Things to do and see

The Medieval village of Chef Boutonne is a hidden gem in the heart of the Deux-Sevres department of western France, which is known for its picturesque villages, rolling hills, fields of sunflowers and scenic waterways.

There are plenty of activities in and around the town, which lies close to the Marais Poitevin, known as the Green Venice due to its network of waterways and canals; the town of Cognac, famed world over for his brandies; Bordeaux for its world renowned wines; Angouleme, home of the second-largest comic festival in Europe, where international masters of the art-form descend on the town every January; and of course, La Rochelle, the capital of the Charente-Maritime department, which sits on the Bay of Biscay.

Closer by for fishing enthusiasts, the grounds of the Chateau de Javery, has a carp fishing lake (for a small licence fee) while the grounds provide a perfect place to stop for a picnic. For those who revel in history, you can visit the Chateau'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, part of the first buildings listed as historical monuments 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, its neoclassical style making it look like La Madeleine in Paris.

For those who prefer to travel on two wheels, a wealth of cycling paths and lanes lead from Chef Boutonne, to pretty villages, where stunning views and an abundance of wildlife await.

The friendly village of Chef Boutonne boasts one of the largest Saturday markets in the area. Tourists to this 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 a meal in one of the restaurants and bars.

Restaurants: Restaurant des canards, and Jos

Bars: Hotel des Voyageurs; Cafe des sports; Le Baroc.

Chef Boutonne is just an hour away from the airport in Poitiers. It is two hours from Bordeaux, and just 30 minutes by car from the N10 motorway.

There is a railway station in Ruffec, just 30 mins drive away, with a TGV service (90 minutes) to Paris.