L'Heureux Hasard

You could cruise around this part of French countryside for weeks, whether you're up for heritage hols, active days, family times or river shenanigans. Two of the most famed French châteaux in the land are within 25 minutes' drive of L'Heureux Hasard: Château de Cheverny, with gardens, maze and, er, exhibition on Tintin, and Château de Chambord, the biggest in the Loire Valley and once the hunting haunt of regal Francis 1. There's also Château de Chenonceau (40 minutes), again mightily famed in the Loire Valley for its spectacular setting: trips to all three are a bit of a must. Restless kids can be calmed down with a potter around ZooParc de Beauval to see its 3,000 or so inhabitants, and with active options such as canoeing on the Loire or pedalling off down the peaceful local paths; look out for the Accueil Vélo (Cyclists Welcome) sign for welcoming pitstops. Paris is two hours and 20 minutes' drive away.