Puyravaud Lakes

Local to Puyravaud

1. Walking round Puyravaud – it will take you around a leisurely one hour to walk round the two lakes, observe the wild-life and perhaps understand why we love the property so much.
   
2. Walk to Vitrac St Vincent – Take the walkway across the dam between the two lakes, up the pathway on the other hill-side, through Le Breuil and Le Petit Jauniat and down into the beautiful village of Vitrac St Vincent. You might be lucky and find the cafe open for a drink before you return the opposite way via Le Grand Jauniat and Montapeine. All in all, around 7 kilometres along tracks and very minor roads so very safe. If you speak good French we have our own local guide, Monsieur Edgar Berrisier, aged 89 years young, who has been associated with the property pretty much all his life. He still lives in the village and was a prominent member of the Resistance during the Second World War.
3. Walk to Montemboeuf – Go via La Boucherie and Jayat to Montemboeuf, stop for a coffee before returning via Haut Villemaneau and Le Breuil, down the track, back across the dam and back to Puyravaud. No more than 6 kilometres.
   

Local by car(within 10-20 minutes drive)

1. Visit the market town of Chasseneuil Sur Bonniere (7 kilometres) with its local shops, supermarkets (Lidl and Intermarche) and restaurants. In the 3^rd week of each month there is a very large French market that is well worth a visit. (normally around the 22^nd of each month). There is a war memorial and Resistance museum in the town if you are interested.
2. Visit the town of La Rochefoucauld (11 kilometres) with its famous chateau by the river. The chateau has been owned by the Rochefoucauld family since the 11^th Century. Some nice restaurants in the town as well as a chocalatier and cafe, beneath the chateau and right on the river – a great spot on a warm day. Larger hypermarket (Leclerc) as well as more high street shops. An excellent artisan bakery has also opened in the town. Saturday market nearly always on.
3. Visit Montbron and take a coffee or some food in the Square. Typical of a small provincial French town in the region.

Local by car (within 20-60 minutes)

1. Visit the City of Angouleme with its Ancient Quarter full of restaurants and for pedestrian traffic only. Very quaint, bustling cafe culture, particularly at weekends. Some of the best restaurants around to suit all tastes. (Around 30 minutes drive)
2. My personal favourite is a trip to Cognac to take in a visit to one (or more) of the major cognac houses that do tours lasting around an hour. We have done both Martell and Remy Martin and they are very different to each other, but there are many more to chose from and typically cost from 7-12 euros per person. Absolutely, well worth the trip with tours in different languages. Afterwards, head for the centre of Cognac for some food and drink in one of the many restaurants around the square. (Around 50 minutes drive)
3. Visit Limoges, famous for its pottery. This is a much bigger city and probably warrants half to a full day to take in the whole place. ( Around 55 minutes drive)
4. Visit the Lacs de Haut Charente near Rochechouart which have been built to give locals and tourists alike access to water based activities and swimming inland from the sea. There are a number of restaurants in and around the lakes and you can quite easily make a day of your trip to the lakeside.

Further afield

1. A day trip to Bordeaux and its many vineyards is not to be missed. A lovely city with much tradition and of course, some of the best wine in France. (Around 2 hours drive)
2. The coast west of Puyravaud is renowned for the quality of the seafood. The Marennes region produces some of the best oysters in France and the coast line is well worth a trip. As a result, some of freshest seafood served in local restaurants (Around 1hour 45 minutes drive)

These are just some of the many things to do, in and around Puyravaud. Ask us for more details and more suggestions, but, at least, these will get you started.