La Vendange Child friendly gites: Examples of some great family destinations in the local area

For a "top 30" list of family friendly places to visit in the area please click below (external web links provided where possible): See and Do with kids (top thirty)

The local area:

Within about 15 mins drive of the property:

Matha has a weekly market, four supermarkets, several boulangeries, banks etc. and a couple of good restaurants. There is a park and a couple of nearby tourist attractions: the "enchanted vineyard" (a kind of theme park for local viticulture ) and the Neuvicq chateau

Aulney is an ancient market town full of history with a bastion and a very famous 12th century church (a main stop off for the pilgrims en-route to Santiago de Compostelle). There is a good pub and restaurant in the town square.

St. Jean D'Angely is a medieval town whose abbey towers dominate the skyline. St. Jean has a popular Saturday market and a good selection of restaurants as well as several great pubs. There is also "Atlantis", a large indoor swimming complex with multiple leisure pools and a huge slide.

Within about 30 minutes drive of the property:

Cognac is most famous for its distilleries (all provide tours during the Summer months) but it also has a great park (with a huge children’s playground) on the banks of the Charente river. Cognac also has a large cobbled pedestrian area with shops, cafes and restaurants from the river right up to the town centre.

St.Savignan is also on the Charente and has a park with a famous boating lake where you can hire electric boats: each boat takes one adult and one child and every one are unique. Near to St. Savignan is Chateau LaRoche-Corbonne (see photo) which is open daily during the summer months.

Saintes was originally a Roman settlement and is steeped in history. The roman amphitheatre holds free "spectacles" during the summer and there are Roman thermal baths nearby. Saintes has a large market and is a centre for boat trips up the Charente river. Some trips go to the wonderful "Moulin de la Bain" restaurant; a picturesque 17th centaury mill which straddles the river (see photo above right).

Within about one hour drive is a large stretch of the Charente Maritime coast: La Rochelle, Isle d'Oleron, Isle de Re, Royan, and St. Georges de Didonne.

The zoo at LaPalmyre (near Royan) has won many awards and is very popular with children of all ages.

The aquarium at La Rochelle is also very popular with young children.

The oysters of the area around Isle d'Oleron are world famous and remarkably inexpensive (see "local area" section.

The Marais de Poitevin near Coulon is a huge complex of woodland canals where you can take a Picnic and hire a punt for an adventure of exploration.

Angouleme is a historic town with a dramatic situation. The town is popular for its many festivals (including a gourmet food festival, comic book festival and vintage car festival). There is also a good weekly market ad a popular chocolate factory nearby.

Further a field:

Futurascope, a theme park near Poitiers is about 1.5hrs drive.

Bordeaux, St.Emillion and the surrounding chateaux and vineyards are also about 1.5 hrs drive.

The Charentaise beaches are many and varied: this one just South of St. Georges de Didonne has caves and rock pools.

The electric boats at St. Savignan are fun for kids and parents alike !

Boat trips on the Charente river (destination: Moulin de Bains restaurant)

The stunning (and inexpensive) "Moulin de Bains" restaurant

Château Roche-Corbonne, near St. Savignan

The Roman Amphitheatre at Saintes is a unique venue for shows during the summer (often free).