Life continues here in the Charente during the winter

But is there much to do without the hot sun of summer?

Yes, in fact there are loads of things to do and here are some examples for starters.

Visit a Sunday Morning French Market

There is a nice one in Angoulême in the Place de Victor Hugo. Even though it’s in the city it has a village feel to it and the cafe on the corner is also open, along with the patisserie and boulangerie. There’s always a French local market in your area.

Go Walking

Whether you set out from Gites in Charente or drive out, there are so many nice places to walk around, at this time of the year the snowdrops are coming out, as are the wild primroses.  

Go cycling around Deux-Sèvres

It’s pretty flat around here, and there are a lot of small country roads for exploring the countryside. 

Visit Poitiers

The old town of Poitiers is lovely for walking around, there are numerous restaurants, cafes, shops, churches, something for everyone.  And the daily market is a must.

Visit a Brocante

Sundays are quiet here, why not visit a brocante (flea market)? There are many held every Sunday throughout the region, and so pick up something to take home with you.  

A Day Trip to Paris

For a special treat – why not take a day trip to Paris!  We are 35 minutes from Poitiers station, and the TGV train will get you to Paris Montparnasse in under 1 hour 45 minutes.

Le Festival International de la Bande Dessinée

Each January Angoulême hosts the Le Festival International de la Bande Dessinée (Comic Strip), the rendezvous for the world’s greatest comic strip artists and scriptwriters.

Visit Some Churches

There are many fine churches to visit in the area: Melle has the l’Eglise Saint-Hilaire, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Pilgrim’s Road to Santiago de Compostela; there is the l’Eglise St. Martin in Brux, a 12th century Romanesque church with the charming Bar St. Martin opposite where you can have coffee, a drink, lunch and dinner; and, of course the church right next door to Gites in Charente, l’Eglise de Saint Jacques.

Stay in and do Nothing

Treat yourself to a lazy day, make some mulled wine and relax in front of the fire, read a book or choose a Netflix series to binge-watch, perfect for a day of vegging out!