Just half an hour away is the Marias Poitivin, known locally as "Green Venice". A delightful area of canals and marshland approximately 100 000 hectares and the length from east to west, from Niort to the ocean, is 70 km.
Coulon , the nearest town is described as one of the most beautiful villages in France - "Les plus beaux villages de France", Coulon has a tourist information office and a number of boat hire companies and bicycle hire shops. Coulin is the home to the "Maison des Marais Mouillés", a museum dedicated to the history and formation of the Marais Poitevin.
Arçais. Smaller and less crowded than Coulon, this peaceful village with its whitewashed houses, colourful shutters and riverside gardens has been influenced by water transport for centuries. Located just over 20 kilometers west of Niort on the D115, the town has a tourist information office and a number of boat hire companies and horse riding centre.
St-Hilaire-la-Palud , is located in the wilderness section of the Marais Poitevin and is home to "les Oiseaux du Marais Poitevin", the ornithological park of the Marais Poitevin. The town has boat and bicycle hire and horseback trecks are also available.
St-Hilaire-la-Palud , is located in the wilderness section of the Marais Poitevin and is home to "les Oiseaux du Marais Poitevin", the ornithological park of the Marais Poitevin. The town has boat and bicycle hire and horseback trecks are also available.
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Dominating the centre of our nearest village Cherveux, (two miles away) is the Chateau.
Dating from the 12th century when it was a fortified mound it has grown over the centuries into a fortified and moated Chateau. In app. 1476 a Scot named Robert Cunningham built the Chateau as it appears today, although the ravages of time have removed parts of the building. It is listed as a 'monument historique'and guided tours by its present owner Francois Redien are available.
CHERVEUX, has a well provisioned village store a boulangerie,chemist,post office and hairdressing salon.
Dominating the centre of our nearest village Cherveux, (two miles away) is the Chateau.
Dating from the 12th century when it was a fortified mound it has grown over the centuries into a fortified and moated Chateau. In app. 1476 a Scot named Robert Cunningham built the Chateau as it appears today, although the ravages of time have removed parts of the building. It is listed as a 'monument historique'and guided tours by its present owner Francois Redien are available.
CHERVEUX, has a well provisioned village store a boulangerie,chemist,post office and hairdressing salon.
St. MAIXENT L'ECOLE
Our nearest town,dates from the 5th century.It has an ancient Abbey,church and 'old town sector',as well as a military museum.
There are some good restauraunts and bars, and four supermarkets to meet your shopping needs.
It has a tourist office on the main street where you can obtain local information and even book advance tickets for futuroscope
Our nearest town,dates from the 5th century.It has an ancient Abbey,church and 'old town sector',as well as a military museum.
There are some good restauraunts and bars, and four supermarkets to meet your shopping needs.
It has a tourist office on the main street where you can obtain local information and even book advance tickets for futuroscope
NIORT,a half an hour away by car, was originally a Gallo-Roman town called Novioritum. During the 16th and 17th cent. it was a stronghold of the Huguenots .Of the old fortress (12th-13th cent.), two huge towers remain; there are also several fine Renaissance buildings, including a town hall (16th cent.) and a church (15th-17th cent.) It has several fine restauraunts,and a good range of shops. Some bars and restauraunts face onto the large town square with pavement seating creating the very french 'cafe society' feel.
The Plan d'eau,only five
minutes away is a large lake with a long sandy beach.There is swimming and boating, a childrens play area and water slide,fishing and a bar restauraunt.The far side of the lake has a pine forest and there is a path all round the lake.
minutes away is a large lake with a long sandy beach.There is swimming and boating, a childrens play area and water slide,fishing and a bar restauraunt.The far side of the lake has a pine forest and there is a path all round the lake.
The Deux- Sevres is the next "departement" inland from the Vendee and below the Loire in the region of Poitou Charente,western France.
It is so called because of the two rivers running through it,the Sevre Nantaise in the north,and the Sevre Niortaise in the south,the summer climate is very simalar to that of the Mediterranean with long hot summers.
In the 12th century Poitiou Charente was a 'part of England' in that it was ruled by the Plantagenets.Count Henry of Anjou married Eleanor of Aquaitane and became King of England in 1154,their son was Richard the Lionhart.
Poitiou then became an english possession and established a 'Plantagenet' society with its own currency. Poitiou was taken back under the French Crown by Loius the IX in 1242.
The countryside is reminiscent of the south west of England,green fields bordered by hedges and dotted with woods,cattle and sheep grazing the lush green meadows...
The area is also famous for its huge variety of goats cheeses,and has a local speciality wine called 'Pineau',originating from monks who put wine into casks which had previously held cognac.
The capital city is Niort,an attractive city with good shops ,and a large indoor /outdoor market held twice weekly.
It is so called because of the two rivers running through it,the Sevre Nantaise in the north,and the Sevre Niortaise in the south,the summer climate is very simalar to that of the Mediterranean with long hot summers.
In the 12th century Poitiou Charente was a 'part of England' in that it was ruled by the Plantagenets.Count Henry of Anjou married Eleanor of Aquaitane and became King of England in 1154,their son was Richard the Lionhart.
Poitiou then became an english possession and established a 'Plantagenet' society with its own currency. Poitiou was taken back under the French Crown by Loius the IX in 1242.
The countryside is reminiscent of the south west of England,green fields bordered by hedges and dotted with woods,cattle and sheep grazing the lush green meadows...
The area is also famous for its huge variety of goats cheeses,and has a local speciality wine called 'Pineau',originating from monks who put wine into casks which had previously held cognac.
The capital city is Niort,an attractive city with good shops ,and a large indoor /outdoor market held twice weekly.
Only 20 minutes away the impressive ruined castle Coudray Salbart,set on a hill with six towers.Worth a visit at anytime,but a must for a week in August when the castle hosts a week of 'medieval'theatre ,with battle scenes,jousting, live play acting with the audience all dressed in suitable smocks(provided on entrance),food and drink,music and more..
