La
Rochelle and Ile de Ré
The wonderful west coast is just over an hour away from La Ferme
de l’Église, offering miles of beautifully un-spoilt
coastline and long sandy beaches. The jewel of the west coast is
the glamorous port of La Rochelle. There are chic bars and cafés
on the port-side. Boutique shopping is abundant and a vast array
of attractions and excursions are readily on hand.
A trip out to the Ile de Ré, reached by a new bridge from
La Rochelle is a must – with beautiful sandy beaches, 10
villages to explore and many restaurants, specializing in fish.
Marais Poitevin
Less than an hour away to the north is the stunning Marais Poitevin.
Simply while away the day on a punt or, for the more active,
cycle some of the hundreds of miles of towpaths lining the waterways
of this fantastic area of natural beauty.
Angoulême
With its labyrinth of narrow streets, beautiful old buildings and
lovely views from the ramparts, the lovely old town of Angoulême
is 45 minutes drive south. In January the town hosts Le
Festival International de la Bande Dessinée (Comic strip festival)
which is the rendezvous for the world's greatest comic strip
artists and scriptwriters. Each September it hosts a three day
event, Circuit des Remparts when historic cars gather for a long
weekend with a rally around the countryside on Saturday and a
full days racing around the ramparts on Sunday.
The Gastronomades
This November festival is both a gastronomic fair and an international
festival of flavours and aromas, where trade professionals promote
their gastronomic heritage and the public can discover the regional
products of the Charente.
Cognac
Also, to the south is the famous home of fine brandy, Cognac. This
stunning, historic town with its elegant Renaissance facades
and meandering cobbled streets is perfect to get lost in. It
is here that the fabled nectar has been created since the 17th
century and that the very air one breathes is permeated by the
heavy scent of spirits evaporating from oak casks held in storage:
this aroma is referred to as the angels’s share.
World famous firms such as Camus, Hennessy,
Martell, Otard, Prince Hubert de Polignac, Rémy-Martin,
Courvoisier, and Renault-Bisquit are located here; each distillery
has its own secret and unique process for mixing the various
blends of its eaux-de-vie. Join a guided tour to learn about
the double-distilling process that goes on in copper stills before
the ageing in oak barrels where the precious liquor will improve,
taking on its final bouquet and famous golden glow. Take a barge
or a small train and discover the history of cognac, its vineyards,
distilleries and museums which show you not only how it is made
but proudly display the oldest reserve of cognacs dating back
to 1830. Then how about a taste!
Poitiers
Poitiers has been the provincial capital since Gallo-Roman times
and as such, its architectural heritage is outstanding. The Chemins
de Notre Dame will guide you through ancient neighbourhoods as
you discover the city's historical treasures at your own pace.
Just follow the coloured lines on the pavements starting at Notre
Dame La Grande church, and read the informative signposts along
the way.
On these paths you will discover exceptional monuments such as:
Notre Dame La Grande church (11th–12th
Century) with fine Roman sculptures in the pure white stonework;
Saint Peter’s
Cathedral (12th–13th Century) with its
François Cliquot organ dating from the 17th century;
Saint-John’s Baptistery (4th–9th Century), the oldest
example of Christian architecture in France; The law courts (12th–14th
Century), one time home of the Counts of Poitou and the Dukes of
Aquitaine;
Saint-Hilaire’s
church is a World Heritage monument on the
pilgrim’s road to Santiago de Compostela;
Saint-Radegonde’s
church (11th–15th
Century) is one of the oldest in Poitiers.
And don’t forget to visit the Sainte Croix Museum and l’Espace
Mendès France.
To relax take a stroll around Blossac Park,
the Botanical gardens or the Promenade du Pré de l’Abbesse. Join a guided
tour – professional guides will enjoy sharing their knowledge
of the city’s 2000 year history with you.
Limoges
The Limoges porcelain sought by collectors today was actually produced
by a number of factories in the Limoges region of France from
the late 1700s until around 1930.
In Limoges you can also visit many Porcelain factories, show-rooms,
factory shops and private factories museums, including the famous
Haviland Factory and Collection, Bernardaud, Carpenet, Deshoulières,
and Royal Limoges factories.
Belle Floral Garden
In 6 hectares of enchanted vales on the banks of the river, Belle
offer a wealth of flowers, shrubs, flower beds and plants in
any season. Stroll along the paths, lined with ancient trees
to enjoy the hundreds of different flora. Enter a typical 19th
century Poitou manor house and see how the lord lived through
the recently restored: oven, greenhouse, washhouse, lord of the
manor's quarters, priest’s garden, and ornamental vegetable
garden. This garden houses more than 20,000 plants, many trees
and different varieties of flowers.
The lower meadows and glade are landscaped, which enhances the
woods and naturally damp areas of the gardens. There are temporary
and permanent exhibitions, and themed weekends, for example orchids,
horticultural fair, roses, autumn scents.
There’s a large playing area and a small farm with domestic
animals. There’s also an on-site restaurant.
Don’t miss the Château de la Roche or Gençay
and its medieval château. |
