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Local Interest
Just 20 minutes drive through stunning scenery takes you to beautiful Aubeterre-sur-Dronne - one of the most photographed villages in France . Balconied houses in the old style adorn Aubeterre (see below) which lies on the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. A remarkable structure here is the unusual 12th century Église Monolithe hewn out of the rock under the castle. A visit here is a must. Aubeterre has a number of good restaurants and small shops and a small Sunday market. During the summer months there is music in the main square in the evenings.
Picturesque bathing with excellent facilities : There is a pleasant riverside beach at Aubeterre with good leisure facilities and canoe hire. Much closer to the house, at the picturesque hilltop town of Brossac , there is a lovely lakeside beach with snack bars, sailing dinghies and pedaloes. Paradou (shown below) again with great bathing and facilities (large flume and play areas for children) is just 20 minutes away. At St Aulay there is also a river beach with small water park and flume approx 20 minutes drive. NB: Some of the above facilities are open in the summer season only.
There are many places of interest within easy driving distance -
- Spend a day on the river beach at Aubeterre - pretty village with a monolithic church; where the English Wife, with Zoe Wannamaker, was filmed
- Canoe on the River Dronne
- St Emilion - visit the ancient vineyards by small train and sample the wine
- Cognac - guided tours of distilleries
- Royan - popular sea-side resort with 12km of magnificent beaches
- Brantome - very picturesque town with famous abbey founded by Charlemagne
- Bourdeilles - medieval castle
- Markets of Chalais (Monday), Montpon (Wednesday) and Riberac (Friday)
- Explore the surrounding countryside on foot, horse or bike
- Visit Perigueux and Bordeaux
- Explore the Ribercoise churches
- Visit the Lascaux Cave
- Watch a show at the puppet theatre in Aubeterre
- Facilities within 10-20 minutes drive include:
tennis, fishing, swimming, cycling, walking, canoe and kayak hire, horse riding, golf, restaurants, supermarket, boulangerie, 'farmers' store selling local produce, bank, bureaux de change, post office
Less than 10 minutes away - Chalais is a "proper" French working town and has all commerce including a large supermarket and a traditional street market on Mondays. There is also a 'farmers' shop selling local produce, much of it organic, including the local aperitif Pineau de Charente which is wonderful served chilled and makes a great gift. Five minutes drive takes you to Brossac village where there is a very friendly mini market that is also open Sunday mornings. Brossac also has 3 boulangeries.