Camping L'Escale des Châteaux de la Loire

No fewer than 10 of the Loire Valley's most celebrated châteaux are less than an hour's drive from Camping L'Escale des Châteaux de la Loire and most are a good bit closer. Have a day each at Chenonceau (10 minutes), Montpoupon (15 minutes), Chaumont-sur-Loire (20 minutes), Amboise (25 minutes), Cheverny (30 minutes), Blois (40 minutes) and Chambord (50 minutes), stopping off at the area's tiny villages, small towns, royal cities and many parks, gardens and local vineyards. Sporty sorts will find canoeing, swimming, paintball and go-karting among many more outdoor options in the area, and all sorts should have a smashing time at the wildlife park of ZooParc de Beauval only 15 minutes' drive away. The Reserve de Beaumarchais and its safari train are about half an hour away in Autrèche. Also half an hour's drive away, another must for castle fans is the Mini-Châteaux Park at Amboise, where 45 famous castles are reproduced at 1/25 of their size. The Grand Aquarium de Touraine is about five minutes' drive from Amboise.