Camping Lac de Chardes

Petrolheads may like to head to motor racing circuit Circuit du Val de Vienne (15 minutes' drive), where you can either watch races or get out on the track yourself (depending on how adventurous you’re feeling). Get an arty fix at the Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe (40 minutes), a UNESCO World Heritage Site daubed with several well-preserved 11th- and 12th-century murals. Or head for the kid-friendly nostalgia of the collection of old cars, toys, dolls and ornaments at Museum Chez Manuel (50 minutes). For a bit of greenery, Parc floral de la Roseraie (50 minutes) is a pretty garden with an impressive collection of rose trees, and there are more gardens to see at Blossac Park (55 minutes), along with a rock garden and small zoo. There’s a fine choice of family days out within an hour's drive, each offering something a bit different. A tropical jungle filled with reptiles awaits at La Planète des Crocodiles (half an hour), or you can make pals with the primates at La Vallée des Singes (40 minutes). High-tech Futuroscope theme park (55 minutes), meanwhile, has enough rides, activities and shows to fill a full day out.