Out and about, so much to do .....

The traditional little hamlet of la Petite Breuille is situated right in the heart of the unspoilt and gentle rolling hills of the beautiful Charentaise countryside, famous for its micro-climate of long, warm, sunny, summer days. We are surrounded by farm and woodland and there are plenty of lovely walks and cycle rides direct from the property.

The Charente offers an exciting variety of activities and trips to suit all members of the family. We have some of the most beautiful chateaux to explore and stunning lakes with perfect sandy beaches, sailing and windsurfing, lots of rivers for canoeing down, caves to explore, horse riding, golf, cycling and walks in the woods.

Chasseneuil sur Bonnieure

We are within easy reach (3 miles) of Chasseneuil sur Bonnieure, a traditional French market town, where there is a small market every Wednesday and Saturday. Enjoy the delicious local produce at the boulangerie-patisserie and charcuterie, or just sit and have a coffee whilst watching the world go by in the shadow of the 14th century church. There are also several lovely restaurants here covering all tastes and budgets.

La Rochefoucauld

La Rochefoucauld is a charming old chateau town with some charming shops and restaurants, one of which is at the foot of the gorgeous chateau overlooking the river. The chateau itself is a fun day out for all the family with some fascinating history, entertaining exhibits and a whole room full of dressing up for everyone!
chateau-la-rochefoucauld.com

Angouleme

Angouleme is just 20 minutes away and is a beautiful university city. Set at the top of a hill and surrounded by ancient ramparts, the city offers great shopping and has some of the best restaurants in the Charente, not to mention the numerous pavement cafés which allow you time to just sit and watch the world go by.
Angouleme is also host to an exciting weekend event each September with  vintage street car racing around the ramparts.
circuit-des-remparts.com/ 

Eating out

We have a wonderful selection of restaurants in the area; everything from a basic friterie through some charming family friendly restaurants to a choice of some very special restaurants, offering the chance to have a date night using your free night babysitting and a lift there.

Although too many to  list them all, here are a few of the restaurants within a short drive to give you a flavour of what is on offer.

Le Bonnieure – “This is a lovely family friendly restaurant with simple but excellent food and a welcoming atmosphere. Beautiful garden for warm summer evenings and plenty of space for small people to wander and play on the garden toys.” 

Brasserie ‘Le Bistro’ –“A bar and restaurant with simple food, all homemade – we love the burgers here. They serve food all day so a handy place to stop if you are running late for lunch or you want somewhere to take the kids for an ice cream or early supper.”

Pizzeria Sourire – “Delicious oven baked fresh pizzas and a small selection of other dishes, a simple but cheerful restaurant, good for the kids.”

Au Moulin du Chateau -“This place is worth a visit if only for the stunning terrace here beside the river, simple food, steak, salads and crepes. They also have a pot of something delicious burbling away on the open fire.”

L’Intemporel – “This restaurant is based just at the foot of the chateau in La Rochefoucauld and has a beautiful riverside terrace. It is a perfect place for a grown-up meal.  If fish is your thing then you will be delighted with the delicious and exquisitely presented food.”

Grange aux Oies at Le Chateau Nieuill – “A truly wonderful eating experience, set in a beautifully converted barn in the grounds of the stunning Château Nieuill, both the food and the service are first class.”

Local markets

If visiting markets to find local produce and artisan goods is a must for your holiday here in France, then we have a wonderful selection of markets. the local town of Chasseneuil has a small farmers market on a Wednesday and Saturday where you can pick up lots of lovely fresh ingredients.

Throughout the area there are larger weekly and monthly markets and a regularly updated list of these is available in the house information book.
www.jours-de-marche.fr/16-charente/

Lake and coastal beaches

You have the choice of some beautiful lake beaches (that are about 20/30 minutes from the property) most of which offer sandy beaches, play areas, cafés and water sports or, alternatively, pick one of the many coastal beaches at Royan and La Rochelle (under 2 hrs away).
There is also canoeing for all ages at Mansle, Ruffec and Montbron.

Vallée des Singes

An exciting attraction for the whole family is Vallée des Singes (Monkey World), a fantastic park with over 400 monkeys living in the trees above you as you walk around. there is a petting zoo, an adventure play area and even a place to stop and have a meal or just a coffee whilst the children play.
la-vallee-des-singes.fr/

Accro defis

To burn off some of that excess energy and just a 10 minute drive from the property, there is a wonderful new tree climbing adventure park. There are 5 different routes through the woodland treetops and it caters for children aged from 3 years up. There are plenty of places to set up a picnic and at the heart of the adventure routes there is a lovely café serving drinks and ice creams.
www.accrodefis.fr/

Cognac

For a slightly more grown-up day out Cognac is worth a visit at about an hours’ drive from the property. You can visit one of the many famous cognac houses, learn how this delicious tipple is made and finish with a tasting of some of the very finest. Some visits even cater for the childrens’ interests with little train rides or a quick trip on the river.

Bordeaux

For a trip just a little further afield and if you fancy visiting one of France’s most beautiful cities, Bordeaux is the place for you. Bordeaux has undergone a huge transformation in the last few years and is second only to Paris for its historic monuments, famous for its wine and has literally hundreds of restaurants: everything from streets buzzing with pavement cafés to gourmet eateries. Bordeaux also has the longest pedestrian street in France with an incredible selection of shops and boutiques, not to mention daily markets selling produce from the whole region.
www.lostinbordeaux.com/weekend-bordeaux-france-ultimate-guide/