Camping Village des Rulières

Often referred to as France’s ‘Green Venice’, the Marais Poitevin area’s marshlands can to be explored by canoes or by bike, both of which you can hire locally – just ask the des Rulières team to help you organise this when you arrive on site. Alternatively, if you’d rather be chauffeured around, trips in the region’s traditional flat-bottomed boats and horse-drawn carriages are also an option. Attractions over in the coastal city of La Rochelle around an hour’s drive away include Europe's largest aquarium with more than 12,000 marine animals covering 600 species. Also take a day trip to the spectacular beaches, village oyster joints and lighthouses of the five kilometre-wide Île de Ré, all of which can be toured easily by bike. Other attractions close enough for family day trips include the thrill rides of Puy du Fou theme park and the animal enclosures of La Palmyre Zoo, trips to the Île d'Aix and, nearby, cruises around the former military stronghold and prison of Fort Boyard.