Relais du Plessis

Historic and cultural days will be plentiful around here should that be your holiday bent; closest to home, the site’s local town of Richelieu is a most splendid place to potter around à pied or vélo; also within easy reach, pedal out to Château du Rivau for a ramble around rose gardens and conservatories or, if feeling energetic, head further out to the former home of famed French literary Honoré de Balzac, at Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, or to the medieval riverfront Château de Chinon. And while on the subject of Chinon, a wine route starts here and runs all the way out to nearby Saumur: both are an easy pootle away from base, and should you be a self-professed wine connoisseur, then this is one local activity not to be missed. If instead you’re more of an outdoorsy soul, then it’s easy to spend days around the vicinity getting active en plein air: also in Chinon you can explore from a canoe or a kayak, or you can head over to putt your stuff at the golf course at Roiffé, not far from the park. If you’ve carted the kids over with you, they’re guaranteed to go giddy for the treetop adventure park at Saint Benoit la Foret, as well as for the rides of the film- and audiovisual attraction park of Futuroscope in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou. If they’re into animals, then whisk them off quick smart to the zoo at Doué la Fontaine, or to spy slimy sea critters at the aquarium in Loudun.