Les Prairies de Pacouinay

To see some of the surroundings, you’ll be able to join boat trips or hire canoes and kayaks at Pier of the Green Venice (10 minutes’ drive). Local activity providers organise bike and ATV tours as well, or you can follow one of the trails suggested by the team on site. For a cool dip after your tour, head to the beach area at Lake Chassenon (15 minutes). Historical buildings are dotted around here too – learn about the area’s past at House of the Marais Poitevin (15 minutes) or pay visits to Abbey Nieul-sur-l’Autise (10 minutes), Abbey Maillezais (15 minutes) and Château du Coudray-Salbart (25 minutes). Niort (20 minutes) is worth a trip too, to visit the Musée Bernard d’Agesci, the Donjon de Niort and the popular covered market. A little further afield, it’s an hour’s drive to La Rochelle or just a little longer to the beach at La Tranche-sur-Mer. The hugely popular theme park Puy du Fou is about an hour’s drive away as well.