Le Domaine de La Barre

This is a strategic location to settle in if you’re up for theme parks: Le Domaine de la Barre is roughly halfway between Puy du Fou and Futuroscope, and around an hour’s drive from each. Pick one or make time for both, as each is excellent and (whisper it if the kids are in earshot) educational – there’s a history theme running through the rides and shows at Puy du Fou and a science one at Futuroscope. If it’s the animal world that piques the tiddlers’ interest, take them off to the equally fab Bioparc de Doué la Fontaine an hour’s drive away, where the animals live in specially created natural landscapes carved into a prehistoric rock quarry. Fancy a crack at spotting creatures in the wild? Also within an hour’s drive is the Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park, where you may spot all sorts of colourful birds (and wild horses) as you paddle through the marshes on a boat trip. For history without added theme park rides, it’s worth a meander around the medieval centre of Parthenay, 20 minutes away, as well as trips to the fairytale-like Château d’Oiron (35 minutes), the ruins of Château de Coudray-Salbart (40 minutes) or the Renaissance Château Coulonges sur l’Autize, 50 minutes away.