Camping Vert Bord'Eau

History buffs will be particularly well served round here: the spectacular former home of Toulouse-Lautrec, Château Malromé, is a 40-minute drive from base; the impressive Château de Cadillac (a ducal house and, later, a women’s prison) is 35 minutes away, and the moated Château de la Brède, the medieval Château Roquetaillade, the royal Château Cazeneuve and the ruined Château Villandraut are all handily with 30 minutes. Not au fait with castles? Maybe if the visit comes with some vin, it’ll be more of a draw… If oui, try the tour and tasting at Château Yquem (25 minutes away) or turn backs on châteaux altogether with a trip to the towering Collegiale Notre Dame d’Uzeste, 15 minutes from base. Well-timed stays may make Uzeste doubly appealing, as it’s also the location of a jazz and musical improv (and poetry, and theatre, and literature) festival. If that doesn’t hit the right note, perhaps Musicalarue – a three-day event in Luxey, 20 minutes from the site – will better fit the bill. Of course, sometimes all a holiday requires to be perfect is time spent splashing about... the nearest sandy stretches are an hour from base; more controlled watery days can be had at two waterparks within the same distance, and the five Hostens lakes are even closer (15 minutes) for non-salty swims.