Bordeaux

The capital city of Aquitaine and UNESCO world heritage site is just over an hour’s drive. A historic wine making centre offering many wine tasting tours and courses, often combined with gastronomic delights. Featuring elegant architecture and boulevards, historic and cosmopolitan Bordeaux is set on the banks of the Garonne. It has the usual city shops but you will find if you venture off the main streets, many a hidden square with boutique shops, cafés and restaurants. Bordeaux is home to many museums, and the Opera National de Bordeaux. Electric scooters and bikes can be hired to explore the city.

St Émilion

Around 50 mins drive away are the famous wines and immaculate vineyards of St Émilion. A medieval UNESCO World Heritage town with winding cobbled streets, cafés, restaurants, catacombs and a monolithic church dug out from limestone galleries, St Émilion is definitely worth a visit. 

Blaye 

Historic citadel (50 mins). A striking fortress overlooking the Gironde estuary.

The Gironde is a huge estuary on the south west coast, roughly an hour and a half by car.  There are pretty villages, ports and beaches to visit.  Boat trips go from Port Vitrezay, Meschers or St Fort sur Gironde to the Médoc, up to Royan or the lighthouse at Cordouan. Royan has fabulous Atlantic coast beaches.

Talmont sur Gironde

Situated on a peninsula jutting out into the estuary, this traffic free village features museums, cafés and boutiques along its narrow pavements.

Meschers sur Gironde

Learn about the ecology, battles and smuggling history of the area and visit the beaches, tunnels and troglodyte caves carved from the cliffs. 

Cognac

This famous medieval town has been making Cognac since the 17th century. Camus, Martel, Hennessy, Rémy-Martin and Courvoisier are recognised worldwide, and you are able to visit the distilleries and taste the products. Grapes are grown for Cognac in a twenty mile golden circle around the town and river Charente. Around 55 minutes drive.

Brantôme

A beautiful town set on the river Dronne, with renaissance and medieval architecture to admire, known as the ‘Venice of the Perigord’. A photogenic place to visit, with lovely walks alongside the river, canoe hire and a colourful weekly market. Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. 

Bordeilles

Around I hour 15 minutes drives is picturesque Bordeilles. With a chateau, mill, river setting and medieval highlights this is a pretty village with rocky cliffs overhanging the road and a viewpoint across  the village.

Angoulême

The regional and walled capital of Charente with historic buildings and shopping boulevards. The town is located high above its surrounding area and is lit up beautifully at night. Festivals held here include the vintage car rally (the Circuit des Ramparts) in September, the Gastronomades Gourmet Food and Wine Festival in November. (50 minutes by car).

Read our article on Angoulême here:

https://legentilretreat.com/index.php/2024/04/18/what-to-see-and-do-in-angouleme/

Saintes

Rich in Roman history, with examples of Roman baths and an amphitheatre. (80 mins)