In France’s most wooded region, hiking, horse-riding and cycling across the country trails, and motorbike rides through the countryside (we have a locked garage and have the biker-friendly “Motards, Bienvenue!” label) are all magical experiences.  In the heart of Franche-Comté, the small town of Valdahon is a thriving community of 5300 inhabitants with its numerous shops and services, swimming pool and medical centre. Moreover, it’s the ideal place from which to discover the villages of Doubs and Jura, plus their many lakes, rivers, mountains and forests.

Nearby: Visit Besançon, the dazzling regional capital listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Head to Pontralier, famed for its absinthe, plus Morteau, the centre of clock-making. Also see Baume-les-Dames abbey and Ornans, known as the Little Venice of Franche-Comté. Then marvel at the Vallée de la Loue, plus Haut-Doubs and its waterfalls in the Jura mountains. 10 minutes from our hotel is the Dino-Zoo and the Gouffre de Poudrey pit-caves. Plus, there are so many activities to do in summer or in winter, including hiking, white water sports, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing.