Villatent at Ardèche Camping

Explores of the area around this smashing site should start in Privas (15 minutes’ walk). An old Huguenot town between the 16th and 17th centuries, it’s the capital of the Ardèche department. Chomp on the chestnuts grown locally while here – either puréed or sugary sweet – while admiring architecture such as the 15th-century Renaissance-style Diane de Poitiers Tower and the Louis XIII bridge. Slightly outside of town, mosey up to the Montoulon hill for views over the urban area and surrounding peaks (20 minutes’ walk) of the Ardèche Mountains Regional Nature Park (50 minutes’ drive) or head deep into this protected landscape for hikes around lakes and up old volcanoes. If you spend any time flicking through travel pics on Instagram, you might recognise the Pont-d'Arc (an hour), a natural limestone arch spanning a clear river. Head near here to explore the Ardèche Gorges and the Pont d’Arc Cavern, a manmade cave with replicas of prehistoric art, too.