Attractions

Beaches.
The beaches make taking a holiday rental in Charente Maritime worth it by themselves. However, they are only a tiny fraction of the activities on offer here. If you take to the water, the sailing is exceptional, and there is equipment available for all levels of expertise. You can sail to discover some of the islands just off the coast, including Ile de Re or Ile d'Aix. There are many international sailing events here, including the Whitbread Trophy which is contested in the blue seas of Charente Maritime. The waters are also perfect for fishing, with sea-bass, sea bream and meagre all available.

Local Shopping.
There are no shops in Thezac. However, our next village, (Meursac) which is a 5 minute drive has a very good bakery, a local supermarket, post office, pharmacy and newsagent. Retaud, also a five minute drive, (in the opposite direction), has a local store, post office, bakery, and butcher, (excellent meat!). The nearest large supermarkets are based in Saujon, which is about 10 minutes by car. Here you will find Super U and Intermarche, both of which are very good. Super U is probably the better of the two because it is has its own bakery, cafe, florist, fishmonger and even hairdresser in situ. The major hypermarkets are located in Saintes (LeClerc and Carrefour) and in Royan (LeClerc) but be warned steer clear of LeClerc on Saturdays and Mondays in Royan - is always gridlocked and you could wait an hour getting into the car park! There is a good shopping centre in Saintes, which tends to be very popular on Saturdays, where you can while away the time in a street cafe.

Local Restaurants.
We have a few local restaurants close by and these are some of our favourites: 'La Table' in Meursac, (5 minutes) ,is run by a young couple who took over the place about 2 years ago. They both speak some English and we have found them to be very helpful. The food is excellent, reasonably priced and the restaurant setting is very comfortable. L'Auberge de Moulins at Saujon, (10 minutes), is an old watermill which has been converted into a restaurant. The food is excellent and you are guaranteed a warm welcome by the young owners. If you really want to enjoy a gourmet dinner you must visit 'La Foret' near Meschers (20 mins) you will need to reserve a table though. A 5 course menu costs around 25 euros at the end of which you will be absolutely full up. Le Cottage at Arces sur Gironde, (20 minutes), has become one our latest favourites. A young Irish chef and his French wife provide an excellent menu draft Guinness is also available!

La Rochelle.
La Rochelle is a town devoted to the sea. Due to the port, La Rochelle grew into a major town on the French coast, and now has moorings for 3,600 yachts. The town itself is perfect for a leisurely shopping trip for antiques or fashion, and the Saturday market around the historic market place is bustling. La Rochelle also has two main beaches to enjoy during the summer, the Chatelaillon-Plage and St Georges de Didonne, and there is a children’s surf club at Pontaillac.

Rochefort.
The town of Rochefort is a charming town renowned for its thalassotherapy centres, and with the café des Longitudes offering home made ice-cream and some of the best fish on this side of the French coast, Rochefort is perfect for a weekend break to fully relax.

Angling.
Inland, anglers have a wealth of choice. The Charente, Boutonne and Dronne rivers are all available for angling. Following the rivers inland, you discover some areas of incredible natural beauty. There are national parks including Port des Salines and Cabane de moins encapsulating salt marshes and lagoons. This is an important area for migratory birds coming from America, so bird watching is also popular.