The Area

The cottages are situated on the border of the Charente and Charente Maritime and well placed to give easy access to an abundance of attractions from picturesque countryside with rolling vineyards and woodlands to a spectacular coastline. The area boasts over 2,000 hours of sunshine each year and a micro climate to rival the South of France.

La Rose des Vents in the hamlet of La Tacherie is surrounded by vineyards and fields of sunflowers yet we are just 15 minutes (by car) to the historic centre of Cognac, great shops and a choice of restaurants to suit all pockets. Even closer is Matha (5 minutes by car) our local market town with a comprehensive range of shops, 3 supermarkets, restaurants, doctors surgery and pharmacy.

Check out www.infiniment-charentes.com to see what this area offers. Examples include:

Cognac -  wander through the ancient streets and visit the  great Cognac Houses for that all important tasting, enjoy a river trip on a historic "Gabare",   visit numerous museums and sites of Romanesque architecture or simply soak up the atmosphere at one of the many pavement cafes (www.tourism-cognac.com).

Explore Verteuil sur Charente with it’s magnficient chateau dominating the village and the medieval town of Tusson with it’s historic Abbaye gardens.

The Roman town of Saintes,  built in the 1st century and famous for its  amphitheatre is just half an hour away - here you can explore the Charente river by boat.

In medieval Pons, climb the 12th century keep for a breathtaking view of the surrounding valley.

Angouleme, famous for the Circuit des Remparts when the town reverberates to the sound of numerous Bugattis, is a town of architectural and historic interest, ideal for a stroll and lunch in the pedestrian streets within the walls of the upper town.

The Atlantic beaches are just under one hour away, and stretch from St Georges de Didonne to  Chatelaillon-Plage with its 2 miles of golden sands (the safest on the Atlantic coast) and brightly coloured villas to La Rochelle where you can visit the Vieux Port guarded by magnificent towers. Here you can linger in a quayside restaurant, or wander through the ancient arcaded shopping centre.

Royan is one of France’s leading seaside resorts, with its famous golden beaches and sheltered bays, drive along the Cote Sauvage, with it’s powerful breakers, lined with pine trees where you will find the Zoo de la Palmyre, the best zoo in France – it takes 3 hours to cover the 35 acres and see the 1600 species of animals.

Take the enormous toll bridge to the Ile de Re and wander through an unspoiled island of sandy beaches, whitewashed houses with brightly coloured shutters, gardens full of holly hocks and take in the atmosphere of the bustling harbours lined with cafes and restaurants.

In Rochefort visit La Corderie Royale built in 1666 to make the rigging for the great warships; the Maritime Museum and the dockyard where the Hermione, La Fayette’s frigate has been reconstructed.

Scenic runs are provided which will take you to the Dordogne where you can visit picturesque Brantome and its magnificent abbey and Aubeterre-sur-Drone one of the prettiest villages in France, with its steep lanes,tiered houses, and flower decked balconies. Here you can visit one of the most spectacular sites in the Charente –the 12th century church of St Jean with its 66’ underground nave.

Take the A10 motorway to visit the elegant 18th century city of Bordeaux, with it's famous theatres, museums, art galleries and a fantastic array of shops and restaurants (www.bordeaux-tourisme.com). (1 hr 30 minutes)

Or, for wine lovers take the ferry from Royan to visit the Medoc peninsula – here the roll call of vineyards reads like a well chosen wine list: Medoc, Saint Estephe, Paulliac, Saint Julien, Listrac,  Moulis and Margaux.

If you wish you can bring your cycles/ or hire them locally, to explore the gently rolling countryside and keen golfers can make use of the championship course just 15 minutes away at Cognac.