Bienvenue - L'Absie - Places to Visit

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Places to Visit

Moncoutant-Pescalis - 15mn (http://www.pescalis.com)
The premier fishing and nature centre in Europe is based just 15 minutes away. Pescalis is a fishing paradise for both old-hands and beginners. Set in land of 150 hectares, nearly 100 of which are lakes, Pescalis caters for all types of freshwater fishing.

Niort - 45 mn (http://www.niortourisme.com)
From its humble origins as a village nestled in a bend of the Sèvre-Niortaise river, Niort has grown to become the capital of the Deux-Sèvres départment.The impressive medieval Donjon (Keep) houses an archaeological museum and there is an excellent 19th-century covered market (Food and flowers) nearby. The market is open on Thursday and Saturday mornings from very early until 12.30, with occasional Sunday opening. There are also pleasant riverside walks below and downstream from the Donjon.

Futuroscope - 1hr 15mn (http://www.futuroscope.com)
The Futuroscope is a hi-tech environment giving visitors a chance to experience breathtaking adventures on land, sea and even into outer space. Using the latest projection-system technologies many of the auditoriums will make you feel like you're really in the environment being shown.

Puy-de-Fou - 55mn (http://www.puydufou.com)
Puy-de-Fou is a magical land where Roman gladiators still do battle, and Vikings continue to launch attacks on fortified castles. The park of 40 hectares is split into several zones each representing a different period of history.

Parthenay - 30mn (http://www.cc-parthenay.fr)
Located on a spur of rock next to the River Thouet, Parthenay dates from the Middle Ages. Running through the town from North to South was the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. A number of structures from this period still exist, including the church of Saint-Jacques (Saint James), with Saint-Jacques' bridge, the town gate just beyond and the timbered houses of Rue de la Vau Saint-Jacques.

Marais Poitevin - 45mn (http://www.marais-poitevin.fr)
To the west of Niort is the Marais Poitevin, a maze of waterways and luxuriant vegetation. There are many marsh villages with quay sides, towpaths and white cottages with roman pantile rooves. One of these villages, Coulon, is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Here you will find the 'maison des Marais Mouillés', a visitors centre illustrating the traditional lifestyle and customs of the marshes and the 'Aquarium de la Venise Vert' showing the freshwater fauna of the Marais Potevin. To explore the very heart of the Marais Poitevin, why not take a trip on a punt or in a rowing boat? Both guided and unguided trips are available lasting from 30 minutes to 3 hours.

Fontenay-le-Comte (http://www.ville-fontenaylecomte.fr)
A member of "The Most Beautiful Places to visit in France" association, 86 hectares (containing over 1700 buildings) of Fontenay-le-Comte are preserved within a unique Vendée conservation area. Discover the Rue des Loges with its half-timbered houses and the Place Belliard with its elegant houses and arcades, or climb to the top of the Notre-Dame church bell tower for a panoramic view of the town. Numerous festivals, concerts and exhibitions throughout the year make Fontenay-le-Comte well worth a visit.

Mervent (http://www.tourisme-sudvendee.com)
Set on the shores of a reservoir in the middle of a forest, Mervent provides numerous opportunities for sporting and leisure activities, including: walking, horse-riding, mountain-biking, rock-climbing, sailing and swimming.

La Rochelle - 1hr (http://www.ville-larochelle.fr)
For centuries, the ancient walled city of La Rochelle was an important maritime port, but is now a thriving tourist centre. St Nicholas's Tower and The Chain Tower stand as impressive guardians of the harbour entrance. It is possible to climb to a lookout platform where there is a wonderful view of the old harbour and surrounding town.
Just a short walk from the towers in the Old Harbour is the La Rochelle Aquarium, a marine environment created using more than 3 million litres of seawater, which houses exhibits of the flora and fauna of the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the tropics.

Beaches
Île de Ré: There are long strips of fine sandy beaches surrounding the 10 villages on this island lying offshore from La Rochelle. Some of the beaches have been awarded the European Blue Flag, and the villages of Le Bois-Plage, La Couarde, La Flotte and Les Portes all have kids' clubs during the summer with swings, trampolines and games, etc.
Châtelaillon: A few kilometres to the south of La Rochelle lies the bustling seaside resort of Châtelaillon with a vast beach of fine sand that stretches over a distance of almost three kilometres between Plage des Boucholeurs and Plage de Saint-Jean des Sables. The beach is considered to be one of the safest on the Atlantic coast. There is a water complex with a giant flume, and during the summer months kids clubs and a sailing school.