Eating Out

'Chez Andree - Parthenay'
"A fantastic place to have a traditional long lazy French lunch offering 4 or 5 courses at very reasonable prices. "

'Dynamic Club - Le Tallud'
"Inexpensive menu of the day. 4 courses with wine for around 10 Euros. "

'La Citadelle - Parthenay'
"A typical bistro in the medieval quarter with chalk boards and bustling atmosphere. Lovely local food and fine wines."

'La Truffade - Parthenay'
"Authentic Auvergne cuisine served among photos of the region, cow bells and famous Laguiole knives - go hungry!"

'Le Bong Lai - Parthenay'
"Can't resist some Asian food, this Vietnamese restaurant boasts all the old favourites from your Chinese at home but far less stodgy."

'Moopy's Bay - Parthenay'
"Fancy a pizza or main course salad, this is the place to go. They also do a good slection of steaks, pasta and burgers."

Local Area and Activities

'Cognac'
"If you are a lover of fine brandy, what better place to explore. You can take a tour round one of the great distilleries such as Hennessy, Martell and Remy-Martin. Or you can tour the town itself taking the small tourist train."

'Futuroscope'
"You could spend more than 1 day exploring all the attractions this futuristic universe has to offer. The shows give visitors a chance to enjoy breathtaking, unique adventures on land, sea and in space. A great place for young and old alike."

'Ile de Re'
"A long narrow island some 30km long, fringed by sandy beaches to the south west and salt marshes and oyster beds to the north west. The island is connected to the mainland at LA PALLICE, a surburb of La Rochelle, by a 3km long toll bridge. "

'La Foret de l'Aventure'
"A great place for children with rope ladders and all sorts of activities high up among the trees. They also have mini-golf and there is go-karting across the road."

'La Rochelle'
"Explore this costal town with fortified port and hidden streets lined with arcades. La Rochelle is popular with painters and is often described as the most attractive and unspoilt seaside town in France."

'Le Puy du Fou'
"By the day, the museum evokes the entire past of the Vendee region, while various attractions lure visitors into the 30 acres of grounds. During the summer evenings, an amazing lakeside extravaganza takes place, the famous Son et Lumiere show in which a cast of hundreds stages an open-air historical pageant complete with fireworks, lasers and dances on the lake."

'Marais- Poitevin '
"Venise Verte - Green Venice. A strange lazy landscape of meadows and fens criss-crossed by an elaborate system of canels, dykes and slow-flowing rivers. The best way to experience this wet marsh is on a boat trip or hire your own boat. Alternatively, you can take the miniature train from Coulon."

'Mazieres-en-Gatine Golf Course'
"A beautiful golf course, rarely busy. It has an 18-hole course, a 6-hole par 3 course, a driving range and practice putting area. The club house is an old chateau with a bar and restaurant serving French cuisine at reasonable prices."

'Parthenay'
"Parthenay is rich in medieval and Romanesque architecture. An ideal place for meandering round the local shops, take a coffee or drink in one of the many local cafes/bars. The River Thouet is a relaxing place with lots of pathways, seating areas and childrens play areas."

'Pescalis'
"For the serious fisherman, this is Europe's premier fishing complex with more than 250 acres of lakes."

'Secondigny'
"This small town has a beautiful lake with a small sandy beach, childrens play area and a lido centre. Pedaloes can be hired in the summer months. A bar/restaurant overlooks the lake and there are also many picnic tables under the trees. Across the road is a forest with hiking and cycle paths."

Markets and Shopping

'Coulonges sur l'Autize'
"Tuesday morning market where you can buy lovely fresh local produce and superb seafood."

'Niort'
"A great town for shopping with beautiful shops where you will find all the French designer labels at prices much lower than on the boulevards of Paris."

'Parthenay'
"Local market every Wednesday morning and a good opportunity to sample the local produce and maybe buy some cheese and wine for a picnic on the banks of the River Thouet. "