Mid France - good places to rent a villa?

[Luciana123]

We are going to France in August and already have a villa to rent in Provence but would like to stay somewhere for a week beforehand to break up the car journey. Can anyone recommend somewhere which is not too touristy with plenty of nice villages / towns to visit and outdoorsy things to do? Not too off the beaten track though! Thanks!

I've been living in Roanne for a a couple of months and would recommend it. I live on a boat which is moored there for the winter, but had never heard of it before.

Big town/small city, gastro-heaven (fabulous farmers market several times a week, Halles Diderot to buy wonderful produce), university in centre, so has that "buzz" that college-age students give a place. Easy to drive out to beautiful small hill towns and villages.

I'm going to be quite reluctant to leave when the canals open again at the end of March!

The town tourist office has an English language website too, so check that out.