Saint Nicolas Lodge

Recreational anglers, you’re in the right place – with fishing for trout on the Voulzie River (20 minutes’ drive) and no-kill coarse fishing at The Fishing Centre Sécherons (40 minutes). Hiking is a major activity too, with plenty of looped walks around the rural villages of Vallant-Saint-Georges, Droupt-Sainte-Marie and Droupt-Saint-Basle, and trails leading through the Seine Valley from Saint-Mesmin (all 40 minutes). If the kids are on board for your French adventure, treat them to a day feeding hens and grooming ponies at the Educational Farm of Saint-Hilliers (25 minutes) or let them run off energy along rope courses at the Jumping Forest Chenoise (35 minutes). There’s also a cinema and swimming pool in Provins (20 minutes) for the odd rainy day. Talking of Provins, this medieval town is a delight to explore, with mighty defence ramparts to stroll around and a centre packed with museums showcasing regional history, like the Grange aux Dîmes and the imposing ruins of the Palais Des Comtes De Champagne. A little tourist train chugs around the main attractions and you also sample cider at a local press.