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La
Ferme and Le Gite |
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The farmhouses are part of La Grande
Brassiere, a mile from the nearest village of Dampierre-sur-Boutonne
with its attractive Renaissance chateau. It is a nice cycle ride in
the morning to fetch your croissants from the bakery, and there is a
grocer, butcher and a bar/restaurant, very popular for lunches or
sitting outside watching the village with a beer. Also within easy
walking or cycling distance is the Asinerie du Baudet de Poitou, a
sanctuary for the breeding of rare Poitou donkeys, which have
amazing long coats. There is a very interesting tour in French or
English. The surrounding countryside is excellent for walking and
cycling, with the Forest of Chize nearby. At Chize there is a very good zoo, with marked walks and BBQ areas. About 10 minutes drive away is the market town of Aulnay, which has several useful shops and a supermarket. It has a market twice a week and the church is very interesting, and is part of the Santiago de Compostella trail which can be traced down to Spain. All around the area are vineyards which grow grapes for Cognac and Pineau, the local aperitif, and there are plenty of tasting opportunities. A little further but still within 20 minutes' drive is St. Jean d'Angely, with its medieval buildings, cobbled streets and ruined abbey. It has plenty of shops and lively bars and a thriving market. Less than an hour away are a number of attractions, La Rochelle is 45 minutes drive, with its famous seafood restaurants, and a little further on is the Ile de Re, well worth a visit for cycling, excellent seafood and St Martin de Re, the St Tropez of the West Coast. To the north is the Venise Verte, a fascinating area of waterways with guided or self propelled boat trips, and lovely quiet cycle tracks, a memorable day trip.
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