There
are many beautiful and historic towns and cities within
easy reach of Chateau Pierre-Henri Simon: for example,
the magnificent ancient Roman town of Saintes, with
its 1st Century amphitheatre, one of the oldest discovered;
the historic ports of La Rochelle and Rochefort; the
magnificent restored 12th Century church at Talmont,
not to mention Pons, Bordeaux, Jonzac, Cognac and
Angouleme. These are some of the highlights - please
see the gallery for lots more photos of the area.
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La
Rochelle
The historic port, from which pioneers sailed to explore
a brave new world, now has a marina which beckons
weekend sailors back to shore. The busiest yachting
centre on the French Atlantic coast, the old harbour
is overseen by twin fortress towers. Climb the 15th
century tower and former prison, the Tour de la Lanterne,
for a view over the town. See the ornate facade of
the 16th century Hotel de Ville. Perhaps spend some
time at the fantastic modern Aquarium (the largest
in Europe) or the New World Museum.
Then relax in one of the countless cafés and
restaurants which cluster around the waterfront or
explore the busy boutiques which line the cobbled
and arcaded streets of the old town.
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Read More here
and here
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Saintes
The first capital of Aquitaine during the Gallo-Roman
age, Saintes is a town rich in monuments from medieval
times. Famous monuments include the Roman Amphitheatre,
constructed in about 40 AD, the Arch of Germanicus,
erected in 18-19 AD, the Archeological Museum which
houses the rich collections of architectural elements
and sculptures from the 1st to 3rd centuries.
The Abbaye aux Dames, Saint Peter's Cathedral and the
Saint Eutrope Basilica give remarkable testimony of
the renewal of the importance of Saintes during the
Middle Ages.
Saintes is one of our favourite places - stroll the
ancient pedestrian streets, take a boat on the river
or relax in one of the many cafés, bars and restaurants.
If you are lucky enough to be around on the first Monday
of the month make sure you visit the fantastic market
You will not be disappointed.
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Cognac
The birthplace of François I and a first rate
tourist centre, with the church of Saint Léger
offering an outstanding example of Roman and Gothic
architecture.
The fame and prosperity of this town is due to the centuries
old production of the brandy that bears its name. Numerous
prestigious cognac "Maisons" open their doors
to the public for guided tours and a visit to the spirit
warehouses (or "chais"), where the cognac
is aged in casks.
A visit to Cognac should include the splendours of the
Parc du François I and a boat trip along the
River Charente.
The tourist office has sightseeing itineraries (in English),
but you can also follow your nose, taking in perhaps
some of the fine riverside villages like Bourg-Charente
(with an imposing château on the other side of
the river) or Bouteville for its interesting ruins and
panoramic view, Châteaubernard with sweeping views
over the river, a dolmen and a 12th Century Templars
church, or the vast Gallo-Roman theatre in Saint-Cybardeaux,
to mention but a few...
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Rochefort
Between 1670 and 1800 hundreds of ships were built at
Rochefort including the Hermione, aboard which La Fayette
embarked for America. An exact replica of The Hermione
is now being rebuilt using traditional tools and techniques.
The beautiful Chateau de la Roche Courbon nearby is
well worth a visit. Called "Sleeping Beauty's Castle"
by Pierre Loti, it was built in the 15th Century and
embellished in the 17th Century.
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Read more here,
here
and here
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Bordeaux
Bordeaux is the most famous wine region in the world.
Most visitors come to the city and its surrounds to
tour the chateaux, imbibe the world-class wines and
indulge in the regional cuisine, but Bordeaux offers
much more.
The city is also known for its excellent museums, cafes
and restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Wide avenues,
neoclassical architecture and well-tended parks all
give the city a certain 18th-century grandeur. It's
also fantastic for shopping!
Bordeaux's wine-growing region stretches for 1000 sq
km (390 sq mi) around the city, and is divided into
57 appellations (unique production areas), with around
500 chateaux, or vineyards. There are two key areas
of attraction, the Medoc and St Emilion.
Firstly the Médoc, a large wine-growing area
which lies northwest of Bordeaux, along the western
shore of the Gironde Estuary. This is easily accessible
by car ferry from Blaye, south of Chateau Pierre-Henri
Simon or from Royan to the north. In fact the round
trip makes a great day out - both crossings are around
25 minutes.
•
Read more here
and here
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St
Emilion
The village and vineyards of St-Emilion, to the east
of Bordeaux are well worth a visit (about 75 mins
drive from Chateau Pierre-Henri Simon).
St-Emilion is a medieval town with steep hilly cobbled
streets running through ancient limestone buildings.
The cobbled streets link picturesque squares, and
the distinctive honey-coloured stone makes St Emilion
a beautiful town, but also a magnet for visitors.
In the 8th century a hermit from Brittany, Emilion,
settled in a cave that contained a natural spring.
Over the next 500 years this cave was hollowed and
enlarged and is now the largest monolithic church
in France (hollowed from a single rock). This amazing
chapel overlooks the main square and culminates in
a spire that soars more than 200 feet.
We do not recommend that you take pushchairs to St
Emilion due to the steep and cobbled streets. |
