Cool Under Canvas

This close to the spectacular Puy de Dôme – a UNESCO Heritage Site, no less – not visiting it would nearly be a crime. The dormant volcano is about 40 minutes’ drive away and home to stunning views of the rest of the volcanic Chaîne des Puys. Not up to scaling the mountain? Catch a train to the summit instead, then follow the trails around the crater (if able), find the remains of the Roman Temple of Mercury, and have a bite in the restaurant. On the way back to site, make a pitstop at Vulcania amusement park. The ‘European Park of Volcanism’ should entertain kids and grownups handily, while teaching lots about seismology and giving the whole family a solid grounding in what’s going on beneath the surface of Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park (25 minutes from home base). Cool off after all that volcanic activity with a trip to the 10-kilometre-long, 385-hectare Lac Fades, 15 minutes from the site, and fishing, sailing, canoeing and swimming, then paddle along to either of the lake's inflatable waterparks to bounce about on the water. Fancy a city day instead? The Old Town, museums, casino, gothic cathedral (built from local lava rock) and karting circuit of Clermont-Ferrand are about 55 minutes away.