Poitou Charentes Region
This region is officially the second sunniest region in France next to the Cote d'Azur. The countryside is beautiful, lush and green in the summer months, there are plenty of rivers and lakes for those looking for water sports or fishing. There are any number of very well known golf courses in the area. For the more energetic, cycling and walking are very popular in the area, probably due to the refreshingly quiet roads. The coast and beaches at La Rochelle are around 45 - 50 minutes drive.
Just outside our village of Sanxay there is the "Roman ruins site" for which Sanxay is best known, it is walking distance from the house. The towns and cities nearby are all worth a visit.
Within 5 minutes drive or a short walk
- the swimming pool, boating and riverside walks in the village
- the Gallo Roman amphitheatre, baths and temple
- Château de Marconnay (to visit or to eat)
- tennis at Ménigoute
- horse riding at Puyavreaux
- Château de Curzay (for a special meal)
Under 15 to 25 minutes drive
- golf at Des Forges
- Lusignan, its castle ruins, small Wednesday morning market and macaroons!
- the Mouton Village at Vasles (23 breeds of sheep and cheese making)
- the famous prehistoric site at Bougon
- Rouillé market on a Friday morning
- UNESCO protected Romanesque churches and silvermine at Melle
- historic Poitiers
- the Saturday market at St. Maixent L'Ecole
About 45 to 60 minutes drive
- the Marais Poitevin ('Green Venice') - take bike or a boat ride
- the Donjon and town of Niort - also for go-karting
- the forest of Chizé and Zoodysse wildlife park
- the Baudet de Poitevine donkey National Stud at Dampierre sur Boutonne
- the historic port of La Rochelle and its aquarium
for a full day out the following are great places to visit.
- Futuroscope
- the Ile de Ré
- the Châteaux of the Loire
- the medieval fortress town of Chauvigny and
UNESCO protected frescoes at the Abbey of St. Savin-sur-Gartemp
- the Châteaux and magnificent pageants at Puy du Fou
Sanxay is on the western border of the Vienne (Departement 86) in the Poitou Charente, between Poitiers and Niort. We are 10 minutes from junction 31 on the the Aquitaine Highway (A10) joining Paris and Bordeaux.
By Car
Ferry crossings to any western channel ports
(St Malo, Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre)
St Malo is closest around 225 miles
Le Havre is further, about 275 miles which is serviced by LD lines (www.ldlines.com) who offer very competitive prices.
By Air
Several low cost airlines fly to nearby airports.
Poitiers is our nearest airport (15 miles away),
La Rochelle (35 miles away),
Limoges and Angouleme (87 miles away).
Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) | London Stanstead and Birmingham to Poitiers (March to October)
Dublin & London Stanstead to La Rochelle (March to October)
Liverpool, East Midlands & London Stanstead to Limoges
London Stanstead to Angouleme |
Flybe (www.flybe.com) | Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester & Southampton to Poitiers. |
EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) | Leeds/Edinburgh to La Rochelle |
Jet2 (www.jet2.com) | Gatwick/Bristol to La Rochelle |
Aer Arann (www.aerarran.com) | Cork to La Rochelle |