Janies Place Bed-and-Breakfast-Charente

The recently retored mill has a beautiful cafe serving superb lunches, teas, and patisserie either inside or on a shaded terrace beside the Charente. The river is a great spot to swim  (safe for children) you can enjoy a picnic on the grassy banks (with its array of trestle tables) fish for plump trout or simply go for a paddle to cool down on a hot day.

La Rochelle

A two-hour drive, with plenty to see and do.  The wonderful, glass-enclosed Aquarium has been stocked with 10,000 species of fish (including sharks!), and offers exhibitions, films and conferences.  Relax in Le Cafe de l'Aquarium with a panoramic view over the centre of La Rochelle, or have a walk through a jellyfish tunnel!

The pretty harbour and yacht marina is ringed with Napoleonic fortifications whose stonework is pockmarked with holes from musketfire.  The town has plenty of snazzy shops and restaurants with really inexpensively-priced superb seafood.  Go to the Ile d' Oleron for surfing, swimming and beautifully sandy beaches.   

Cognac

For golfers there are three 18-hole courses at Cognac, Royan, and Saintes, and if you like we can pre-book rounds for you.  Visitors to Cognac, an hour's drive, can arrange to visit the famous cognac houses and enjoy their hospitality tastings of fine wines and brandy.      

Poitiers

Only a forty-minute fast drive from here this ancient fortified town atop a hill with parts of the wall still standing, has a host of ancient buildings such as the magnificent 12th-century cathedral with fine frescoes, the Palais de Justice and Roman churches.  It's a great shopping centre and the maze of cobbled streets and squares offer a plentiful choice of restaurants.  

Angouleme

The road corkscrews up to the capital city of the region whose ancient stone ramparts encircle the hill on which it was built.  Countless pretty pavement cafes, restaurants and shops add to the attraction of the cobbled streets of the old quarter.   Annual hugely popular events include the International Cartoon Festival, music festivals and the annual vintage three-day car rally in September with the roar of old Bugattis, Bentleys and many more celebrated old cars filling the air.  Drivers wear period dress for the era of their car at one evening buffet, and the highlight on Sunday are the 'circuit des rampart' races (races around the old stone cobbled ramparts) which make this such a special event.  

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