The Charente offers something for everyone — whether you want to spend your days exploring, eating, cycling, or simply doing nothing at all. Here are some of our favourite ways to fill a week (or more) from La Petite Gémarie.

Historic Towns & Chateaux

Verteuil-sur-Charente is just a short drive away — a stunning riverside town with a fairytale chateau, stone bridges, and excellent restaurants. It’s the kind of place where lunch easily becomes an afternoon.

The Chateau de La Rochefoucauld is one of the oldest in France and well worth a visit, especially when events and exhibitions are running. The cobbled streets of Poitiers offer a bigger-city day out, with centuries of history around every corner.

For a more sombre but profoundly moving experience, the WW2 memorial village of Oradour-sur-Glane is within reach and offers an important piece of France’s wartime history.

Food, Drink & Markets

This is a part of France that takes food seriously. Local markets are a highlight — fresh produce, cheese, charcuterie, and baked goods that make self-catering feel like a privilege, not a compromise.

The town of Cognac is an easy day trip, and no visit would be complete without a tasting at one of the famous cognac houses. Pineau des Charentes — the region’s signature aperitif — is another discovery you’re likely to bring home with you.

Walking & Cycling

Signposted walking and cycling routes start virtually from the front door. The rolling countryside, sunflower fields, and quiet lanes make this a cyclist’s paradise — whether you’re out for a gentle morning ride or covering serious distance.

Walkers will love the trails around Pougé, where the sunsets over the fields are worth planning your evening around.

ℹ️  Link to bikemap.net cycle routes here as on the current site.

Water & Outdoor Activities

If you fancy a swim or something more active, Base Canoë-Kayak de Ruffec Rejallant is about 15 minutes away, offering kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming — plus a waterside restaurant for afterwards. There are also beautiful natural swimming spots for a quieter dip and a picnic.

Nature & Wildlife

You don’t need to go far to see extraordinary wildlife. Hoopoes, golden orioles, and a dazzling variety of butterflies are regular visitors to the garden. The surrounding meadows and woodland are rich with wildflowers and birdsong — bring binoculars if you have them.

Nanteuil-en-Vallée

Your nearest village is a destination in its own right. Nanteuil-en-Vallée is on the French national list of most beautiful small towns, and a gentle stroll from the cottage brings you to its stone houses, ancient abbey ruins, and a genuine sense of a France that hasn’t changed in centuries.

ℹ️  Each section above should ideally have one strong landscape-orientation photo alongside it. Use the best existing photos matched to the right section, rather than displaying all of them in a single gallery.