Our local community

All our child friendly gites are located in the countryside. Compared to the UK you may feel as though you are in the middle of nowhere (which is why we love living here !) However there are numerous small enterprises offering anything from bread to wine, milk, fruit & veg, bike hire , honey and of course Cognac.

The regular local markets are an excellent way to integrate into French life, practice your French and buy local and you could visit a different market nearly every day, all within a 30 min drive.

• Saint Jean d'Angely Wednesday & Saturday, 10mins drive

• Aulnay de Saintonge - Sunday , 10 mins drive

• Matha - Tuesday, Friday & Saturday, 15 mins drive

• Saintes - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 30mins drive

• Cognac - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 30 mins drive

French markets are always a lovely way to feel like a local but if you really want a chance to really chat then visit some of our local producers on their homeground.

Estelle is our neighbour and together with her partner they produce honey to sell at the local markets and even the local supermarket sell it but to actually visit them at home is even more of a great experience. Especially since they live next door to us at La Grange du Moulin !
You can pop in on your own - they are usually around on a Wednesday afternoon, or you can participate in one of our free guided visits which you can read more about here. Either way you'll get to taste and have the opportunity to purchase a delicious array of honeys.

Eric and Marie Agnes Cartaud live just 2km away . There is a lovely track along the river that you can walk along, so that you can then taste all their produce without the need to drive back ! They produce

• Red, white and rosé wines



• Red and white Pineau des Charentes,



• VS and Napolean Cognacs

They don't have opening times as such as they sell from an office attached to their own home, to be polite just don't go between 12 - 2 or after 7pm when it's meal times.
If you end up buying lots, just let them know you are staying with us and they'll deliver it to you.
Read more about Eric and Maries cellar door here

We are so pleased to have a local boulangerie again after many years without one. It's 3km away in Varaize and run by a lovely young French family. They offer some delicious breads (our favourite is the Kapnor) but also offer croissants and cakes too. You could run there (see our running routes) or cycle and enjoy a coffee and cake while the children play in the playground too. Read more about La Varaizienne boulangerie here

• Croissant, Chocalatine, Chaussons aux pommes

• Bread selection from baguette and pain to maize and malt breads

• Pizzas cooked to order

• Café serving hot and cold drinks inside or outside on the terrace and a playpark

• Delicious cakes, individual or to serve 6

• Basic food items such as butter, ham and pasta

We have a local bike hire company that cater to families so provide everything from helmets and locks to child seats and tag alongs. The best thing is that they will deliver to your gite and spend the time making sure the seats are the right height etc You can rent for the whole holiday or just a few days, the choice is yours. The area is perfect for cycling, you can read more here

Food trucks seem to becoming more and more popular. There are a few in the area but this is our most local one, just a 5 min drive to the village of Cherbonnieres. I've heard excellent reviews of L'Escale Gourmande so intend trying it out in the spring with a view to discussing some meal deliveries to the gites. In the meantime you can enjoy

• Fish & Chips or Pizza - every evening from tues to sat and sat lunch, to eat on their terrace or takeaway

• Traditional meal - every lunch from tues to friday, to eat on their terrace or takeaway

• Fresh bread baked every day

• Roast chickens cooked every Sat and Sunday lunch to eat in with vegetables or to takeaway

We also have a number of local small businesses that offer activities to our guests including

• Massage and facials read more

• Scuba diving read more

• Learn French read more

These are just a handful of our most local producers and businesses that we like to support and we hope you will too when staying with us at La Grange du Moulin and Les Vallaies Child friendly gites.