Parc de Nibelle

To medieval castles you go… Castle Chamerolles (20 minutes’ drive) is a medieval fortress that now houses a perfume museum and pretty gardens for peaceful strolls. Even more impressive is Château de Sully-sur-Loire (25 minutes), another medieval castle with huge towers and a list of historical figures who hid out there, such as Joan of Arc and Voltaire. Of course, Orléans (40 minutes) is a historic location too, and it’s well-known for its connection to Joan of Arc – her statue is a short walk from Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans, which is a particularly grand sight when lit up at night. There are a handful of museums in the city for any history fans, including a fine arts museum and a collection of Gallo-Roman statues. When you feel like occupying your afternoon with something quite active, you’ll be happy to find out that there’s a horse riding centre (five minutes) nearby, plus go-karting at Karting 45 (20 minutes) or treetop climbing at the Léo Adventure Park (50 minutes) in Orléans.