Le Village des Monédières

Exploring the surrounds can take many forms, so take your pick: there’s a riding centre five minutes’ drive away, and it’s a similarly short drive to the Montoz’Arbres adventure park where you can swing through the treetops. Back down at ground level, it’s a half-hour drive to Uzerche for canoe trips on the Vézère river and just under an hour to Lac de Vassivière for a beach and watersports. For a closer examination of what goes on at ground level, head to La Cité des Insectes (half an hour’s drive), which has a critter collection of around 15,000 for kids to see and handle (and even eat, if they’re feeling really brave). If you’re not into bugs, perhaps aim instead for the smart surrounds of Cecile Sabourdy Museum and Gardens (40 minutes) or Château de Châlucet (45 minutes). To put gentle urban ambles on the schedule, a drive of just under an hour can get you to medieval Brive-la-Gaillarde or lovely Limoges to meet porcelain makers, tour the National Porcelain Museum and admire the cathedral and half-timbered buildings.