Camping L'Isle aux Moulins

Start with a wander around Jargeau’s historical centre, following in the steps of Joan of Arc and Dauphin Charles VII, who attacked the town in the 15th century, then keep feet in the past with stops at the Oscar Roty museum to learn about the famous La Semeuse and at Musée Maurice Genevoix to see collections of rare books, drawings and songs by the writer. Leave museums behind for a spell outdoors with Loire walks and nature workshops at the Maison de Loire ecomuseum in Jargeau, trips to the Parc Floral de la Source and Arboretum des Grandes Bruyères, 20 minutes’ drive from base, and jaunts into the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park an hour and a half away. And as this is the Loire, châteaux won’t be hard to find… Chamerolles, Sully-sur-Loire, Chambord, Gien, Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire, Blancafort and Meung-sur-Loire are all within an hour, and dozens more not much farther – there’s even a theme park full of châteaux miniatures an hour and a half away if travelling to each and every one isn’t possible. For urban days, the half-hour drive to Orleans is highly recommended for adventure parks, museums, galleries and theatres – for something grander, Paris is two hours away.