For campers, autumn is a magical season for admiring beautiful landscapes that change colour in vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow.
Travelling by Campervan allows you to explore breathtaking panoramas, stopping at your leisure to take beautiful photographs and make small detours along the way.
Here are some suggestions for planning an autumn trip and some places to see the foliage.
Foliage
‘Foliage’ is the term commonly used to describe the seasonal process during which tree leaves change colour before falling. This transformation is in fact part of the plant’s transition to its winter resting state.
The phenomenon is mainly due to the decrease in the production of chlorophyll, the pigment that gives leaves their green colour and helps plants convert sunlight into chemical energy.
As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, chlorophyll production slows down and eventually stops decomposing and making other pigments in the leaves visible.
These pigments mainly include carotenoids, which produce yellow and orange colours, and anthocyanins, which are responsible for reds and purples.
The variety of colours
Not all plants during autumn ‘produce’ the same variety of colours: yellow and orange, due to the presence of carotenoids, are common in species such as oaks, beeches and birches; shades of red and purple are typical of species such as maples and some types of oaks due to the production of anthocyanins that may increase in response to intense sunlight and cold temperatures during the day.
Brown colour, on the other hand, is often present in leaves that have high levels of tannins, such as some oak species.
This natural colour show is particularly evident in temperate regions and can vary greatly from one species to another and from one place to another.
Where to see foliage in a Campervan
A motorhome trip to discover the autumn foliage offers a unique and immersive experience of nature’s seasonal changes. From the fascinating forests of Europe to the scenic roads of North America, each route promises memorable views and unforgettable moments.
Europe in particular offers numerous landscapes that are transformed in autumn, providing spectacles of warm and intense colours. Here are some of the best destinations from which to plan new motorhome routes to admire the foliage.
Black Forest, Germany
With its dense coniferous forests and deciduous trees, the Black Forest offers one of the best autumn spectacles in Europe. Vivid colours are reflected in the crystal-clear waters of its lakes and the hiking trails turn into magical paths between castles and fairytale villages.
We can start in Freiburg im Breisgau and pass through the picturesque towns of Baden-Baden (also famous for its thermal waters), Triberg with the highest waterfalls in Germany, and Titisee where you can relax and admire the spectacle of foliage ‘plunging’ into the largest natural lake in the Black Forest.
Loire Valley, France
Famous for its historic Renaissance châteaux, the Loire Valley also offers a unique spectacle in autumn when the leaves turn golden and the shy sun illuminates the facades of its many castles.
The foliage of the vineyards is a spectacle for the eyes and the period between October and November is the richest in nature-related events, as well as an excellent opportunity to enjoy some excellent tastings in the region’s wine cellars.
The Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, is home to more than 300 châteaux and enchanting landscapes criss-crossed by cycle paths including one of Europe’s most pedalled routes, the Loire à Vélo.
We set off from Orléans to Nantes following the course of the Loire river to visit some of the most beautiful châteaux, including Chambord, Chenonceau and Clos Lucé and stroll through the streets of Tours or Amboise, the last home of Leonardo da Vinci.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Il Parco Nazionale dei Laghi di Plitvice si trova a metà strada tra Zagabria, capitale della Croazia, e Zara, in Dalmazia, ed è formato da 16 laghi alimentati dai fiumi Bijela Rijeka e Crna Rijeka (Fiume Bianco e Fiume Nero) e da sorgenti sotterranee, collegati tra loro da una serie di cascate, che si riversano nel fiume Korana.
Proclamati Patrimonio dell’Umanità dall’UNESCO nel 1979, sono visitabili grazie a una rete ben segnata di sentieri e da 18 km di passerelle di legno che danno al tragitto a pelo d’acqua un fascino unico, ma il panorama diventa ancora più spettacolare in autunno quando i boschi circostanti esplodono in un’abbagliante gamma di colori autunnali.
Tuscany, Italy
In addition to being famous for its hilly landscapes, cities of art and good food, Tuscany is one of the Italian regions where the autumn foliage spectacle is at its best.
Much of the credit for this can be attributed to the National Park of the Casentinesi Forests, one of the most uncontaminated forest areas in Europe that extends over 38,000 hectares along the slopes of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, between the provinces of Arezzo and Florence.
In Garfagnana, a valley between the Apuan Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines crossed by the Serchio River, the protagonists of autumn are the dense chestnut forests and small ancient villages that preserve the history and traditions of this land.
To the south of Tuscany, another autumn protagonist are the woods around Monte Amiata, a former volcano now extinct, extending between Maremma and Val d’Orcia, in the provinces of Grosseto and Siena. Here it is possible to reach Europe’s largest beech forest and be enveloped by the warm colours of the coloured leaves, on the branches and along the road.
Carinthia, Austria
Carinthia is a large and picturesque region, closely linked to its alpine traditions and very well equipped on the hospitality front, offering genuine contact with nature and a multitude of recreational opportunities.
In autumn, Austria’s southernmost region, with its lakes nestling between forest-covered mountains, offers its visitors one of the most enchanting natural panoramas, especially around Lake Weissensee and Lake Wörthersee, with a varied gallery of colours ranging from green, yellow-orange to red and brown.
Some practical tips for admiring the foliage in a Motorhome
Here are some practical tips to make the experience even more memorable:
1) Plan your trip in advance
Every year, ‘foliage tourism’ drives thousands of people to travel between September and October to catch the typical autumn transformations of nature. Book campsites and rest areas in advance, especially in popular destinations, as they can fill up quickly.
2) Monitor foliage
The best time varies depending on the region, but is generally between September and October. Trees change colour at different rates depending on the local climate, so it is essential to monitor seasonal forecasts to choose the best time to plan your motorhome trip. Dedicated websites, apps and online maps can help you get real-time updates on the status of colour change in different areas.
3) Choosing the right destination
There are places with a wide range of tree species to enjoy a broader colour palette, and hilly or mountainous areas often offer vantage points that provide spectacular views of the autumn landscape. Walking through an autumn forest is one of the best ways to appreciate the changing colours, while some areas offer cycle paths through regions known for their spectacular foliage.
