Font Remy is a great place
to relax, but if you want to be
more energetic, these are some of the things to do.
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The Pool
Pride of place in the south facing garden is the magnificent
heated swimming pool measuring 15m x 8m. There is an
additional 3m of roman steps which assist young (and
old!) to enter and exit. The shallow end is 1m deep
and the deep end 2.4m to allow safe diving. The pool
is fenced and situated within view of the individual
terrace areas of all the houses so parents can keep
an eye on the children.
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Sandy Beaches
Within 15 minutes drive of Font Remy you will find some
of the best sandy beaches in Europe. The 3 star Michelin
rated 2km long fine sandy beach at Royan, the capital
of the Cote de Beaute (Coast of Beauty), stretches north
to south from the yachting marina to Saint-Georges-de-Didonne.
Here you can hire the wonderful old-fashioned blue and
white tents to protect you from the hot summer sun.
Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, south of Royan, has its own
long sandy beach and closer still to Font Remy at Merschers
and La Plages des Vergnes you will find more sandy coves
with caves and rock pools.
The beaches of the Cote Sauvage (north of Royan) have
the best waves for water sports and fabulous sand dunes
– though some of them are nudist! Similarly the
islands of Ile de Re and Ile d’Oleron have some
wonderful stretches of sand.
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Watersports
As well as bathing and basking in the sun, Royan and
the Ile d’Oleron are centres for water sports such
as windsurfing and sailing.
Go on a boat trip or rent a boat. In the northern Charente
Maritime, west of Niort, are the waterways of the Marais
Poitevin, or "Green Venice" area. At several
villages you can rent flat-bottomed boats and paddle
around a delightful maze of tiny canals, lined with
willows and poplars.
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Cycling
There is a network of quiet lanes winding amongst the
vineyards around Font Remy and Mortagne, and there are
numerous cycle tracks in the area. Either bring your
own bikes or hire them locally.
From St Palais-sur-Mer near Royan there is 60 km of
cycle track through the forest and along the coast.
There are also marked routes for mountain bikes.
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Walking
As you would also expect, this is a wonderful area for
walking with some breathtaking views of the estuary
beyond the vineyards. There are some wonderful seaside
and cliff top walks. Details of walks can be found in
each of the houses.
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Golf
Golfers are well catered for with excellent courses
at Royan, Saintes, Cognac and Bordeaux.
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Tennis
There are a number of tennis courts available for public
use at Mortagne and Chenac close to Font Remy.
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Horse
Riding
There are several good horse riding facilities locally.
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Bird
Watching
There are always birds of prey circling in the area
around Font Remy and you are likely to see black redstarts,
cuckoos, black kites, hen harriers, buzzards, goshawks,
herons, pied flycatchers and hoopoes, amongst others.
The area as a whole is excellent for spotting migratory
birds (particularly spring and autumn).
At Rochefort, about 35 minutes north of Font Remy, 74
hectares of ecological lagoons welcome thousands of
birds each year.
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Fishing
Trout, pike, perch, big carp and whitefish are among
the first class catches that the fishing enthusiast
can pull out of the waters of the River Charente and
other rivers and lakes in the area. The local tourist
office in Mortagne has details of where permits can
be purchased.
Deep sea fishing is also available at Royan.
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Wine Tasting
You can taste (and buy) Cognac, chardonnay, sauvignon
or pineau on the doorstep of Font Remy. Within easy
reach is Cognac itself, where you can visit the famous
producers and then, of course, there is the famous wine
growing region of Bordeaux.
St Emilion is a must – see more under “Places
to Visit”– or take a tour of the Medoc,
home to some of the most famous Bordeaux vineyards.
See some suggestions at the following excellent website.
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The Zoo at La
Palmyre
In the heart of one of the most beautiful pine forests
in the area just north of Royan (35 minutes’ drive)
lies La Palmyre zoo. The most famous zoological park
in France and recently voted European Zoo of the Year,
it is the most visited tourist attraction in the department
of Charente-Maritime. As a breeding zoo it is different
from most people’s idea of a zoo with many animals
free to roam – there are more than 1600 in all!
See apes, elephants, bears, jaguars, lions, panthers,
giraffes, hippopotamuses, wolves, crocodiles, pink flamingos,
cockatoos, red ibis, parrots. There is a new polar bear
basin and tropical greenhouse, a reptile house and shows
with trained parrots and sea lions.
Official Website
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Futuroscope
The Futuroscope at Poitiers (around 90 mins away) is
well worth a visit, perhaps on a rainy day. Marvel at
the holograms, computer generated images, cybernetics,
3D imagery and special effects. Fun for all the family.
Official Website
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Finally, if you want to know more about the area
please go to the useful links page. |
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