Glamping Chenantier

Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis is one of the last villages on the D1006 road before you reach the Italian border. Piedmont's mountainous valleys are around 40 minutes' drive away, with the gorgeous Lac du Mont-Cenis (20 minutes' drive) livening up the scenery en route. The lake itself may have been created artificially, but that doesn't make the brilliant blue waters and ruined Fort de Variselle any less worthy of a couple of hours' visit. If the kids have had to trudge in your footsteps for days on end and are in need of some light entertainment, try the local bowling alley in Lanslevillard (10 minutes). You could equally head off in the opposite direction to Sollières-Sardières (15 minutes), where there's Sensations Vanoise (an outdoor activity centre), an interesting archeological museum, a spa and a soft play centre. Modane (25 minutes) is sure to be next on your agenda – the town itself has a mix of tourist shops, traditional restaurants and swoon-worthy views, while close outside there's the formidable Saint-Gobain Fort, the pretty Saint-Benoît waterfall and the Pont du Diable ('Devil's Bridge'), all three of which are about 20 minutes from base.