Excursions from La Rochelle

But those that get the most out of a visit to this part of France, are those who hire a car. La Rochelle is a great base from where to explore the region and there are many activities and sights within easy reach which will please adults and children alike.

An hour and a half south of La Rochelle is the compact, but lively town of Royan. Royan has an array of large sandy beaches as well as a vibrant nightlife but there is also much laid on for those travelling with children too. Those looking to partake in some watersports should head 3km further along the coast to the immense white sands of Chatelaillon Plage, where windsurfing and parasailing are both popular activities.

If you are looking for the ideal family day out, make the hour and a half journey north-west to Poitiers where you will find one of France’s premier attractions - Futuroscope. Futuroscope is essentially a vast ‘film theme park’, which features a number of virtual reality rides that draw visitors into the films themselves.

From Poitiers, you are also able to pick up the famous Pilgrimage Route. The Pilgrimage Route (or Way of St. James) has existed for more than 1000 years and ranks as one of the most important Christian pilgrimage routes since medieval times. The ancient Roman town of Poitiers ranked as one of the most important towns of western Gaul and was a significant religious centre. Here, you will find around a dozen Romanesque churches as well as medieval and Roman governmental buildings. Should you please, you are able to follow the route of the pilgrims to the end if you wish, however, if you are looking to stay local there are many sites of historical importance to be had on the 257km route as far as Bordeaux.

Another great journey can be had by heading inland to the town of Saintonge. From here you can make your way to the vineyards and famous distilleries of nearby Cognac and tour the places where the likes of Hennessy, Remy Martin, Courvoisier and Martell are produced. Sample tastings and gourmet dining are commonly associated with visits, where you will also learn about the distillation processes and, of course, the long history associated with these famous brandies.

Those here mindful of vineyards will, no doubt, have the city of Bordeaux firmly fixed in their minds. Bordeaux lies two hours south of La Rochelle and is easily accessible via the A10 road. Bordeaux itself is a metropolitan city with many architectural gems and historic buildings which firmly establish it as one of France’s most beautiful.

Venturing further out into the countryside, you have at your disposal some of the villages so deeply ingrained into the world of wine. St. Emillion for example is within easy reach and is itself a city boasting a number of fabulous buildings, restaurants, shops and, of course, wine stores. For an unforgettable wine tasting tour, the names simply roll off the tongue – Medoc, Graves, Sauternes and Pomerol all border this great city.

The Loire Valley is also within reachable distance by car from La Rochelle and ranks as France’s third-largest wine producing region. From La Rochelle you can reach the Loire Valley in around two and a half hours. Once here, head for some truly historic towns such as Saumur, Tours, Blois, Amboise and Angers where you will stumble across some of the greatest examples of French chateaux as well as some famous wine labels including Anjou, Coteaux du Layon, Muscadet, Bourqueil, Vouvray and Chinon.

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