Camping Val de Vie

Châteaux, châteaux, châteaux – this area is full of them, each with its own unique charms. Where to go first? Will it be Chateau du Duc d’Antin, with its glorious rose gardens, a 10-minute drive away? Maybe you’ll take your camera to Château de la Bussiere, 45 minutes away, to capture the reflections from the lake? Or perhaps you’ll take the 15-minute drive to learn about medieval life on a tour of Château de Sully-sur-Loire..? Kid-friendly attractions nearby include the Coqalane Farm (25 minutes’ drive), to meet goats, pigs, donkeys and other animals, and get hands-on with activities such as egg collecting. The Departmental Museum of Resistance and Deportation (15 minutes’ drive) has some well-laid-out military exhibits with good explanatory notes for all ages. The city of Orléans, a half-hour drive from the park, is well worth a day trip. Wander round the Old Town, full of well-preserved 18th- and 19th-century buildings and visit the Joan of Arc House to learn about the part she played in liberating the city from in 1429. There’s also a great fine arts museum, with works by Picasso, Tintoretto, Velasquez and Van Dyck among others, and the fab Parc Floral de la Source, where you can admire the flowers as you walk by the river, or use the free kit for a game of badminton or croquet. Being here in France’s largest national forest means that you’ve got easy access to heaps of walking and cycle trails: the forest spans a total of 35,000 hectares so even in the height of summer you’ll most likely be able to find a quiet route. You can also join a horse riding tour from Ouzouer-sur-Loire, 15 minutes away, or take to the beach at Étang de la Vallée, 20 minutes away, for swimming, fishing, canoeing or simply sitting down.