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Examples of Places to visit For a list of the top thirty activities and web links to external sites please click below: Within 30 minutes drive of the property are the following towns: Cognac is most famous for it's distilleries (all provide tours during the Summer months) but it also has a great park (with a huge childrens playground) on the banks of the Charente river. Cognac also has a large cobbled pedestrian area with shops, cafes and restaurants from the river right up to the town centre. St.Savinien is also on the Charente. You can take a pleasure boat down the river. For the little ones there is a wonderful boating lake with mini electric replica ships. Great fun. Many people go back more than once. Each boat takes one adult and one child and every one is unique. Only on on Bank Holidays and weekends. Near to St. Savinienn is Chateau LaRoche-Corbonne (see photo) which is open daily during the summer months. The town has a great restaurant bar with live jazz music. Check out theAuberge de Quai de Fleurs St. Jean D'Angely itself has so much to offer. The skyline of this medieval town is dominated by the twin towers of the ancient abbey in which it is said the head of John the Baptist was brought during the crusades. You have good selection of restaurants and bars. Sit outside at Ellis Park, Chrisly on a sunny day. Bar Commerce is great inside for a touch of real France. Recommended restaurants are Les Jacobins for pizza and pasta on a budget. Hotel de la Place for amazing haute cuisine at bargain prices. Scorlion is for exquisite fine dining. "Atlantis", a large indoor swimming complex with multiple leisure pools and a huge slide. Saintes was originally a Roman settlement and is steeped in history. The Roman amphitheatre holds free "spectacles" during the summer and there are Roman thermal baths nearby. Saintes has a large market and is a centre for boat trips up the Charente river. Some trips go to the wonderful "Moulin de la Bain" restaurant; a picturesque 17th centuary mill which straddles the river (see photo above right). Within about one hours drive is the Charente Maritime coast: LaRochelle, Isle d'Oleron, Isle de Re, Royan, St. Georges de Didonne. The zoo at LaPalmyre (near Royan) has won many awards and is very popular with children of all ages. The aquarium at LaRochelle is also very popular with young children. The oysters of the area around Isle d'Oleron are world famous and remarkably inexpensive (see "local area" section. The Marais de Poitevin near Coulon is a huge complex of woodland canals where you can take a PicNic and hire a punt for an adventure of exploration. Angouleme is a historic town with a dramatic situation. The town is popular for it's many festivals (including a gourmet food festival, comic book festival and vintage car festival). There is also a good weekly market ad a popular chocolate factory nearby. Further afield: Futurascope, a theme park near Poitiers is about 1.5hrs drive. Bordeaux, St.Emillion and the surrounding chateaux and vineyards are also about 1.5 hrs drive.
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The Beaches near Royan are great for swimming and have huge sand dunes.
Boat trips on the Charente river (destination: Moulin de Bains restaurant)
The "Moulin de Bains" restaurant
Chateau LaRoche-Corbonne
The Roman Ampitheatre at Saintes is a unique venue for shows during the summer (often free).
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