To visit around us
Pons, in Charente maritime, is a small medieval town on a rocky promontory, on the way to Santiago de Compostela starting from Tours.
The cliffs once sheltered men from prehistoric times and the Gallic tribe of Santons had formed an oppidum, a large village. They were called "the oppidum of the santons of independence" (the non Saintes and Saintonge comes from the Santons).
The Romans settled in Pons, some remains were found there such as the thermal baths. As in Saintes, the buildings were used as quarries to build the medieval town.
To visit the port of Brouage near Marennes, it has a common history with Pons and the great travelers Champlain and Pierre Dugua de Mons.
Discover the rural and bucolic path along the Seugne in the city center. The islands are accessed by wooden footbridges and all these large trees which form the alluvial forest inspire poets and painters!
From the house we have access to all these places on foot.
Also on foot you can go to the castle of enigmas for a tour or for an ""escape game"".
The structure of the city has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries, the history of our city is rich and eventful. I like to tell it to you.
We visit the keep built by Lord Geoffroy 3 in 1187, after the destruction of the first keep by Richard the Lionheart.
The UNESCO-listed pilgrims' hospital is a beautiful architectural ensemble with a medicinal garden, which can be visited.
You must discover the Pons house, flanked on the rock, it dominates the impetuous Seugne river.
The current main building was rebuilt by Marshal Phoebus d'Albret, after the destruction of the castle in 1622 by the armies of Richelieu, after the siege of La Rochelle in 1621.
Discover the small medieval streets "under the walls" which go down to the river, or the Chemin de Saint Jacques which crosses the town, the small Saint Martin cemetery with concessions dating from the 16th century.
In summer in Pons you can enjoy festivals such as the fadas du barouf, the Bouchon de Pons, the Eurochestries and other current events as well as the Friday evening night markets on the Place du Donjon.
We are well located between Cognac, its distilleries, its vineyards and Saintes which was the Roman capital of Aquitaine.
We visit the small town which holds treasures, such as the Saint Eutrope church, the ladies' abbey, the arch of Germanicus and the Gallo-Roman amphitheater.
You have to stroll through the small streets of the old town and attend the very pleasant food markets.
Jonzac, a spa town, is located 20 minutes from us.
An aquatic complex ""Les Antilles"" welcomes the whole family.
Jonzac Castle can be visited, it dates from the 15th century and was built by the Sainte Maure family.
Also 20 minutes from the house, head for the Gironde estuary.There we discover steep landscapes, cliffs dating from the Cretaceous period, customs paths, caves to visit, beaches, or sheltered conches for swimming sheltered from the wind, small ports like Meschers, Mortagne sur Gironde, small villages classified as Talmont and further north, Mornac sur Seudre. Saint Georges de Didonne, Royan, the main coast, the banks of the Charente, after cognac, Bourg sur Charente, Jarnac sur Charente, enjoy river tourism with a small barge cruise....all these destinations are nearby as well as Rochefort 55 km away and La Rochelle or Bordeaux 1 hour by car via the highway
In short, the estuary, with its topography, offers treasures for the view and very pretty walks!
As for restaurants, we have good restaurants and we will be happy to advise you
We can organize a visit to the cognac cellar, a tasting in a small cognac house.
you can also visit the Baron cooperage in Saintes, the house of vines and flavors in Archiac, the castle of Barbezieux to the east and further still Villebois Lavalette, the Mercerie, Angoulême,
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