Envie d’un week-end pour se retrouver, se détendre, partir à la campagne ?
As a destination, the wonderfully bucolic and peaceful Vals de Saintonge is a great choice. Here are three inspirations for that ideal break.
Feel like a breath of fresh air and active things to do?
For a weekend of nature and activities, there are so many possibilities to choose from. Here are just a few:
Follow the bike itinerary Flow vélo and do all or part of the stage from Saintes to Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente; enjoy pedalling on the pretty country roads and along the banks of the Charente. Punctuate your journey with a few unusual visits – vary your pleasure and rest your legs!
Other ideas? Hire a canoe to paddle down the Boutonne from Saint-Jean-d’Angély; learn how to water-ski or wakeboard on the Charente at Taillebourg. Or even just a short jogging session or a long walk in a setting that’s been preserved – take lungs-full of clean, fresh air. You choose!
A thirst for exploration and culture?
Are you naturally curious and always looking for things new? Here are a few ideas to satisfy your desires.
Vals de Saintonge, traversed by one of the historic Ways of St James, hides an incredible Romanesque heritage. The church of Saint-Pierre d’Aulnay, shown on UNESCO’s Ways of St James of Compostella World Heritage site is a must-see.
The silhouette of the prestigious Abbaye Royale and its famous towers demonstrates the link between Saint-Jean-d’Angély and the Way of St James. With its maze of little streets lined with half-timbered houses from the Middle Ages and elegant private townhouses, its little triangular squares, this pleasant historic town has so much to offer.
Farther south is an invitation to a different type of exploration surrounded by vines. A fine way to immerse yourself in the universe of cognac and pineau des Charentes. A fun event at the Cep Enchanté in Macqueville, an initiation at the l’Ecomusée du Cognac in Migron, or even an exotic version at the Bambouseraie in Matha – an embarrassment of choice for learning about vine-growing, the secrets of distillation and tasting.
Or just lazing, seeking fresh ideas
Dreaming of a peaceful break, in the quiet of a pretty, natural environment. Here are a few ideas to set you thinking.
The villages along the banks of the peaceful, meandering Charente are privileged havens for winding-down. The village of Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente, labelled “Petite cité de caractère” and “Villages de Pierres et Eau”, exudes charm. The old quarter with houses beside the quays called “feet in the water”, troglodytic houses in the cliffs, the arts centre – this riverside halt will seem ideal.
Another idea is to visit the surprising Jardin de Gabriel at Nantillé, an extraordinary garden peopled with hundreds of astonishing life-sized statues of the famous or anonymous. They are the work of a self-taught sculptor. A listed Historic Monument site and a poetic universe – don’t miss it!
Lastly and unmissably, a stay in Saint-Jean-d’Angély for a slow, relaxing visit. The town filled with history is perfect for an exploration broken by short pauses on terraces in the sun to take full advantage of the moment. What’s not to love!
Our address book
The choice of accommodation is essential for the success of your getaway.
A tree house, a B&B in a former manor house, a hotel in town, a room with a spa or even a yoga workshop. Choose the address that suits you the best for your stay in Vals de Saintonge.