L'Escale en Dordogne

Dreamy days near the site can be spent ambling along the banks of the Dordogne River or kayaking along it – it's a five-minute drive away (or half-hour walk) through leafy green countryside. If you’re wanting wanders around towns and cities, Duras (25 minutes' drive) has a fortress high up on a hilltop that's well worth poking around. Mosey down to the dungeons in this former medieval home of local dukes, then scale its stairs for splendid views out across the countryside from the tower. Other historical hotspots in the area include the bastide town of Eymet’s medieval archways (half an hour), the 13th-century Château de Rauzan sat on a towering rock (35 minutes) and the 1700s Château de Monbazillac with its period furniture and wine cellar (30 minutes). Bordeaux’s Gothic Cathédrale Saint-André cathedral, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux art museum and opulent Place de la Bourse square are just over an hour away. Kids not keen on ancient attractions? Nip moaning and groaning in the bud and take them to Parc Du Griffon animal park (40 minutes), for rides and zipwiring as well as glimpses of creatures including teacup pigs, llamas and peacocks.