Camping Les 2 Salamandres

Heading to the coast? Talmont-sur-Gironde (10 minutes' drive) is the closest seaside town you'll find. Non, there's no beach here, but what this place lacks in plage it makes up for in pretty seaside vistas – the town's central streets are squeezed onto a rocky peninsula, with highlights including whitewashed cottages and a clifftop Romanesque church. Looking around for a date night or a dinner en famille? Head here for fresh fish dishes with a lavish dollop of sea views. If you'd rather be beach-bound instead, make tracks for the several sandy spots around Meschers-sur-Gironde (15 to 20 minutes), or continue up the coast towards Royan (30 minutes), a tip-top resort on the Atlantic coast. Tee off here surrounded by sand dunes and pine trees at the town's 18-hole golf course, catch the ferry over to Cordouan lighthouse (45 minutes by boat) or get a taste of local terroir at the town's covered market.  For a bit of history on your hols, stop off at Le Fâ open-air Gallo-Roman museum (10 minutes). For more handsome old buildings, check out Plassac's gorgeous château, where there's also a distillery that can be toured by visiting cognac fans (30 minutes).