village festivals, Vineart (open days at local vineyards with guided tours, food and music), and music and dance festivals, including in Castelnau D'Auzan there are three restaurants/bars, a great boulangerie, a local supermarket, a hair salon, a pharmacy, a beautiful heated swimming pool, and tennis and padel courts. It is generally a very hospitable village. And we also have a very good relationship with our neighbors, many local businesses and with the mayor, where everyone supports each other.