Local Attractions, places of interest,  sights.

What to See and Do at  La Guillonniere Castle

Walk around the park and you'll discover the  Diane's pool, Diane's table, the rose garden,"   the "Long Walk" and more. At the very place where Diane de Poitiers and King François I went riding and hunting.

There's also jogging and board games. You can relax in the sitting rooms, listen to music  or watch television (satellite channels ). Simply rest and relax. There is garden furniture all around the grounds.

If you are patient (and wake up early!)  you can watch in the park dears, roebucks, foxes, squirrels, birds of all kinds, rabbits, hares and more.

A sports ground nicely equipped   for amateur ball  games.

      

 

 

 

Nearby:

At walking distance from the Castle , in   farms  around the property : horse riding, horse carriage , training courses...

At the  Village  ( 3 Km - 10 mn drive) : 

 " La Ferme de Dienne "   Recreation center : Horse riding  -  Poney club  - Caravan and   carriage  trips .

       

And the " Parc Aventure "  of  Dienne  :  "Adventure park " in a 40 hectares forest.

    

A lot of fun for children and adults !  Unrivalled attraction in  Poitou-Charentes !

 

There is a very nice public swimming pool and sports ground in the village of Nieuil l' Espoir, at about 3 Km from the Castle : access by a very quiet country road , crossing  forest  and meadows.

 

 

 

 

Places to visit around la Guillonniere 

    

Visit  Futuroscope near Poitiers with its futuristic architecture and homage to the technologies of tomorrow. See 3D films on the giant ,flat, circular or spherical screens: Dynamic cinema, new video techniques and virtual pictures.

The Futuroscope Park is the unique park in the world where you can spend 1 or 2 days and nights seeing lots of fascinating non stop shows.

The city of Poitiers has a rich history and numerous churches and museums to visit.

 

 

The medieval city of Chauvigny offers a very nice falconry show.

 

 

The vast Romanesque church of Saint Savin is of unequalled architectural beauty with 11th-century  wall paintings listed by UNESCO as a  "Historical Monument of Worldwide Importance."

 

 

There are numerous Romanesque abbeys to visit: Nouaille-Mauperthuis,  Charroux, Liguge, La Reau, Jazeneuil and more.

    

Visit the historical castles: Touffou, Dissay, Gençay, museums, expositions and concerts.

 

 

 

One Day Outings 

Loire Valley Castles : Leaving la Guillonniere in the morning, taking the A10 freeway, you can  visit the marvelous Loire Valley castles: 

Azay le Rideau   Villandry   Amboise  Chenonceau   Chambord   Cheverny

 

     

 

Chateau du Rivau

 

Links  to  Georges d'Alba  superb sites :   Castles , abbeys and sights    you can visit, staying in Château de la Guillonniere:

Amazing Castles of France             Limoges 

 Medieval Castles, cities and abbeys

 

For children, several entertainment parks

There is a snake exhibition in La Tremouille ,Romagne's Monkey Valley, Boating in Payre Islands with miniature harbor, Birds of Prey and medieval falconry show, « sheep and wolf » village...

You can try your luck at the casino in the city of La Roche Posay.

There are several golf courses near by. The closest 18-hole golf course is just 6 kilometers away. Within 25 kilometers of the castle you can find almost any sport of your choice: horse riding, biking, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking, hang gliding and ULM (ultra light flying machines), fishing and hunting.

Gastronomy, shopping , food  and Wine

There are many good and inexpensive restaurants in Poitiers and the local area  in all villages around. Try our local specialties, French and international cooking. Your hosts will recommend to you excellent and beautiful cellars in the vineyards in Haut Poitou,Touraine, Cognac or Bordeaux.

For shopping , supplies : grocery shops and baker in the villages ( 3-4 Km) , several supermarkets in the cities around (7-10 km) .

Superb shopping centers : , fashion and beauty shops in " Les Cordeliers" Poitiers (15 Km)  and  also in Beaulieu, ( 12  Km) , huge Supermarket and fashion shops

Bordeaux Wine Chateaux: After 2 hours of an easy drive on the A 10 to the south, you are in  Saint-Emilion vineyard region ,you can visit superb Bordeaux city ,Medoc vineyards and Châteaux ....Have a look at the web site made by G d'Alba to inform his guests :  Bordeaux Wine Chateaux

You can also take a boat trip on the "Marais Poitevin" also known as "Green Venice."

Discover Cognac, Jarnac, the vineyards and the cellars of precious liquors. You can visit famous Cognac manufacturers.

Visit also Limoges, the  China factories and museums.

Limoges

La Rochelle: In one day you can easily see this superb historical city, visit the superb new Aquarium,  have fish, oysters or a shellfish lunch with a view of the Atlantic Ocean, visit one of the Atlantic Islands: Re, Oléron or Aix and come back to your castle for dinner.

Staying in the Chateau de la Guillonniere, you can go and see many other sites, cities and museums. Your hosts will give you advice according to your tastes and interests.

Visiting  France , before  or after your stay in Chateau  de  la Guillonniere,  you may  want to spend  a  day  in Versailles ... Have a look at the marvelous G. d'Alba's  Sites :

Virtual Tour  of :

           Places to Stay    French Gardens          Castles of France  Chenonceau castle   Chateau de Cheverny   G d'Alba Castles Web Sites

A castle for rent  in France, with  nice  holiday rentals  , vacation rentals and luxury  self catering  accommodations,  welcomes   you. These  self contained accommodations, self contained cottage , vacation properties are located nearby Loire Valley Castles, in France. You can find here : apartments , Deluxe flats , Luxury Bedroom Suites, self catering rooms, guest rooms and suites, self contained holiday home , self catering castle rental , holiday accommodations. You can spend vacations , holidays in this castle . Rent a castle ! This is not an hotel but a private castle , a real  Loire Valley castle , a private  Castle in a quiet country area, in the south of  Loire Valley , near Loire Valley Castles, the   " Chateaux de la Loire" , along the River Loire : you can visit : Blois ,  Chambord , Chenonceau , Azay le Rideau , Amboise ,Chinon , Cheverny ,Villandry , Angers , Saumur, Fontevrault ,Tours ,Touraine , Centre ,Pays de Loire , Poitou  Charentes Romanesque Abbeys and Churches  , the Medieval cities of  Poitou Charentes  , Saint Savin , Chauvigny ,Poitiers , Futuroscope Park , Limoges , Cognac , La Rochelle, one of the nicest region of  France.

 

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