Dallas en Vendée

Creative type? Loop around L'ile aux Artisans to catch more than 20 craftsmen at work with materials like ceramics, textiles and glass (five minutes’ drive). More into history? The atmospheric ruins of moated Château de Commequiers (15 minutes) are well worth a look. Nearby natural sights to nosey round include the Passage du Gois causeway (20 minutes), which is only accessible at low tide and leads to Noirmoutier island’s Dames and Sableaux beaches (40 minutes). The isle is also home to a 12th-century castle, with a museum of artefacts from as far back as the prehistoric era, and the Sealand Aquarium. The coast around Saint-Jean-de-Monts (20 minutes) is also rather lovely: head to beaches like Plage Central, the Plage des Demoiselles and the Plage de la Tonnelle for sandy times. If the kids have worn out their buckets and spades, entertain them with a trip to L'île aux Papillons zoo (35 minutes) and the ever-popular Puy du Fou historical theme park (an hour and 10 minutes).