Nantes Camping

Explores of Nantes are a must during stays here: the pretty Loire Valley city has plenty of must-visits to add to the list, from the giant elephant and marine carousel of les Machines de l’Île, to the spectacular Château des Ducs de Bretagne. Bibliophiles in particular might have extra reason to poke around: there’s a museum dedicated to the printing process, and the city was once home to Jules Verne, subject of another museum. Busy days for kids (and grownups) are within easy reach too – for energy-filled kids, there’s a maze, assault course, pedalos, go-karts and trampolining 20 minutes’ drive away at Parc des Naudières, while more introspective types might prefer an afternoon among the animals at Planète Sauvage or the Boissière-du-Doré zoo, both within 45 minutes. Even more animals are 50 minutes away at Legendia Parc, or wildlife could be bypassed entirely in favour of a trip to France’s second most popular theme park, Puy du Fou, where guests take a deep dive into French history – seriously, it's seriously splendid. Stick with history with a quick pitstop at the stunning Château de Goulaine 25 minutes from base. If outdoor time more appeals, the site is a little under an hour from the beaches of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, Saint-Nazaire, Pornichet and La Baule, and about an hour from Brière Regional Natural Park.