Castles in the Loire

MY six-year-old son is obsessed with princesses, castles and knights.

So in order to exorcise this fascination, at least in part, we took him to Disneyland Paris to see Sleeping Beauty’s castle.

He was mesmerised and even got to meet the golden-locked royal in person. But at the end of the day, it was just make-believe, Uncle Walt’s interpretation of a classic tale and his interest was far from sated.

Imagine his delight then when last year we travelled to the Loire Valley and there were castles and chateaux as far as the eye could see. Not only that, but we encountered knights in shining armour and all manner of pomp and pageantry. He was in his element and we weren’t far behind.

Our base for the trip was a little more modern than the historic buildings that surrounded us. Le Chateau des Marais, run by Eurocamp, is ideally situated if you want to get the most out of the region. A four-hour drive from Calais - suprisingly relaxed save for some madness around Paris - and close to the fabled city of Orleans, the site is lovingly maintained, with friendly, English-speaking, staff and no end of facilities. It was everything we had come to expect and more besides.

Our mobile home was clean and tidy and there was more than enough room between plots to ensure privacy. With the sun beating down more often than it was not, our eldest two spent many hours in the pool, playing in the playgrounds or at the activity clubs, while we tended to the baby or prepared the car for that day’s excursion.

There were several places to eat on site, including a restaurant that was a match for those in the local towns and villages.

However, our idea of a holiday is to get out and about and with so many places to visit in a relatively small area, every day was an adventure.

A stone’s throw away from site, is the impressive Chateau de Chambord. A world heritage site, constructed in the 1500s, it is set in huge grounds, part of which is home to the jousting knights of Le Roi Chevalier. An additional extra to the general entry fee, it is worth seeing if you have youngsters, but if you are on your own, I’d suggest spending more time viewing the breathtaking architecture and antiquities of the main building.

Were this the only building of its type it would make visiting the region memorable enough, but there are so many others that it is an absolute must for any history buff worth his salt.

Among them is perhaps the most famous structure of its kind, the Chateau de Chenonceau, an hour’s drive away. A 16th century construction, it spans the Cher. Reached via an almost endless avenue of trees, it is flanked by stunning gardens.

A walk through the rooms doesn’t do it justice, so I’d recommend doing as we did and take a boat ride along the river and marvel as you pass beneath its stone arches.

Architecture covered, we opted for an altogether different day out for our next trip. An hour’s drive away is arguably the finest zoo I have ever been to.

I’m a huge wildlife fan, and pick my zoos carefully, in the knowledge that not all have the animal’s best interests at heart. But I defy anyone not to be impressed by ZooParc de Beauval. It will take you a day to tick off all of the 4,000 exhibits, some of which are considered to be among the rarest in the world.

From savannah, to rainforests, to jungle and everything in between, you would be hard-pressed to think of something that was not there. What’s more, it’s all done with conservation at its very core The highlight for me was the bird of prey display which knocked all others I have seen into a cocked hat.

At some point I knew shopping would be on the agenda, but when the venue is the beautiful city of Orleans I’m prepared to relent.

We parked beneath the Gothic cathedral where I insisted on laying down on the pavement to gaze up in awe at its stunning exterior. It killed a little more shopping time, but eventually I had to give in.

However, walking around the city was far from the physical and mental drain I had anticipated, there was just so much that caught the eye, be it statues, ornate buildings or just the traditional wares on the market stalls.

Keepsakes bought, we retired to the central plaza and sat outside enjoying a well-earned meal and a cold beer as the sun went down.

Orleans is not a large city, as they go, but it still contrasted with our next discovery, the delightful town of Blois. The base for Joan of Arc’s Siege of Orleans, it is a quaint mix of shops, bars and restaurants and, as the moon rose over the Loire, made for some stunning photographs across the water.

All too soon we were at the end of our final day, but a stroll along the water’s edge, just minutes from our base, followed by a relaxing meal in the moonlight at Le Chateau des Marais provided the perfect way to finish our French adventure. Some might call it a fairytale ending, but for us it was all very real.

Eurocamp is the UK's leading European self-catering holiday operator, offering the widest selection of outdoor family holidays on parcs throughout Europe.

With a range of activities and age-specific kids' clubs, there's a large choice of accommodation, including mobile homes, lodges, modern chalets, bungalows, and fully equipped 'Classic' and 'Safari' tents.

A seven-night break from May 11, 2013 at Eurocamp's Le Chateau des Marais parc, staying in a two-bedroom Horizon mobile home which sleeps seven, maximum four adults, costs from just £229 for the family, accommodation only.

For further information on Eurocamp, please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk

SEAT of luxury

WE made our journey to France in a Seat Exeo ST.

With our family of three boys – one just a few months old at the time – we needed something that could cope with all but the kitchen sink, and the big SEAT didn’t let us down.

Based on the Audi A4, or the Avant in our case, the Exeo may not be a new kid on the block, but there’s plenty of life left in it yet.

Around town the steering is a little on the heavy side, but get out on the open road and it comes into its own. The miles simply breezed by and once we had left the British roads behind and were on the “smooth as a baby’s behind” French motorways our progression was almost effortless.

There’s plenty of room upfront and our children, the eldest aged nine, had no complaint about legroom in the back. The boot is not as large as some, but we didn’t find any problem in getting in of all our holiday must-haves.

The Exeo saloon is keenly priced, but the estate version demands a sizeable chunk more from your wallet. However, you’ll get a decent return from your tank. We averaged close to 50mpg, and on the motorway it seemed to sip fuel, even when loaded up.

Exeo ST, from just under £23,500 to £25,900.