The Local Area
(scroll down for photos)
There is so much to do in the Charente Maritime, ‘The second sunniest department in France’. It is a beautiful region with wonderful countryside, fields full of sunflowers and grape vines. Long white sandy beaches backed by fragrant pine forests, historic towns and villages, markets, châteaux, forests, walking, cycling, theme parks, and of course seaside resorts such as La Rochelle, Royan and the islands of Oléron, Aix and Ré. The Interesting Towns of Cognac and Angouleme are 40 minutes drive away.
There are several golf courses in the area, including La Rochelle (18 hole), Cognac (18 hole) and Menigoute (27 hole). Horse riding is available locally.
The ladies at the tourist office in St Savinien are particularly helpful.
Tourism websites of the area
vals de saintonge
Charente Maritime
The Leisure island of La Grenouillette 3 minutes walk away has a swimming pool, crazy golf, cycling, boating lake plus plenty of areas for picnics.
Beaches
There are many superb beaches the nearest at Fouras only 30 mins drive away, have a look at their website
One of the nicest beaches is chatelaillon-plage lots of info and pics on this site
Cognac
A beautiful town with parks and markets. Visit their website. There are three famous distilleries, Remy Martin, Hennessey and Martell. Here you can take a free-guided tour, taste the delicious Cognac and buy at a discounted price from the on-site shop. The town of Cognac is pedestrianised. There is good shopping, bars, cafés and restaurants.
Saintes
A beautiful Roman town with wonderful architecture, narrow streets with interesting shops and street cafes. It still has traces of it’s Gallo-Roman past such as the Roman Amphitheatre. The river runs through the town and there are some lovely parks, bars and cafés along the river. You can take boat trips down the lovely Charente River. website
St Jean d’Angely
Only 15 mins away. Excellent water park. 5 swimming pools, water slides etc. There is also canoeing, kayaking, pedaloes and fishing. Lovely old buildings and cobbled streets, lots of quaint shops, bars, cafés and restaurants. There is a market every Wednesday and Saturday morning. website
La Rochelle
Ancient walled port town with arcaded streets. Two towers overlook the old port. There is also a beach and an excellent Aquarium. This is the place for seafood, masses of restaurants line the harbour. A great place to have a meal and people watch. Street buskers will entertain you. The natural history museum is recommended. La Rochelle is a great place for boutique style shops. If you are there in July don’t miss the international music festival. website
Ile d’Aix
No cars on this island. You can hire bikes or just walk around this peaceful, beautiful place. There are plenty of little coves and beaches, and nice restaurants. Website
Ile d’Oleron
Accessed by a 2-mile long viaduct. A lovely day out, drive around the island and discover the pretty towns. Some truly beautiful beaches backed by forests. website
Ile de Ré
Miles of sandy beaches and small coves, good swimming and nice cycling. Where the French celebs go for their holidays.website
Rochefort
Good shopping and a nice town square where you can sip a drink or two! Good wildlife in the surrounding marshes. website
Royan
One of the largest seaside resorts of France, it is modern and very clean. You can hire sailing boats at the Marina and take a trip around the bay. Good boutiques. website
La Palmyre is beautiful website and has an excellent zoo website
Saint-Georges-de-Didonne
Great beach with dunes and pine trees. Nice for picnics. website
(scroll down for photos)
There is so much to do in the Charente Maritime, ‘The second sunniest department in France’. It is a beautiful region with wonderful countryside, fields full of sunflowers and grape vines. Long white sandy beaches backed by fragrant pine forests, historic towns and villages, markets, châteaux, forests, walking, cycling, theme parks, and of course seaside resorts such as La Rochelle, Royan and the islands of Oléron, Aix and Ré. The Interesting Towns of Cognac and Angouleme are 40 minutes drive away.
There are several golf courses in the area, including La Rochelle (18 hole), Cognac (18 hole) and Menigoute (27 hole). Horse riding is available locally.
The ladies at the tourist office in St Savinien are particularly helpful.
Tourism websites of the area
vals de saintonge
Charente Maritime
The Leisure island of La Grenouillette 3 minutes walk away has a swimming pool, crazy golf, cycling, boating lake plus plenty of areas for picnics.
Beaches
There are many superb beaches the nearest at Fouras only 30 mins drive away, have a look at their website
One of the nicest beaches is chatelaillon-plage lots of info and pics on this site
Cognac
A beautiful town with parks and markets. Visit their website. There are three famous distilleries, Remy Martin, Hennessey and Martell. Here you can take a free-guided tour, taste the delicious Cognac and buy at a discounted price from the on-site shop. The town of Cognac is pedestrianised. There is good shopping, bars, cafés and restaurants.
Saintes
A beautiful Roman town with wonderful architecture, narrow streets with interesting shops and street cafes. It still has traces of it’s Gallo-Roman past such as the Roman Amphitheatre. The river runs through the town and there are some lovely parks, bars and cafés along the river. You can take boat trips down the lovely Charente River. website
St Jean d’Angely
Only 15 mins away. Excellent water park. 5 swimming pools, water slides etc. There is also canoeing, kayaking, pedaloes and fishing. Lovely old buildings and cobbled streets, lots of quaint shops, bars, cafés and restaurants. There is a market every Wednesday and Saturday morning. website
La Rochelle
Ancient walled port town with arcaded streets. Two towers overlook the old port. There is also a beach and an excellent Aquarium. This is the place for seafood, masses of restaurants line the harbour. A great place to have a meal and people watch. Street buskers will entertain you. The natural history museum is recommended. La Rochelle is a great place for boutique style shops. If you are there in July don’t miss the international music festival. website
Ile d’Aix
No cars on this island. You can hire bikes or just walk around this peaceful, beautiful place. There are plenty of little coves and beaches, and nice restaurants. Website
Ile d’Oleron
Accessed by a 2-mile long viaduct. A lovely day out, drive around the island and discover the pretty towns. Some truly beautiful beaches backed by forests. website
Ile de Ré
Miles of sandy beaches and small coves, good swimming and nice cycling. Where the French celebs go for their holidays.website
Rochefort
Good shopping and a nice town square where you can sip a drink or two! Good wildlife in the surrounding marshes. website
Royan
One of the largest seaside resorts of France, it is modern and very clean. You can hire sailing boats at the Marina and take a trip around the bay. Good boutiques. website
La Palmyre is beautiful website and has an excellent zoo website
Saint-Georges-de-Didonne
Great beach with dunes and pine trees. Nice for picnics. website
