Le Village de Cottages

Le Pôle du Cheval et de l'Âne, an excellent centre for equestrian pursuits, is owned by the same people who run Le Village de Cottages. Activities here that may be of interest include standard riding lessons plus more unusual activities like donkey trekking and carriage riding. A short walk away and part of the same complex, there's also a horse-themed museum, maze and outdoor activity centre to explore. Up next are trips to some of the Berry region's many castles, with highlights including the handsome Château de Lignières (15 minutes' walk) and Château du Plaix (five minutes' drive). Equally attractive historic buildings are on show at the Prieuré d'Orsan, an attractive priory with well-tended gardens, plus the former home of George Sand (25 minutes), a much-loved 19th-century French novelist. When it's time for a turn around town, it's half an hour to Châteauroux, a medium-sized spot on the Indre river with a wealth of ancient fortifications and pretty medieval streets. Bourges (40 minutes) is easy to access too – the Berry region's largest city, it's home to the opulent Palais Jacques Coeur, an outdoor lido and the Jardins des Marais de Bourges water meadows.