Camping L'Aquarelle

With spots like Camping L'Aquarelle about it's no wonder so many holidaymakers head to the Limousin region each year – but don't worry, newcomers have ample space to spread out in. For typical local landscapes, prep your paintbrushes (or smartphone camera, if you're packing light) and mosey around the 'Valley of the Painters' (30 minutes' drive), a scenic spot dotted with willows, mills and sleepy stone buildings. City shenanigans of several flavours are also within comfortable reach of the site: Limoges (45 minutes), a long-standing hub of porcelain manufacturing, channels ornate and creative vibes, while Guéret (30 minutes) has some more modern galleries and visitor centres to explore. This latter spot is also surrounded by hills where you can get up to all manner of energetic sports or visit the Loups de Chabrières animal park (40 minutes) and watch wolves slinking through the trees. Feel like sauntering through saplings minus the long-fanged beasts? Then trot off to the Arboretum de la Sédelle (25 minutes). Some history? Try Le Scénovision, a museum of village life that's ditched traditional exhibits to lay on a show that combines theatre, sounds and smells.