Camping Les Nobis d'Anjou

The splendid old Château de Montreuil-Bellay (viewable from the site; see pics again) sits high up above the waters of the Thouet on a setting of over 400 hectares – head here for spectacular scenery over the river and countryside below, and a tour around the castle and gardens if you're sensible enough to book in advance. After that, drop into Montreuil-Bellay to pick up the leaflet and map detailing the many fine spots to stop off at in this town, including the workshops of local potters, bookbiniders and other craftspeople. More actively, use Montreuil-Bellay as a base for Thouet for fishing and canoeing, or head off on horseback, foot or by bike on the region's marked trails. Within 15 minutes' drive, seeing the 100 or so species of the zoo at Doué-la-Fontaine makes for a smashing option for a day out, or if you're still craving cultural adventures you can reach world-famed Fontevraud Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 25 minutes' drive.