Discovering the Local Area – Deux Sèvres
The area around La Charrière is quiet countryside dotted with villages and towns, where one can enjoy life at a slower pace. Take a drive for a pleasant day trip to the beaches along the Western coast in the La Rochelle area, or discover the more famous chateaux of the Loire to the east. Or there’s plenty to do and see more locally …
Local:
Argenton Les Vallées is the nearest town (5 mins drive) and has all basic necessities including bakery, bank, small supermarket, and a small market every Thursday. There is also a large, open-air swimming pool, tennis courts, and a lake where you can hire pedalos or walk. The meandering streets of the town make for a very pleasant afternoon stroll, and there is an excellent and affordable lakeside restaurant open all year round for lunches and dinner.
Bressuire is a 15 minute drive and offers a more than adequate selection of supermarkets, restaurants, a town centre market every Tuesday and some wonderful patisseries! There is a ruined chateau here and there is no charge to walk around the ruins. Nearby, a childrens’ play park and picnic area make this a good spot for a family outing.
Local vineyards offer wine tasting all year round – we are happy to recommend the best places for a ‘degustation.’ Try one or two different wines, and buy bottles direct from the producer.
Horse riding is available locally for very reasonable day rates. The local equestrian centre will take beginners for lessons, as well as offering riding days for the more competent.
Go-karting at the International Karting Circuit (10 mins drive away) is available seasonally, and is very popular.
Canoeing – with three rivers converging at Argenton Les Vallees, this is a great spot for an afternoon on the water.
Golf – There is a new 18 hole golf course at Bressuire, www.golfbressuire.fr and another at Cholet (40 mins away).
Further Afield:
Montreil-Bellay is a charming town, half an hour’s drive away, set by the river. There is an excellent chateau to visit, offering tours in English. Picnic by the river, and view the ancient medieval town walls.
Rochmenier is half hour’s drive away. The old Trogolodyte village is well worth a visit, as are the cave homes, which are preserved as a museum – fascinating for all ages.
Doue La Fontaine is a half hour’s drive away, and is a pretty town, boasting a fantastic, family-friendly zoo, www.bioparc-zoo.fr along with great creperies in the square, and a beautiful rose garden on the outskirts.
Villandry is a beautiful chateau with breath-taking gardens that are famous throughout the world. (one and a half hour’s drive). www.chateauvillandry.com
Fontevraud has an abbey with amazing architecture, famed for being the burial place of Richard the Lion Heart, and full of French and English history. www.fontevraud.fr
Puy du Fou is a medieval style theme park, with jousting displays, falconry, and a spectacular sound and light show – the biggest in Europe. Advance booking is required. www.puydufou.com/en
Futuroscope is just over an hour’s drive to Poitiers, and is well worth a visit. It’s the thinking man/woman/child’s answer to Disneyland, with lots to see, try, and discover. www.futuroscope.com
Saumur, Angers, Chinon – these famous French chateaux towns are all just over an hour’s drive away. Each is brimming with history and a variety of things to see and do; museums, mushroom farms and art galleries to name but a few!
