Natura Serena

Both Poitiers (45 minutes' drive) and Angoulême (an hour) are well worth some of your time – in the first you can visit various historic churches and in the second take a walk around the old ramparts before stopping in at the cartoon museum. It's worth noting that the excellent Futuroscope theme park is just outside Poitiers too. For more on the heritage front, draw up a list that includes the chambered tombs of Tumulus de Montioux (five minutes), Château de Javarzay (half an hour) and Château d’Epanvilliers (15 minutes), home to a museum of ancient games. History of a different sort is on display at Monet Goyon Museum (25 minutes), which houses a collection of old motorbikes. While you're here you should also make time for a trip to the La Vallée Des Singes (25 minutes), a walk or boat trip through the lush landscapes of the Marais Poitevin Regional Natural Park (an hour) and a day of following the goat's cheese route around local farms.