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Sainte Radegonde's church, Talmont sur Gironde
Many pilgrims from all over Europe followed the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain by crossing the Gironde Estuary at Talmont. Pilgrims reached Talmont sur Gironde via Aulnay de Saintonge, Saint Jean d'Angély and Saintes. Saint Radegonde's church was built in 1094.

 

 

Chez Rogers is situated in the Community of St Germain du Seudre within the Charente Maritime Department (17) close to the Gironde Estuary and the Atlantic Beaches.

Below is a  brief list of some of the places that may be of interest in the locality, restaurants, shopping and golf courses.

SHOPPING

Be prepared for most shops to close for 2 hours for lunch. However, large supermarkets such as Super U and LeClerc  (Pons, Saintes, Royan & Jonzac) stay open all day.  Remember to take your carrier bags or you will have to buy them.

There are no shops in St Germain du Seudre .The best boulangerie is  in Brie sous Mortagne on the main D730 road, they also do coffee,

There are also 2 Boulangeries in Mortagne and one in St Fort sur Gironde

The nearest supermarket is the Super U at Gemozac (5 miles).
. It is on the Saintes road on the edge of the village and is open 6 days a week to 19:30 hrs. Closed all day Sunday, except during July and August when it is open until 12:30. It also has a petrol station. There is also a selection of smaller shops in the centre of Gemozac.

MARKETS

Gemozac holds a market on Friday mornings .

Cozes has a main market on Wednesday mornings and a smaller one on Saturday.

St Georges de Didonne has quite large Market with parts under cover, on Saturday Mornings .

Royan has a large undercover food market most days with other stalls surrounding the covered market.

RESTAURANTS (close by)

St Germain du Seudre

In the valley about 500m from the house we have a superb Auberge, Domaine du Seudre

www.domaineduseudre-restaurant.com/en  - booking essential.

MORTAGNE sur GIRONDE (5 minutes )

All at harbour side.

  • Pizza restaurant
  • Restaurant 1476,
  • Gigi's
  • Corsaire

ST CIERS du TAILLON (10 mins)

  • Le Cheval Blanc (booking essential)
  • Pizza
  • Le Taillonaise
  •  
PORT MAUBERT:(15 mins)
  • L'Ecluse

St Thomas de Conac (12km)

  • Restaurant & Bar next to the Church run by Bill & Phil (Scottish and Irish) , good lunch & evening meals

PLACES TO GO

Mortagne-sur Gironde - our own mini St Tropez. Go to the port, visit the undercover Brocante or the Hermitage, or just watch the boats.

Coast Road from Mortagne to Royan. Very pretty with lots of small ports.

From the Port of Mortagne , towards Port Maubert and past the hermitage is also interesting. This is the Marais and is interesting for bird lovers - kites, storks etc.

Talmont is an enchanting village full of gift shops and restaurants which overlooks the Gironde from a small peninsula. Much of the original fortified town has collapsed into the sea  due to erosion. What remains today is a protected site famous for its Romanesque church (Eglise Ste-Radegonde) and for the profusion of Holyhocks which blaze against the white stone or rough cast walls of the house lining the narrow twisting streets

Meschers – S – Gironde has troglodyte dwellings in the cliffs these are approached through the town (not port) and you need to go up the main street and turn left at Rue de les Grottes. The view from The Caves of Matata bar is spectacular and you don’t have to have the tour of the caves, just have an ice cream at the top near the shop or go down the steps to the even more spectacular view at the outside bar. Don’t eat here unless you really love pancakes and salads, they don’t do much else!

Meschers the Port a small fishing port with many restaurants

Saintes is the prosperous regional capital situated on the River Charente and dates from Roman times. Boat trips are available. It has all the modern shops, supermarkets and restaurants you would expect of thriving city. Places of interest include the Old Town district (Vieille Ville) around the Cathedral St Pierre on the west bank of the river, the Arc de Germanicus on the east bank which is a Roman arch and the Abbaye Aux Dames, also in the east bank, which was consecrated in 1047. To the west of the town is Arenes, one of the oldest amphitheatres of the Roman World, built in the first century AD.

Cognac, the birthplace of Francois 1st and cradle of the fine brandy which bears its name, is a peaceful town, near to its famous cellars which stand darkened by fungi which thrives on the fumes of the alcohol. The cellars and barrel stores (chais) shelter the casks in which the slow alchemy between the alcohol and the oak barrels occurs, bestowing on the brandy of Cognac its distinction and subtlety. Many of these stores with famous names do tours for visitors with free samples. (Hennessy, Camus, Remy Martin, Martell, Otard etc) We are told that Hennessy and Remy Martin are good but you will need to find out the times for the English speaking tours.

Royan, which was once reputed to enjoy more sunshine per year than anywhere else in France, is ideally located on at headland at the entrance to the Gironde. It has many shops and restaurants plus good beaches.  You can take boat trips and also the ferry across the mouth of the Gironde to the Médoc at le Verdon sur Mer

BEACHES 

Between Meschers the Port and the large beach at St Georges de Didonne, there are a number of small cove beaches, some with cafes and reasonable parking.

At St Geoges de Dindone there is a long sandy beach with lots of parking. Take the road to Royan and look for signs to St G de D.

Royan also has several beaches and north of Royan there are lots of nice beaches

The big Atlantic Beach ( about 20km long) is about 45mins drive. You head for La Palmyre which is north of Royan, then  for La Tremblade. Before you get there you will see signs for the  lighthouse,  Phare de la Coubre.  Turn and park, you have to walk a fair distance to reach the beach. The view can be spectacular on a windy day. 

ZOO 

There is a very good Zoo at La Palmyre,

GOLF

There are three 18 hole golf courses near by (20 to 30kms) 

At Royan on the road to La Palmyre there is a  18 hole course plus a small 6 hole course plus a driving range, very popular during the summer.

Saintes,18 hole course, there is  information in the house giving directions to the Saintes golf course

Cognac, St Brice, (18 hole course) take the road to Cognac via Pons and just before entering Cognac turn LEFT on to the ring road in the direction of Angouleme. At the first roundabout take the exit for St Brice and follow the  “GOLF” signs until you reach the course. . There is also a small 4 hole course and driving range

Updated 11 Jan 18

 

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