A Place in Haute-Vienne

Thousands of kilometres of cycle trails wind round the Limousin region, and many can be accessed right from the site. Further afield, the granite hills and forested valleys of the Monts de Blond (45 minutes’ drive) have challenging rides and invigorating hikes, with the added bonus of streams and lakes to cool off in. Lakes are a theme round here: there’s a pair of fishing lakes within a five-minute drive, and it’s 50 minutes to the multi-faceted lakeside leisure centre of Saint-Pardoux, where you can swim, kayak, windsurf, fish or simply sunbathe on the sandy beaches. Away from the water (if you must), there’s go-karting at Parc Bellevue, treetop ropewalks and zipwires at Tarz-en-Arbre, both half an hour away. To see other creatures swinging through the trees, go meet the pygmy ouistiti, smallest monkey in the world, along with giraffes, panthers and dozens of other exotic species at Parc Zoo du Reynou, in the grounds of a château 30 minutes from the site. Many fine examples of the above are nearby: the châteaux of Rochechouart, Lastours, Châlucet and Montbrun are all easily reached within in an hour. There’s more history to be had in Limoges (30 minutes), with its 10th-century crypt, 13th-century cathedral (only finished in the 19th) and museum of porcelain; plenty of places to max out your credit card on ceramic souvenirs too...