Places to Visit

Once you have settled in, you will find in each cottage plenty of information on the area, beaches and restaurants.  

In the village you can visit and purchase the local ‘aperitif’ of Pineau at the Domaine de la Rambauderie where Madame Boucher or her son will be pleased to help you. You can also buy the local Charentaise wine, red, rose or white or the local Cognac of different ages. In the next villages, St. Thomas and St. Bonnet there are smaller grocery stores, a poste office and boulangeries.  

Pole Nature de Vitrezay is a new nature reserve by the estuary, it's great for cycling and walking. There is also a new restaurant which is very good. It is also a part of Saint Sorlin de Conac.

Chateau Saint Sorlin also in our village where you can again purchase cognac and pineau, owned and run by M. & Mdm Castelnau. www.chateau-saint-sorlin.com 

Horse Riding. In St. Thomas de Conac, just the next village there is a local stable. Visit their website for tarifs and info. www.haras-st-thomas.com  

Beaches. The nearest is Mescher www.meschers.com  About 20 - 25 mins. Plage des Nonnes has a bar and restaurant on the beach. I can recommend it. There are many fantastic beaches at Mescher, St. George de Didonne, Royan or St. Palmyre all with cafés and restaurants nearby. All that sunbathing can be thirsty and hungry work.  

Swimming. There are swimming pools quite local. Mirambeau: only 10 mins away. Braud et Saint Louis: 10 mins (25 metre pool). Visit www.mairie-braud.com then click on entree du site in the bottom right hand corner. Then click on installations sportives for more info on the swimming, gym, tennis etc. There is also a gym nearby. Also not forgetting Jonzac which is detailed below. 

Moulin de Sap. Just a little way outside the village, there is fishing, pedaloes, boats and canoes, and for those who don’t wish to participate in that, then you can relax, have a beer and watch the world go by. In the evenings there is various entertainment, a B.B.Q, and music. Or if you don’t want the B.B.Q there is a wonderful restaurant.

Mortagne Sur Gironde. Is a superb port with restaurants and a café. Another place where you can relax and watch the world go by.

Golf. Excellent golf courses at Royan www.golfderoyan.com  Saintes, Cognac www.golfducognac.free.fr  & La Rochelle. The choice is yours.  

Walking or Cycling. Take in the wonderful scenery either by bike or foot. There are many wild flowers and birds to discover.

Fishing. In the local river or lakes near Jonzac as well as many others or there is always sea fishing at Royan.

Jonzac. Les Antilles de Jonzac www.mairie-jonzac.fr/les_antilles_de_jonzac.htm is a newly built indoor and outdoor swimming pool complex. Great for the kid, and not forgetting the adults, who will have just as much fun. There is also a weight room, sauna, steam room and beauty room.

Talmont. Visit the old village of Talmont where the church overlooks the estuary and the streets are lined with an abundance of hollyhocks. There is a creperie, restaurant and pizzaria and lots of quaint little gift shops.  

Cognac. Definitely a must. Visit the distilleries of Martell, www.martell.com  Remy Martin www.remy.com or Hennessy www.hennessy.com 

Boat Trips. Take one of the boat trips from Royan to the Cote de Beaute or along the rivers at Saintes.

Zoo at La Palmyre. www.zoo-palmyre.com This is a must. I can honestly say this is the best Zoo I have ever visited..

Of course, there are all the local Charentaise wines to try or just 10 minutes down the road you enter into the Gironde where you can then try or buy Cotes de Blaye or Bordeaux wines.

There are tourist information offices in most towns and some of the villages like Mortagne Sur Gironde in case if we have missed out any info in the bulging folders provided in the cottages.