Outings & walks in the Region
The region have many opportunities to explore nature, heritage, culture, walks and places to visit. Here are but a few…
Cities & Villages
Voulême is ideally located for exploratory trips. Approximately 10 km from Civray and Ruffec, 17 km from Charroux and 60 km from Poitiers & Angouleme. Poitiers posses an exceptional architectural heritage, amazing gardens, ruins from the Middle Ages and the world famous Futuroscope. Of course, we advise you to visit Civray, its shops and restaurants but also its church with its remarkable porch, and its market. In Charroux, the market halls of the 16th c. are worth a visit just like the Charlemagne tower, the only remains of the abbey. At a short distance, in the Charente department, Ruffec is a nice little market town. Easily accessible is Cognac, just down the road and within just a few kilometres you will see the first vineyards.
Castles & religious heritage
The region is home to numerous heritage treasures. The characterful small town of Verteuil is a place to discover at leisure. Wander through the streets, the castle, the mill, a tea room or two…. In the church of Saint-Médard, find a 16thC tombstone; painted in polychrome earth colours it constitutes one of the most remarkable pieces of sculpture in the department of the Charente. In Javarzay, one of the first castles of the Renaissance in the Poitou region awaits your discovery. Built of white stones, covered with slates, it presents the silhouette of a small castle of the Loire.
Another fine jewel is the Abbaye de la Réau. Founded in the 12th century, this royal abbey is a jewel of the Haut-Poitou, a historic monument in an exceptional location with its French gardens, which also offers visits and demonstrations (calligraphy, illumination, picking of medicinal plants, etc.). You can also visit the remains of the Benedictine abbey of Nanteuil-en-Vallée, its first foundations date from the Carolingian era.
Museums and Gardens
The seat of an ancient abbey, Tusson is a charming village with protected heritage status where many beautiful preserved old and restored houses still exist. Among these residences stands the Marguerite dwelling of Angoulême dating from the 16th century. Stretching out form this Renaissance dwelling is a wonderful medieval monastic garden not to be missed. As for Voulême, the village remains a site of ancient dwellings with Gallo-Roman remains which are preserved today in the museum in Civray. In 1886, a tool kit (ax, arrowhead, scraper) dating from the Lower Palaeolithic eras was discovered and is now exhibited in the town hall of Voulême. And for a dive back into time, the Grotto of the Chaffaud in Savigné is a site with a series of preserved Prehistoric caves, free low charge and freely accessible.
Restaurants
Ask us – food is our passion! We have checked out most of the local restaurants, and we have discovered many real treasures. Between the tearooms, Pizzerias, traditional bistros and gourmet restaurants, you will have a wide choice!
And if you want a meal based on seasonal products, local and from our vegetable garden, our table d’hôtes might also interest you (evenings only – by pre-booking 24hrs ahead) Price: 3 course meal at 25 € / person, or Light Formula with 2 courses at 19€ per person.
But also…
At La Lavandière, we have at your disposal a plethora of leaflets and tourist guides; and of course our personal recommendations. The Vienne is full of “unavoidable” attractions such as the Parc du Futuroscope or the Valley of the Monkeys, which you can find on www.tourisme-vienne.com.
You should also be aware that we both love heritage, architecture, art history … and cycling. So if you want us to share our “favorites”, we can discover the riches of the surroundings with you … by bicycle (to paraphrase Yves Montant, a famous French singer).
Check out our Facebook page as we regularly publish our trips or ideas for outings. Please do not hesitate to ask us to assist or guide you.
