La Gare de Lurey Conflans

Step out of your cabin and you’re out in nature straight away – there are numerous walks to be had on quiet rural lanes, as well as bike rides around the Lac de la forêt d’Orient (an hour’s drive) and more hiking and cycling on the Haute-Seine Troyes Cycle Trail (half an hour). There are fishing ponds within 25 minutes’ drive, and more adventurous souls can paddle down the Aube or Seine rivers in canoes (10 minutes). Pretty rural towns that are worth exploring include Sézanne (20 minutes), with tree-lined walks along its old defensive walls and a massive Gothic church topped with a Renaissance tower, while medieval Provins (half an hour) has old tithe barns, history museums and cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses. Doubtless, when you’re in Champagne you’ll be wanting to sample some of its famous produce. The closest Coteaux Champenois champagne cellars are Côte de Sézanne (20 minutes), where you can tour the production process, taste the wares and buy a bottle of two as well.