Entre Mer et Forêt

Within a five-minute drive from the site, guests have easy access to Meschers-sur-Gironde's Grottes de Matata and Grottes de Régulus caves, stables for riding lessons, several sandy beaches and a marina. Head further up the coast to Royan (a quarter of an hour) for a bigger resort where there’s miniature golf, cinemas, a covered market, Coolongalook adventure park and Planet Exotica zoo. To the north, Île d'Oléron (45 minutes) has seafood to sample and seemingly endless bike trails to explore, while to the south you can take the ferry from Royan over to the Médoc peninsula (crossing time approximately 20 minutes). This is a far-famed wine-growing region, so head here for cellar door tasting sessions or for sightseeing at seaside castles like Château La Tour de By (an hour and 20 minutes). Finally, if you head inland, the Charente-Maritime countryside won't disappoint – make time for laidback family strolls around La Coubre forest (30 minutes), take tours of the parkland surrounding the Château de la Roche Courbon (45 minutes) or get roped up and go clambering over rocks and boulders at Saint-Simon-de-Bordes (45 minutes).