Juliette Tentvakanties at Camping Les Trois Cantons

On a hot day, the vegetation-lined trails of the Jardin des Paradis (40 minutes’ drive), in the small town of Cordes-sur-Ciel, are a great spot for a stroll. Swing by the lotus ponds inhabited by frogs and dragonflies, admire the vast insect hotels and check out the garden’s collection of pomegranate trees. Renowned for its vineyards, Cahors (50 minutes) has developed in a bend on the Lot river. Climb up to the Point de vue du Mont Saint Cyr first, to admire its unusual geography, then cross Pont Valentré, a fortified medieval bridge, to access the town centre, with the centuries-old Cathédrale Saint-Etienne. Causses du Quercy Natural Regional Park is home to places like Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (55 minutes), a medieval village clinging to a cliffside along the Lot river, with half-timbered houses and a thriving artists’ community. The underground cave at Pech Merle (one hour) is decorated with prehistoric drawings.