Things to Do /Places to Visit

There are so many things to do and see in this corner of France, easily accessible from La Charronnière, that you will be spoiled for choice!  From cycling to canoeing, from horse-riding to golf, from car racing to microlight flying, from Futuroscope to La Rochelle’s Aquarium, from Cognac to Poitiers – what to choose?  You could even take a day trip to Paris by train!  We hope the links below will pique your interest, and visits to the local tourist offices will give you even more options.

Vienne Tourism:

• http://en.tourisme-vienne.com.  This site is full of interesting information about things to do and see in Vienne.               

On site at La Charronnière:

• Swimming pool
• Outdoor Badminton
• Ping Pong
• Boules
• Board Games
• Croquet
• Walking
  and don't forget to bring your bikes, we are in excellent cycling country.

Restaurants:

• Restaurant/Bar de la Poste, Couhé
• Melkin's Bar/Pizzeria, Couhé
• Auberge du Chène Vert, Couhé
• Auberge du Village, Blanzay
• Edna's Bar/Restaurant, Voulême, approx 20 mins.
• l'Escargot, Ruffec (just off RN10) - buffet, plat du jour, dessert. Haunt of the local Gendarmes and Pompiers!
• La Toque Blanche, Ruffec, a site associated with the "Cockleshell Heroes" of WWII
• The Lemon Tree, Sauzé Vaussais - English lunches and teas. Lovely home made cakes.
• Le Clovis, Sauzé Vaussais
• La Bergerie, Civray - on the main square.

Markets:

• Chaunay: Monday morning (small)
• Lezay: Tuesday morning (large including livestock)
• Sauzé Vaussais: Thursday morning
• Civray : Tuesday (large) and Friday (smaller) mornings
• Couhé: 2nd Wednesday of every month and the 1st, 3rd and 4th Thursdays of every month
• Cognac & Angoulême: every day
• Ruffec: every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Locally:

• NEW for 2010 - FFTA Archery Club in Charroux, approx 30 mins' drive via Civray.  See www.archers-du-coeur-de-lion.org for details
• Microlight flying - Aerodrome at Couhé: Nouvel Air http://www.nouvelair-ulm.com/  (approx 10mins drive away).
• Race Track – Val de Vienne Race Track, Le Vigeant: www.circuit-valdevienne.com (approx 45mins drive away).
• Fishing at the lake at Brand de Belle Aire, Sommière de Clain (approx. 20 mins pretty drive), dawn to dusk, full English Breakfast and snacks.  Contact John Louch.
• Horse Riding at Lezay: http://www.loup-garou.fr/  
• La Vallée des Singes, Romagne: a delightful open park where the monkeys are virtually free; very few fences to be seen.  A lovely day out about 20 minutes from La Charronnière.  www.la-vallee-des-singes.fr
• Parc de la Belle, Magné: beautiful gardens set around a 19th century residence including a playground and miniature goats to delight children.
• Zoodyssée, Villiers en Bois:  a zoo in a park. http://www.zoodyssee.org/    
• L’Ile aux Serpents, La Trimouille: over 30 species of reptiles and snakes www.ileauxserpents.com

Further Afield:

• Canoeing and kayaking on local rivers and at Riberac: http://canoriberac.free.fr/le_riberacois.htm
• Fishing centre: Base de Loisirs d’Ayron, Fleix – see Vienne Tourism link above       
• Horse Riding: Forêt de Moulières Riding Centre, Liniers http://www.mouliere.com/; Du Chène Riding Centre, Fleix, Tél: 05 49 37 26 48; Equitation Madrix, Villetoureix 05.53.90.03.53
• Golf: Club de Golf Chateau de Forges, Méningoute; Club de Golf Manoir de Beauvoir, Mignaloux nr Poitiers
• Swimming: wave pool and sailing lake at Nautilis, Angoulême: http://www.agglo-angouleme.fr/index-module-orki-page-view-id-50.html 
• Motorbike and classic car racing at Le Vigeant; programme of events from April to October; open days- http://www.circuit-valdevienne.fr.  Ferraris welcome!!
• Route de la Liberation - 12 WWII sites around the region.  History of the occupation andResistance activity nearby. 2 memorials in Chaunay with a plaque near the Resistance memorial showing the map of the Liberation route.
• Poitiers old town centre restaurants and shopping
• Futuroscope: theme park of the moving image: http://uk.futuroscope.com/  
• Angoulême Ramparts
• Cognac town and distilleries – the Remy Martin tour is recommended http://www.remy.com/remy_site/classic/cognac_tour/arrange.html
• La Rochelle old port, walled town, botanic gardens and wonderful seafood restaurants
• La Rochelle Aquarium (recommended) http://www.aquarium-larochelle.com/          
• Paris by train: TGV from Ruffec or Poitiers under two hours – make a day trip.
• Seaside at La Rochelle and Chatelaillon-Plage (under 2 hours).