"Val de Creuse" Argenton-sur-Creuse by MikeBird

We had planned to stop here for just a few nights on the homeward stretch from the south up to Calais. In the end we stayed for 5 nights in a small, riverside campsite very near to Gargilesse-Dampierre which is south, and upstream, of Argenton-sur-Creuse.

We were fortunate with the weather which proved to be very hot allowing us to relax on the shaded stretches of lakeside beach of Lac Chambon. On the cooler, cloudier days my wife and I went off to explore the nearby Parc Régional de la Brenne - a really good find for nature lovers. From our campsite we could also wander up to Gargilesse and explore this popular, but nevertheless, quaint and picturesque village.

The scenery of the Creuse valley, whilst not stunning and dramatic, is still very attractive and the area provides the visitor with lots to do. Lac Chambon is a popular watersports facility with good, safe swimming areas in addition to the sailing and water skiing available for hire. La Brenne has superb wildlife watching opportunities and the numerous small villages and towns provide cultural and gastronomic diversions that are hard to avoid. As the area is next to one of the main north-south autoroutes of France it provides an excellent resting point for travellers with time to spare and explore.

• Pros:Great stopping off point
• Cons:Might be too quiet for some people
• In a nutshell:An interesting district away from the main tourist spots