Camping du Moulin

Local town Chazelles-sur-Lyon is 40 minutes' drive from Saint-Étienne, the department capital set on the road connecting Toulouse with Lyon. Its Musée d'Art Moderne has one of the biggest collections of modern and contemporary art in the country; if the kids somehow won't go for that, take them down the mines at Saint-Étienne's mining museum, where they can take a tour below ground or check out the shows and films. Adventures of a different sort are at Saint-Martin-la-Plaine Zoo, also about 40 minutes' drive away, where your offspring can chatter with and excitedly wave to a nicely varied menagerie including gorillas, chimps, panthers, snakes and crocodiles. The park was set up to house animals from all the earth's continents, so small sorts should find a species or two among their faves to see. At least a day needs to be had in Lyon too, for its UNESCO World Heritage Site centre, many festivals, splendid restaurants and markets, and – this may interest tiny types – graffiti aplenty by the acclaimed Birdy Kids.