LOCATION AND PLACES TO VISIT We are situated in the heart of the beautiful French countryside, on the Vendée/Deux Sevres border, 50mins drive from Poitiers and 1hr 15 mins from La Rochelle and only a 3hr drive from St Malo. 'Les Glycines', at Les Jinchères, in the village of Vernoux-en-Gatine, is a typically Charentaise-style property set in a peaceful, sheltered valley, overlooking beautiful woodland and is surrounded by wildlife and farmland, some filled with glorious fields of sunflowers, apple orchards and vineyards. Perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of daily life. We are within 30 minutes from both the lovely medieval town of Parthenay and the large town of Niort with its trendy and traditional shops and fascinating daily market, filled with a huge variety of fresh produce including seafood and patisserie. The Futuroscope theme park at Poitiers and the historic, picturesque seaside resort and port of La Rochelle with its beautiful beach, many shops and variety of restaurants are just a short drive away.   There is also the Marais Poitevin where you can hire a boat and spend the day meandering through the waterways.   For beach-lovers there are also the beautiful beaches at the seaside resorts of La Sable D'Olonne and La Tranche. Within 30 mins drive there is an excellent 18-hole golf course at Mazieres-en-Gatine, overlooked by a spectacular chateau. You can also visit the exciting theme park of Puy du Fou which has a 'Hollywood style' outdoor gladiator and viking shows, falconry exhibitions and a spectacular outdoor 'sound & light' show in the evening. Locally, there are several 'plans d'eau' which have a large lake for swimming, usually with a man-made beach and waterslide and many activities such as pedaloes, watersports, crazy golf - something for all the family. For the fishermen/women, the fantastic Pescalis. Europe's premier fishing complex just 10 minutes drive away, which boasts more than 250 acres of lakes with carp up to 25 kilos! Just 10 mins away is the 'Forest of Adventure', crazy golf and an excellent go-kart track. The local villages have bars, restaurants and shops just 4 km away and there are brand new supermarkets and an excellent wine 'cave' just 10-15 mins drive away. The area is perfect for walking, cycling, horseriding, fishing, golfing, painting, or why not just relax and enjoy the glorious sunshine and scenery with a glass or two of wine and some delicious fresh French bread and cheese. Out of season.... The area still has alot to offer. It is extremely beautiful in the spring when the landscape is full of primroses, bluebells and hundreds of other different wild flowers, pretty fruit blossoms and the rolling hills are full of lush green grass and bright sunshine yellow rapeseed. In the autumn, the scenery is rich in autumn colours and for mycologists and bird-watchers there are huge varieties of wild mushrooms and wild birds including owls, woodpeckers and buzzards in the surrounding countryside. We are also perfectly located as a base for househunting in the Vendee, Deux-Sevres and Gironde areas.