REGION & Culture

This area is perhaps the most characteristically French of all the regions, with its numerous chateaux, rolling vineyards and meandering rivers, not to mention its wealth of restaurants, weekly markets and briconate (antique markets).

Les Coindries can be found 7km south of Richelieu - famous for its Cardinal of the same name the most powerful man in France during the reign of Louis XIII.  The Cardinal spent his early life at the beautiful (though now partly ruined) Chateaux de Coussay and later building a magnificent palace and town of Richelieu filled with Renaissance statuary, including such as the Two Slaves by Michelangelo and masterpieces by Poussin.  The great palace was later demolished, but the huge park remains including the moat and island on which the Cardinal first built the palace. The park is a wonderful place of a walk or bike ride at anytime of year. This little known citadel is an architectural jewel of France and can be reach in 10 minutes from Les Coindries. Click here. 

A further 20 minutes drive takes you to the lovely fortress town of Chinon offering outstanding examples of medieval architecture. The views over the river Vienne from the battlements of the fortress, that Joan of Arc would still recognise during her imprisonment there.  The town of Saumur can be reached in 30 min with its fairy-tale recently restored castle, with a magnificent gold fleur de lies that gleams in the sunshine overlooks the Loire itself at Saumur.  The historic towns of Tours (north) and Poitiers (south) are approximately 45 minutes drive away.  Both have regular flights from the UK to their airports via RyanAir.

The important, but little known stunning Abbey at Fontevraud that contains the tombs of Henry II and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their son Richard the Lion Heart is only a pleasant 30-minute drive through the Chinon forest.  The towns of Loches, Amboise and the last home of Leonardo di Vinci Clos Lucé are great places for a day out.

For more up-to-date entertainment, Futuroscope, or Parc du Futuroscope is about 25km away. A French theme park based upon multimedia, cinematographic Futuroscope and audio-visual techniques. It has several 3D cinemas and a few 4D cinemas along with other attractions and shows, some of which are the only examples in the world.

There are several renowned wildlife and animal sanctuaries including zoo at Doue La Fointaine, a 14-hectare zoo that opened in 1961 home to some 1000 animals representing about 100 species, and a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  Le Vallee des Singes (Monkey Valley) with the largest concentration of chimpanzees in Europe and the largest gorilla colony in France. Meet 34 primate species in a place where more than 450 animals roam within 18 hectares of a natural wooded park area. Watch feeding-times throughout the day. Since it opened, Monkey Valley has seen over 700 births. There is a mini-farm too, where the children can pet goats and sheep. Game and snack areas.

There are also lots of lovely walks and cycle routes in the area with the latest being the Vélo Verte a 20km route from Richelieu to Chinon which has its own app, click here.