Joie de Vivre 2 Bedroom Cottage (PM002465)

Local Area and Activities

'Charente Maritime'
"The Charente Maritime region has its own micro-climate and is said to be the second sunniest region in France after the Cote d'Azur with an average 2300 hours of sunshine a year! The area offers plenty of activities to suit all ages including, fishing, golf, horse riding, cycling, beaches, vineyards, zoos, cognac houses and many beautiful historic towns and villages. La Rochelle is the chic capital of the Charente Maritime and is a shopper's paradise with some excellent restaurants as well as being a haven for sailors with the largest marina in Europe. Poitiers is the home of Futuroscope, which offers a full day and evenings entertainment for all ages. Saintes is an historic town with a Roman amphitheatre and a beautiful cathedral; it also has a very good golf course. Rochefort is another historic city with much to see including the 'transpondeur' and the 'corderie royale'. There is also Ile de Re, home to the rich and famous and great for restaurants and cycling."

'Golf'
"Sports and leisure in the area include golf (18-hole courses in both Cognac and Saintes which are 30 minutes away), horse riding, fishing, tennis, canoe-kayaking (boats to hire at various places along the Charente in Cognac and Saintes) and more golf near La Rochelle. "

'Guest Review'
"Joie de Vivre is a charming, clean and modern cottage in a peaceful pastoral setting, a small farming hamlet. There is easy off-road parking adjacent to the cottage. Locally, there are many interesting walks and bike rides on the quiet roads and pathways. A particularly good bike ride is along the river path to the next town. The cottage is as described by the owners and the photographs reflect the style; clean, white and modern interior with splashes of colour. It is extremely well equipped to a very high standard. The kitchen has every modern convenience from cooking pots to food storage. Outside there is plenty of garden furniture to accommodate eating al fresco and relaxing in the shade or sun. The cottage also works well at night; the sitting area is extremely comfortable and well equipped with music system and tv/dvd. There is a wood burning stove but it was too warm during our stay to need to use. This is an excellent base for exploring the Charente Maritime area. The historic town of La Rochelle, beaches and the Ile de Re are all within easy driving distance. St Jean-d’Angely is the nearest town with a wide range of types of restaurants. It is a fascinating town, the narrow streets and alleys are ideal for lazy wandering whilst surrounded by historic buildings, markets, shops and bars. A visit to the local vineyards is an excellent introduction to the local drink “Pineau”. Well worth sampling. I can highly recommend the cottage and the location."

'La Rochelle'
"La Rochelle is the most attractive and unspoilt seaside town in France. Thanks to the foresight of 1970s mayor Michel Crépeau, its historic 17th to 18th century centre and waterfront were plucked from the clutches of the developers and its streets freed of traffic for the delectation of pedestrians. La Rochelle has a long history, as you would expect of such a sheltered Atlantic port. Eleanor of Aquitaine gave it a charter in 1199, which released it from its feudal obligations and it rapidly became a port of major importance, trading in salt and wine. La Rochelle is a wonderful place to spend a day or more. You can walk around the lively port and city walls, laze on the beach, visit fascinating museums or shop till you drop. The stunning new aquarium is not to be missed. "

'St Jean-d'Angely'
"The Charente Maritime has a beautiful coastline with many beach resorts, lovely ancient towns and attractive countryside full of vines and sunflowers. Medieval Saint Jean-d'Angely, the nearest town, has a big swimming complex, lively market and lovely restaurants. You can spend a day in fascinating La Rochelle, walk mile upon mile of unspoilt sandy beaches, explore markets and restaurants specialising in the local gastronomy, or enjoy lazy days cycling and picnicking in the rolling countryside, visiting the world-famous Roman and medieval architecture of Saintes and the 'Saintonge'. There is Europes largest zoo on the Ile d'Oleron, the large seaside town and casino at Royan and there are many beautiful places to visit - by bike or on foot - on the chic and fashionable Ile de Re. There is something for everyone, whether you like relaxing in the quiet countryside, exploring interesting towns or engaging in fun activities. Plenty of places to sample delicious local food and wines. "

'Things To Do'
"In a friendly hamlet near St Jean-d'Angely, surrounded by fields and a farm and near the pretty River Boutonne. Ideal for relaxing in the tranquil surroundings or touring lovely towns such as Cognac and Saintes. Beautiful La Rochelle is 40 minutes away and has beaches, a harbour, shops, museums and restaurants. Fouras, the nearest beach, is 30 minutes and there are 70 beaches within an hours drive. In an hour you can reach the Ile de Re, with its oyster beds, charming ports and miles of cycle tracks. Wide choice of restaurants, cafes, supermarkets and shops in St Jean-d’Angely and a lively market (Wednesdays and Saturdays). Children will love the aquapark at St Jean-d’Angely, the aquarium at La Rochelle, the zoo at La Palmyre and Futuroscope at Poitiers. Golf, horse riding, watersports, tennis and kayaking are available locally and there are distilleries for sampling cognac, Pineau-de-Charentes and local wines. Local activities including cycling, fishing, golf, horse riding, sailing, surfing, swimming, tennis, walking and windsurfing."