Things to Do
Maison Puits is well placed as a base for exploring the south and west of France; but there are also many good things right on the doorstep. The house is equipped with bicycles, boules and badminton equipment (in the games barn). There are books for holiday reading, indoor games, a CD player and English TV and video.
The house is well supplied with English-language guide books, and we keep a "house book", which we try to keep up to date with plenty of information on the area, including where to eat and what to see.
Here are a few suggestions to start with.
Aubeterre has a fine sandy beach on the banks of the River Dronne, in a shady spot, close to the campsite and the snack-bar. There is safe swimming here, and it is possible to fish, or (in spring and summer) to hire canoes in which to explore the Dronne Valley.
The kitchen at Maison Puits is equipped with everything you need to enjoy the local produce, which you will be tempted to buy from the shops, the markets and the producers. But when you don't feel like cooking, there is a restaurant in Bonnes, just down the road, and Aubeterre offers a choice of everything from a gastronomic introduction to the regional cuisine to a pizzeria.
There are full details in the "house book" - and you are encouraged to add your comments (and your discoveries!).
There is a 9 hole (par 62) golf course at the nearby Manoir de Longeveau; it is laid out on gently undulating land around the old manor house - a former cognac estate - with lovely views from several vantage points. Equipment is available for hire.
Le Manoir de Longeveau, Pillac, 16390 St. Séverin, France.
Telephone: (00 33) 5 45 98 55 13E-mail:
Many of the local towns have a weekly market, at which you can shop for local produce - fruit and vegetables, but also confit de canard (preserved duck) and pineau des charentes (the local aperitif - delicious served chilled). The picture shows Aubeterre's Sunday market; the market in Chalais is on Mondays, with a special fair on the first Monday of each month.
Walking is a popular activity in France, and there are many signposted routes and circuits; you could start by following the sign which points up the lane, right outside the gates of Maison Puits!
If you are interested in buying local wines, or visiting the producers, you will find some suggestions in the "house book" - and some more in the wine rack!
The most local product is pineau des charentes, a sweet aperitif which comes in red, white and rosé. Try a glass chilled, by the pool - or pour a few spoonsful into the centre of one of the little local charentais melons...
To the north is the Cognac region, which centres on the town of Cognac itself. Some of the major producers offer quite extensive visits. To the south-west is the classic wine-producing region of Bordeaux; serious enthusiasts might plan an excursion to Saint Emilion (about 40 miles away). Or try one of the quirky local wineries, like the Cave de Saint-Sornin, whose wines are named in tribute to the region's famous neolithic cave paintings!