Juliette Tentvakanties at Camping La Coccinelle

Start with a stroll around the village of Blot-l’Église: take tours of the village’s craft oilery (where they make flavoured vinegars, mustards, foie gras, biscuits and loads more) and nearby cheese farms, then head to the riding school five minutes’ drive away for horseback excursions. The Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park is under 15 minutes from base for hikes, scenic train rides, châteaux, paragliding and loads more. It's all fully safe these days as the volcanoes are dormant; to feel what an eruption would be like, head to Vulcania (35 minutes) to try the earthquake simulator. If that’s not doing the job, Millevaches en Limousin and Livradois-Forez regional parks are both within about an hour, and the stunning Gorges de la Sioule is 15 minutes away – or you could dive below the surface at the Grotte de la Perre de Volvic, half an hour from the site. Give the kids a couple of last treats with the animals and rides at Le PAL theme park, an hour and a half away, or stick closer to home among the dinosaurs at Paleopolis (30 minutes). Travelling without the sprogs? Opt then for blissful days in the nearby spa towns of Royat, Mont-Dire, La Bourboule and Vichy – that last comes with a recommendation from Napoleon himself.