Domaine Les Quatre Toits

Once you’ve explored your own estate thoroughly, head out into the surrounding area to see some of the other historic buildings nearby – perhaps 13th-century Cas Castle (five minutes’ drive) or former Cistercian abbey Beaulieu-en-Rouergue Abbey (10 minutes), now home to an excellent contemporary art exhibition. The real gem around here for history and culture seekers is Albi (50 minutes), which is home to a 1000-year-old bridge over the River Tarn and a huge Gothic cathedral as well the Fashion Museum and Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. The city’s tourist office has also devised several riverside walking routes that are worth checking out. For other days out nearby you may like to head underground at Grotte du Bosc (10 minutes), take a canoe outing on the Aveyron river from Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val (10 minutes) or climb up into the trees at Parc Aventure Saint Antonin (15 minutes). There’s also the rather tasty prospect of a trip to Musée des Arts du Sucre et du Chocolat (half an hour) to see some amazing artworks made of chocolate and taste some top-quality chocolates.