The South West region of Poitou Charentes is claimed for being the second sunniest in France. Being offered here you will find a wide range of leisure and sporting activities and places of interest for the old and young alike. It is an area abundant in history and culture and for those who enjoy their food and drink, there is a superb range of local dishes and wines to savor. It is also a great place for a golfing holiday.

The Poitou-Charentes region in South-West France has recently been discovered by many families that are looking for a gite holiday in poitou charentes within an easy days drive from the Channel ports and with good rail and air connections.

With both La Rochelle and also the Ile-de-Re Charente Maritime is a very popular destination among both french and overseas visitors.

La Rochelle is usually a lovely coastal town just east of Ile de Ré and there are plenty of gites near la rochelle, as the Atlantic coast here includes some attractive (and very popular) islands such as Ile de Ré (and it’s major town at St-Martin-de-Ré) and Ile d’Oleron.

The classified ‘beautiful villages’ of Ars-en-Ré and La Flotte-en-Ré are one of the many villages on the island. Small island of Ile d’Aix, the fortified island where Napoleon stayed, is usually found just offshore.

Inland from La Rochelle the nearby towns at Marans and Surgeres also have some interesting features to educate yourself regarding.Continuing south along the coast in Charente-Maritime, visit Royan, a common seaside resort and 4* ville fleurie; the lovely resort and zoo at La Palmyre, a bit north from Royan; and also Meschers-sur-Gironde.

Inland just a little are Rochefort, a 17th century grand new town around an essential naval base; the ‘most beautiful village’ at Talmont-sur-Gironde; this town of Saintes; and the fortifications at Brouage.

The Charente River is usually explored, as it passes through miles of rolling countryside between Angouleme and Rochefort, and is popular with visitors wanting to view the landscapes of the region. To get a different water based experience head north to the marshy world of the Marais Poitevin around Marans within the north-east of Charente-Maritime.

To the north-east of Poitou-Charentes, the Deux-Sevres department is better known for the Marais-Poitevin, which falls partially in this department around Coulon.

(The Marais-Poitevin is really a large region of canals and marshes, best explored on the boat hired from one with the towns here).

The town of Melle is really a lively town best known for the ensemble of churches.Moving north from the department visit the medieval centre of Parthenay as well as the town of Thouars, to the south-east of Saumur.

Tags: gites, la, rochelle