PLACES OF INTEREST
Parthenay
A medieval town of architectural, artistic and historic interest, Parthenay
was a major stopover on the road used by pilgrims making the trip to Santiago
de Compostela in Spain. Parthenay plays host to many festivals through the year,
including the international festival of games, and world of music festival.
Poitiers
The nearest large city to Parthenay, Poitiers is considered to have one of the
most interesting sets of Romanesque buildings in France.
La Rochelle
The Old Port area, with its sheltered harbour, is protected by two 14th Century
stone towers. Superb restaurants line the quaysides and nearby streets, with
seafood and expected speciality. Numerous reasonably priced boat trips are available,
with Fort Boyard a popular choice, or visits to the Ile d’Oleron, Ile de
Re, or Ile d’Aix.
Loire Valley
Riverside cities of Angers, Saumur and Tours are all within an easy drive. Numerous
Chateaux, vineyards, museums and other attractions, such as the Cointreau factory
at Angers, which have regular guided tours, sampling, and discount factory shop.
Atlantic Coast
Spectacular large, safe, sandy beaches with good surf. Coastal pine forests
with woodland paths. Many resorts, including Les Sables d’Olonne, famous
for its extensive beaches, the numerous restaurants, and for being the start/finish
point of the Vendee Globe yacht race.
Cognac
Cognac is rightly renowned for the production of fine brandy and associated
products, with distillers such as Martell and Remy-Martin in location. Guided
tours and sampling are offered, often free. Cognac itself is a beautiful old
town, with fine buildings and restaurants.
Dordogne
Famous for its beautiful scenery with riverside fields and undulating hills,
the region is also home to many fine chateaux, underground grottos and caves
with guided tours. Of course, as with most places in this region of France,
the Dordogne has numerous vineyards, including St Emillion and Bergerac.
Futuroscope (Poitiers)
Using the mosy modern projection systems, Futuroscope offers the visitor the
chance to enjoy breath-taking, unique adventures on land, sea, and in space.
With futuristic architecture, unmistakable to the passing traveller, the attractions
include IMAX theatre, simulators, Cine 360 and surround-sound audio. In summer
months the is a late-evening fireworks and laser show.
Puy du Fou & Grand Parc (les Herbiers, near Cholet)
Within an hour’s easy drive, the Grand Parc is a historically themed park,
with attractions including the story of Joan of Arc, a recreation of the battle
of Donjon, and a falconry display which features over 40 birds flying simultaneously.
More recently, they have designed the Stade Gallo-Roman, which is a Roman amphitheatre
used to depict a Roman love-story and includes a chariot race “ a la Ben
Hur “.
In summer months, on most Friday and Saturday nights, the Puy du Fou takes place
on and around the lake in front of the nearby Chateau. This unique spectacular
show uses dramatic lighting, music and special effects to depict the history
of the Vendee region. Participants are volunteers from local villages, and number
around 2500 in total.
Pescalis (Montcoutant)
Dedicated to fresh-water fishing, this attraction caters for anglers of all
abilities. Specially managed lakes provide over 200 acres of fishing, with a
choice of angling areas. ‘fly-fishing’ in varied environments, a carnivore
area, ground-bait fishing, and game fishing area designed for round-the-clock
angling.
Marais Poitevin (between Niort & La Rochelle)
This is an area also known as Venice Verte or Green Venice, owing to the elaborate
network of canals which run through the fens. Escape from it all on the tree-lined
waterways, which can be navigated with or without a guide, in traditional flat-bottomed
punts, rowing boats or canoes. There are also numerous quiet cycle paths available
for those who wish to explore the area on bicycle.
Monkey Valley (Romagne)
A unique site of its kind, Monkey Valley contributes to the conservation of
endangered species, and features over 25 different species of monkey and ape,
living in natural woodland settings.
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