Village Vacances Les Demeures du Lac

Hiking and biking sorts regularly flock to the Livradois-Forez Regional Natural Park and take on the trails in this 320,000-hectare area of conifer forests, lush fields and high-altitude moors. Yet there’s much more to do hereabouts than wander and cycle. Totter to Thiers (15 minutes’ drive), known as France’s ‘cutlery capital’ because of its knife-making heritage, for a trip around the old town’s sloping streets. Stop by timber-framed and corbelled houses like the Hôtel du Pirou, taking pretty pictures enroute. Another urban area for an amble is the Puy-de-Dôme university city of Clermont-Ferrand (40 minutes). Drop by to peer at the gothic-style Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral – built out of lava stone sourced from this region known for its ancient volcanoes – in the fountain-filled Place de Jaude square. Walkers might want to head off on a hike in the Chaîne des Puys mountains surrounding the city, while those with sprogs can make a beeline north west towards the volcano-themed Vulcania amusement park (55 minutes). For chilled days, venture to the Vichy’s thermal baths (50 minutes) for long, serene soaks.