Pretty villages and châteaux are close to Le Pouzat and the towns of St Jean d'Angély (10 minutes), La Rochelle, Saintes and Cognac are all within easy driving distance.

St Jean d'Angély sits on the banks of the River Boutonne, and was built on the site of a Roman Villa. Narrow medieval streets, a 15th century clock tower, a 16th century Pillory Fountain and beautiful old houses, makes St Jean d'Angély truly worth a visit. For the young at heart there is also a leisure centre, the indoor Atlantys pool complex, which houses a 54m flume, five swimming pools, a diving pool, a jacuzzi, and outdoor patio area. The town also hosts an outdoor pool, go karting, motocross, pedaloes, canoes, crazy golf, a skate park, a volleyball pitch and a small nightclub.

La Rochelle is a thriving seaport steeped in history. The old harbour has medieval towers, and the old town is still a bustling area full of shops and restaurants. The town hosts an Aquarium and is the home of many international sailing events. Boat trips to Fort Boyard and the neighbouring islands are available from the old harbour.

Cognac, the world famous brandy producing town, stands on the Charente River and is the birthplace of Francois 1. Cobbled streets of the old town and the stunning Parc Francois 1's beautiful lawns, grottoes, streams and bridges, make Cognac well worth a visit.

If you are thirsty, there are organised tours of the Cognac distilleries, where you can sample the brandy and buy some to take home.

In contrast, the town of Saintes dates back to 1st century AD, and many of the towns origins are still intact, including the Arch of Germanicus, the Amphitheatre, and the Musee d'Archeologie, a museum displaying an enormous collection of Roman finds.

The town has a traditional twice weekly market, an attractive pedestrianised shopping centre, and many cafes and restaurants.