The South West region of Poitou Charentes is claimed to be the second sunniest in France. To be had here you will find a wide range of leisure and physical activities and places of interest for the old and young alike. It is an area abundant with history and culture and for those who enjoy their refreshments, there is a superb range of local dishes and wines to take pleasure from. It is also a great place for a golfing holiday.

The Poitou-Charentes region in South-West France recently been discovered by many families who're looking for a gite holiday in poitou charentes within an easy days drive of the Channel ports and with good rail and air connections.

With both La Rochelle and also the Ile-de-Re Charente Maritime is a very popular destination among both french and overseas visitors.

La Rochelle is usually a lovely coastal town just east of Ile de Ré and there are plenty of gites near la rochelle, while the Atlantic coast here includes some attractive (and very popular) islands such as Ile de Ré (and it's really major town at St-Martin-de-Ré) and Ile d'Oleron.

The classified 'beautiful villages' of Ars-en-Ré and La Flotte-en-Ré are some of the many villages on the island. The tiny island of Ile d'Aix, the fortified island where Napoleon stayed, can also be found just offshore.

Inland from La Rochelle the nearby towns at Marans and Surgeres in addition have some interesting features to explore.Continuing south along the coast in Charente-Maritime, visit Royan, a popular seaside resort and 4* ville fleurie; the lovely resort and zoo at La Palmyre, a bit north from Royan; and also Meschers-sur-Gironde.

Inland just a little are Rochefort, a 17th century grand new town around a significant naval base; the 'most beautiful village' at Talmont-sur-Gironde; this town of Saintes; and the fortifications at Brouage.

The Charente River could be explored, as it passes through miles of rolling countryside between Angouleme and Rochefort, and is also popular with visitors wanting to understand the landscapes of the region. For just a different water based experience head north towards the marshy world of the Marais Poitevin around Marans inside the north-east of Charente-Maritime.

To the north-east of Poitou-Charentes, the Deux-Sevres department is better known for the Marais-Poitevin, which falls in part in this department around Coulon.

(The Marais-Poitevin can be a large region of canals and marshes, best explored on a boat hired from one on the towns here).

The town of Melle can be a lively town best known for its ensemble of churches.Moving north from the department visit the medieval centre of Parthenay and also the town of Thouars, to the south-east of Saumur.