Les Étangs de la Bassée

Whether it’s an outdoorsy day out you’re after or sightseeing and tasty eats, there’s plenty of scope for such activities from Les Étangs de la Bassée. Montereau (15 minutes' drive) has everything from museums and a cathedral to the dark and misty Caves Saint-Nicolas (20 minutes). Melun (40 minutes) is a top spot for more museums, sampling the strong Brie de Melun and strolls along the river Almont. What of that outdoorsy stuff, then? Well, the Forest of Fontainebleau (50 minutes) has crags for climbers and plenty of hiking or horse-riding trails through ancient trees. Gâtinais Français Natural Regional Park (55 minutes) is a little further on with glades, forests, rivers, excellent local beer and Gâtinais honey specialties. There are more historical places, of course, including Provins’ (40 minutes) medieval ramparts, underground tunnels and 12th-century hilltop tower or the 17th-century Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte (35 minutes) up northwest.