Daydream France

Chef – Boutonne is a small town providing facilities for local shopping. It has two well stocked supermarkets, a Charcuterie, Boucherie and Boulangerie, selling fresh meat, vegetables, bread, patisseries, pates and cheese, as well as a market and a few other shops to cater for all your general needs.

There are also ‘caves’, the name given to places selling alcohol. Some are like our off licences, but you will find others that sell wine in large tanks, straight from the vineyards, where you fill up your own containers. You can buy the containers there, if you don’t have your own or you can buy it in a box. These wines are very pleasant to drink and you can sample them before you buy and they are extremely good value for money. There is one nearby and other general ‘caves’ in town.

“Nothing more delightful than a deck-chair under the shade of a tree, eating fresh bread, with cheese and a glass of smooth soft fruity red wine, watching the world go by...”

“A very enjoyable holiday. The area is ideal for cycling, and we recommend the forest of Aulnay. We will make a return visit soon.”
John & Penny H. - Essex, UK

Le Chateau

A leisurely walk or short cycle ride away, beside the River Boutonne, there is the local 15th Century fairytale Chateau de Javarzay with a park and lake suitable for fishing. Nearby, there are two excellent Boulangeries to buy fresh bread, pasteries and croissants. There are two restaurants in Chef - Boutonne, The Voyageurs overlooking the town square which serves a variety of French cuisine and has a weekly BBQ and Jos where you can eat in or take away pizzas.

About the Region

The varied landscapes are steeped in history and tradition, and the region has a warm and sunny climate. Visitors can explore picturesque hilltop villages and medieval towns, Romanesque churches and cathedrals, ancient abbeys, châteaux and museums.

For the more active there is canoeing, kayaking, cycling, horse riding, punting, wildlife and adventure parks. For nature lovers you can revel in the numerous birds of prey, and maybe even spot the beautiful Golden Oriole. There are many interesting historical sites to choose for a day out including the medieval town of St. Jean d'Angély, with its old cobbled streets and Gothic towers, the coastal Spa town of Rochefort, and the walled cathedral city of Angoulême. For the gourmets there are restaurants throughout the region to choose from. Sample the local wine and produce that the region is famous for: Pineau Cognac, a very popular chilled apéritif, the deliciously sweet Charentaise melon, oysters and mussels from the Marennes Oleron, the largest oyster production farm in France, fois gras, escargots and a variety of goat's cheese. There is something here for all the family to enjoy a memorable holiday.