Evening Press picture editor MARTIN OATES finds plenty to do for all the family in France's 'Valley of the Kings'. He also manages to take a few pictures too...

The Loire valley, often called the Garden of France, was the destination for our family holiday - a trip which blossomed and grew into a most memorable few days.

With its meandering rivers, mild climate, lush green vineyards, fields of sunflowers, charming villages and picturesque towns, it is one of the most appealing regions of France.

Chateau of Usse: the inspiration for fairytale Sleeping Beauty

We stayed near the village of Ste. Catherine De Fierbois, which is situated 20 miles south of Tours, the capital city of Touraine, an area at the heart of the Loire Valley, famous for its historic chateaux and wonderful wines.

Our home was a spacious EuroSites mobile home at Le Parc De Firbois, a medium-sized campsite set by a lake in the grounds of a chateau. A perfect place to relax after the drive down from Calais, not the most direct route, but worth every one of the 342 miles, as once again we took advantage of the relaxed and speedy services of the Euro Tunnel.

Our daughter loved the site, taking full advantage of its many attractions, especially the tropical pool with waterslides, and the children's club which provided the opportunity to meet new friends.

The week-long holiday provided many memorable moments. One of the main ones being the eclipse of the sun, an eerie sensation as the birds went silent, and we viewed this rare phenomenon through a hazy sky. Although the perfect vantage point was the camp bar where stunning television pictures of the total eclipse were on offer and the only special glasses needed were those containing a nice, long, cool drink.

But for me, this momentous event was well and truly eclipsed by the even more stunning beauty of some of the magnificent chateaux which are just a short drive away.

Usse is a magnificent medieval castle which it is claimed inspired the story of Sleeping Beauty. Villandry is the last of the great renaissance chateaux built on the banks of the Loire. It undoubtedly owes its fame to the splendid terraced gardens, especially the kitchen garden which has nine squares of equal size but each with different geometrical patterns.

These squares are planted with vegetables of contrasting colours, which gives the impression of a multicoloured checker-board.

Visually the most exciting was the Chateau De Chenonceau, a remarkable building with its arched gallery spanning the River Cher.

These centuries-old structures stand in stark contrast to those at Futuroscope, a theme park about 40 miles south west of the camp site.

Known as the European Park of the Image, it is a vast complex of futuristic constructions hosting a variety of cinematography delights such as 3-D films, a 360 degree screen and the crystal shaped Kinemax which has the largest screen in Europe.

The high point of the visit was the unforgettable laser and fireworks show staged after dark which provided a spectacular climax to our visit.

This beautiful part of France is also known as 'Valley of the Kings' and it certainly provided us with a most regal holiday.

Accommodation:very good

Food:good

Value for money: very reasonable

Things to do:plenty for all the family

More information: The EuroSites brochure hotline number is 0870 608 1913

PICTURE: The inspiration for fairytale Sleeping Beauty