L'Air des Prés

If you’re keen to learn about the local area and its backstory, head for the 15th-century Logis La Chabotterie (10 minutes’ drive), a handsome manor house where a Royalist leader was arrested by Republicans in 1796. The period apartments, chapel and formal knot gardens are all open for self-guided tours. The elegant city of Nantes (45 minutes) is known for its mighty Castle of the Dukes of Brittany as well as the animatronic elephant that stalks the quays on the Île de Nantes. Still on the historical theme, around half an hour’s drive takes you to Puy du Fou, where you can spend a mesmerising day travelling back in time to Roman or Viking times during spectacular live shows with a cast of thousands. The Vendée coastline is within easy reach too: Plage du Veillon (50 minutes) is a hotspot for kitesurfing and wing foiling, while the Grand Plage at Les Sables-d’Olonne (45 minutes) is a family-friendly stretch of soft sand backed by brasseries, cafés and ice-cream parlours.