La Libellule

If you’ve only got time to do one thing while you’re here, make it a trip to Confolens (15 minutes’ drive). The medieval town is a lovely place to wander around, with historic houses lining the riverbanks, a fortified bridge and a church with a Gothic bell tower. A trip at any time is rewarding, but it’s arguably at its best in August, when the Festival de Confolens has live music and kids’ events popping up all over town. Beyond that, there are a couple of excellent châteaux to explore – both the medieval Château de Peyras (15 minutes) and the grand Château de La Rochefoucauld (25 minutes), with a staircase that’s said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Angoulême (45 minutes) is well worth a trip too, for its cathedral, Roman ramparts and cartoon museum. For a bit of downtime, head to Plan d'Eau Prés de Peyras (10 minutes), where you can swim, go for a walk or do some fishing before having a meal or drinks in the bar-restaurant.