Some suggestions for interesting places to see near Limorlin:

  • Visit forts, chateaux, abbeys and other historic buildings such as Donjon de Pons, l’Hôpital des Pélerins, Château de la Roche Courbon, Château de Panloy, Château de Crazannes, Fort de Brouage, Fort Vauban, Citadelle du Château d’Oléron, Fort Louvois, Fort Vauban, l’Abbaye de Sablonceaux, Abbaye de Fontdouce, Amphithéâtre de Saintes, la Corderie Royale, the 3 towers at La Rochelle, etc.
  • Visit pretty villages such as Talmont-sur-Gironde, Mornac-sur-Seudre, etc.
  • Explore historic towns such as Pons, Saintes, Cognac, Jonzac, Royan, Rochefort, La Rochelle, Angoulême, Saint Emilion, Poitiers, etc
  • Take a guided tour of one of the Cognac Houses such as Otard, Hennessy, Rémy Martin, etc – or one of the many smaller producers (including local farmers some of whom still distill their own grape harvest), and sample their Cognac and Pineau des Charentes.
  • Take Day trips to La Rochelle, Saint Emilion (both these two really are "must-see" places), Futuroscope (Poitiers), etc.
  • Take a tour of some of the famous wine-growing regions nearby and sample some of the wines produced in Côtes de Blaye, Medoc, Saint Emilion, etc.
  • Take a river cruise on the Charente (from Saintes or Cognac) or the Seugne (from Jonzac), or hire your own electric boat, pedalo or kayak.
  • Take a sea cruise from Royan, La Tremblade, Fouras or La Rochelle and visit the Gironde estuary, Fort Boyard and the isles of Aix, Ré and Oléron – as well as the modern motor boats offering short and long cruises, there are also old sailing boats offering day-long cruises.
  • Explore the many antique and bric-a-brac shops, markets and fairs.
  • Explore some of the fascinating Nature reserves.
  • Attend some of the many Special Events.
  • Visit one of the 14 nature centres such as Pôle-Nature de Vitrezay, nature reserves of Lilleau des Niges on the Ile de Ré, the marshes of Yves and Moïze, the port of Les Salines on the Ile d’Oléron, Marais aux Oiseaux (Marsh of Birds) again in Oléron or the Ferme des Oiseaux (Bird Farm) close to Geay, the wild ducks of the Cabane de Moins, to the north of Rochefort, and the Asinerie du Baudet du Poitou (Donkey Farm), not far from Aulnay. Finally, there is the Parc de l’Estuaire (Estuary Park), on the Pointe de Suzac headland, the Ecomusée du Marais Salant (Salt Marsh Ecomuseum), on the Ile de Ré, the Maison de la Forêt (Forest Centre), in Haute-Saintonge, the Carrières de Crazannes (Quarries), the Station de Lagunage (Lagooning Centre) in Rochefort and the newly opened Pôle Nature of the Poitevin Marsh. The Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (equivalent to the RSPB) is based at Rochefort.
  • Visit more organised nature "reserves" such as Les Jardins du Monde at Royan, the Aquarium at La Rochelle or the Zoo at La Palmyre.
  • Explore Natural history sites such as Paleosite near Saintes, and Lascaux and other Caves in Perigord.
  • There are Thermal baths nearby at Jonzac – there are both "les Antilles de Jonzac" for fun and underground baths for thermal cures.
  • And of course, sampling the French cuisine at the multitude of local and high-quality (but not too expensive) restaurants is perhaps one of the most enjoyable things you can do while here.
“A beautiful gite in fantastic countryside” – Wendy & Tony, June 2007