_{Bordeaux, Cognac, La Rochelle, Limoges, Angouleme and much more – all within easy reach of Les Jonquilles}

Exploring the Area Around Les Jonquilles

The beautifully diverse Deux-Sèvres region is known for its picturesque villages, rolling hills, sunflower fields, and scenic waterways and canals.

Chef-Boutonne

The impressive Château de Javarzay is open to visitors.  For those who revel in history, you can visit the château’s many rooms with its collections of tapestries.  Inside, there is an exhibition retracing the life and work of Jean-François Cail, a bedroom of the Second Empire, a beautiful collection of headdresses and hats, and reconstructions of scenes of the past.

The church Saint-Chartier, one of the first buildings listed as a historical monument in the mid-nineteenth century, is known for its 100 sculptures and a funerary slab engraved in the early thirteenth century. Also worth a visit is the Notre-Dame church, built in the first half of the 19th Century, with its neoclassical style making it look like La Madeleine in Paris.

For those who prefer to travel on two wheels, there are over 30 cycle routes and quiet lanes that lead from Chef-Boutonne to pretty villages, where stunning views and abundant wildlife await. For the anglers, there are five fishing lakes less than an hour away from Les Jonquilles, with the closest one at Château de Javarzay.

Chef-Boutonne boasts one of the largest Saturday markets in the area.  Tourists to our friendly village can mingle with locals and visitors who descend on the town square to browse and purchase fresh local produce, artisan crafts and clothing, or to sit back and enjoy a drink or meal at one of the restaurants or bars.

Restaurants: Hôtel des Voyagers, Pizzeria Jos, Restaurant des Canards.

Bars: Café des Sports, Le Bar Oc, Hôtel des Voyagers.

Supermarkets: Intermarche Super, Coop Atlantique.

Other Useful Information:

Cash machines (ATMs): Intermarche, Credit-Agricole, as well as others in the town square (15 minute walk)

Post office: in the town square.

Fuel stations: Petrol and diesel available at both of the supermarkets.

EV chargers: Intermache and Super U, also in the public car park in the town square.

Places of Interest

There are plenty of activities in and around Chef-Boutonne, which lies close to the Marais Poitevin, known as the Green Venice for its network of waterways and canals. There’s nearby Zoodyssee, the Valley of the Monkeys, Futuroscope on the outskirts of Poitiers, and so much more.

Below we’ve listed a few of the most popular places to visit for days out.

• Poitiers (1 hour) is well worth a visit just for its fascinating history. Once a stronghold of the Dukes of Aquitaine, including Eleanor of Aquitaine, the city has architecture spanning Roman, medieval, and Renaissance times. Keen photographers will find inspiration here. The historic buildings, atmospheric streets, cathedrals, and captivating cityscapes provide countless opportunities for memorable shots.
• Angoulême (1 hour) holds the second-largest comic festival in Europe. International masters of the art form descend on the town every January. You’ll also discover comic book characters drawn on the walls. Another famous 3-day annual event in Angouleme is ‘Circuit des Remparts’, classic car rallies and exhibitions within the city walls.  
• Cognac (1 hour) Famed worldwide for its cognac, obviously, and which is not to be confused with brandy. The difference? Brandy is distilled from fruit juice, including apples, pears, or cherries, whereas cognac is made exclusively from white grapes. Several major distilleries are based here offering tours and tastings.
• La Rochelle (1 hour 30) capital of the Charente-Maritime region. The ancient sea port sits on the Bay of Biscay and is home to Fort Boyard. Great range of tours and activities. The aquarium is fab – open all day too from 9.30am to 8.00pm, with last entry at 6.30pm. A ride on the Ferris wheel gives you unobstructed views of the old port, the towers, and, on a clear day, as far as the Isle de Ré and Fort Boyard.
• Bordeaux (2 hours) is a beautiful city to explore and is well-known for its world-class wines, festivals, art, markets, shopping arcades and historic architecture. It’s also home to ‘the largest digital arts centre in the world’ . Bassins des Lumières, is a digital, immersive lightshow museum in a former German World War 2 submarine base. Well worth a visit.