Les Logis de la Seugne

One thing’s for sure when you’re visiting this region: you’re going to want to check out a castle. Chug along to Château de Jonzac, five minutes’ drive, to gaze at its turreted, fortress-like architecture. Of course, you can’t come to the Charente-Maritime without stopping by Cognac Bertrand either (10 minutes); tours are held at this liquor-making complex, and brandy tastings are part of the package. If this piques your interest about the area’s other longstanding customs, head to Clion’s Artisanal and Rural Museum (10 minutes) and learn the age-old traditions of making wine, barrels and butter. Tempted to loll about at the seaside…? Royan, at the Gironde estuary’s mouth, is an hour away and is home to sandy beaches such as the sweeping La Grande Conche. Take yourself into town to peer at Belle Epoque villas, then head to La Rochelle (an hour and 20 minutes), to totter down alleys flanked by 17th-century archways or along the pretty Vieux Port.