But first a bit of history. Back in the late 1950s George Pilliet urged chateau owners to allow camping on their estates as a way of preserving their family heritage. So the Les Castels camping chain was started. And very good it is too. Most of the major holiday companies have pitches at the green and spacious Le Sequoia Parc. We booked through Thomson Al Fresco and had one of our most relaxing stays ever.

Berets.

The park's chateau is not open to the public but is a fantastic focal point. Next door is a large courtyard I supped a cider and Fiona enjoyed a full glass of Bordeaux wine or a coffee while the boys were happy at play. And they were never short of things to do. Besides the play area, the site has three swimming pools for people of all ages plus water slides and a lazy river ride for mum! There are also stacks of sun loungers to dry off on once the kids have finally tired of dragging dad on all the slides. There are tennis and volleyball courts, football pitches and an area for pétanque -the French version of bowls. Berets are optional You can also hire bikes on site to cycle along the paths - or even ventures into the countryside. Our boys loved the pedal-powered go-karts. And they didn't get as far as the two children's clubs that run every morning till midday - one for four to seven year olds and another for the eight to 12 age group. For meals, we chose self-catering some nights and eating out on others. There's a well-stocked supermarket on site with everything you could need, including the obligatory croissants.

But the boys also enjoyed pizza from the takeaway bar - or a sit-down meal at Le Carrousel restaurant set in an old wine barn where the well-priced fare won't blow a hole in your wallet. After a few days of sunning ourselves by the pool it was time to explore the area. The nearest town Marennes, just a 10-minute drive away, is famed for its oysters and satisfies 60 per cent of the demand in France. The Church of Saint-Pierre de Sales is worth a visit, if only to climb the 295 steps to the top of the Gothic bell tower. I can still feel the pain in my legs but it was worth it for the views. There are some great cafés and a couple of hypermarkets so you can get all your supplies in one go. We also enjoyed a drive out to Ile d'Oleron. This is France's largest island apart from Corsica, and is easily accessible across the road bridge. It's a favourite for holidaymakers and locals alike, with its long sandy beaches. But don't get there too late, as the parking spaces soon fill up.

Cognac

We ended up at the Plage des Saumonards on the east coast which looks out to sea at Fort Boyard, made famous by the Channel 5 TV gameshow. fronted by Melinda Messenger. The fort was built in the early 1800s to protect the town of Rochefort from the Royal Navy. But the Napoleonic Wars finished before it was completed ' making it all but redundant. Towards the end of our break we drove to the beautiful city of Saintes on the La Charente river. It's well worth a visit to check out ruins of Les Arenes, a Roman amphitheatre, plus the impressive Arch of Germanicus. Slightly further afield is the town of Cognac, famed for its brandy and the big name distilleries such as Martel and Courvoisier. Most offer full tours, and you can get good discounts by buying direct.

Zoo

After all this culture, the boys got there own way again with a trip to the zoo at La Palmyre. All the favourites are there, lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, plus there's a large reptile house with all those slippery and scaley things! Then it was back to the holiday site and the swings. With so much to do we couldn't go wrong. One thing's for sure: you'll never get bored in Bordeaux.

FACTFILE:

Thomson Al Fresco offers seven nights at Le Sequoia Parc starting from £326 for two adults and up to four children. Or 14 nights starting from £487. All prices are based on accommodation in a Vivaldi mobile home and a midweek Channel crossing with P&O Ferries, based on May 11- 24 departures. Prices start from £1,078 for seven nights or £1,792 for 14 nights based on August 17-24 departures. Thomson also offer luxury mobile home holidays to Spain, Italy, Holland, Portugal and Croatia. Call 0870 166 0366 or visit the websiter at www.thomson alfresco.co.uk
TopTips
Don't forget your Speedos! The French prefer them for hygiene reasons. They claim swim shorts worn as streetwear before entering the pool may be dirty. Check your maps before setting off. The road signs in France are worse than at home! On your way to Bordeaux, stop at Futuroscope near Poitiers. The science theme park features some amazing exhibits.