Discover our region: Our must-sees
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Our must-haves
The Château de la Roche Courbon , in Saint-Porchaire — approximately 8 km / 10 min (the closest of all, practically your neighbor!). Nicknamed "the Sleeping Beauty castle" by Pierre Loti, with its French-style gardens listed as Remarkable Gardens, its prehistoric caves and its Museum of Prehistory.
Les Lapidiales (Port d'Envaux) - approximately 12 km / 15 min (very close to Geay). A free, open-air museum of monumental sculptures, nestled in a former stone quarry in the heart of the forest; an unusual and poetic outing, ideal for families.
Saintes — 20 km / about 20 min. Historic capital of Saintonge, rich in 2000 years of history, with its Gallo-Roman arena from the year 40 (among the best preserved on the Atlantic coast), the Arch of Germanicus, the baths of Saint-Saloine and the Abbaye aux Dames, a jewel of Saintonge Romanesque art.
The Rochefort Maritime Arsenal — 30 km / approximately 28 min. An exceptional site created by Louis XIV and Colbert in 1666: the Royal Rope Factory (the longest industrial building in Europe at the time), the National Maritime Museum, the Accro-mâts (a climbing wall) for reaching great heights, and the Oceana Lumina nighttime light show. (The Hermione, a replica of Lafayette's frigate, is currently undergoing restoration in Bayonne and is not on display in Rochefort at this time.)
The citadel of Brouage (Marennes-Hiers-Brouage) — approximately 30 km / 35 min. Fortified town by Vauban in the heart of the salt marshes, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, where Samuel de Champlain, founder of Quebec, was baptized.
The church of Rioux — approximately 30 km / 35 min. One of the most beautiful Romanesque facades in Saintonge, adorned with sculptures of remarkable finesse.
The island of Oléron and the Chassiron lighthouse — approximately 55-60 km / 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes (via Rochefort and the island bridge, to the northern tip). The largest island on the Atlantic coast, with salt marshes, colorful oyster huts and 160 km of cycle paths.