Charente Maritime is a region where the long hot summers arrive early and linger late into the year. In mid-summer wild hollyhocks bloom along the village streets and the fields are aglow with sunflowers. The region has a 470 kilometer coastline and includes the holiday islands of Île de Ré and Île d’Oléron.

It's mild climate and breathtaking beaches make it a popular destination for French holidaymakers as well as visitors from all over Europe. The beautiful Côte Sauvage with its fine sandy beaches, sand dunes and pine forests is only an hour away by car.

Les Girouettes is situated near the historic medieval market town of St Jean d’Angély where you will find shops, numerous cafés and restaurants and bustling twice weekly markets selling a variety of local and regional produce.

Our region is well known for its Romanesque architecture and Roman remains. There are many fine examples of Romanesque architecture to be found in the local churches and the town of Saintes boasts a triumphal Roman arch as well as a Roman amphitheatre.

Le Moulin de la Laigne lies within the world-famous cognac producing area. Its products can be sampled in the vineyards of our local producers. In the nearby town of Cognac you can visit the major cognac producing houses along the banks of the Charente river.