Ten minutes drive to a large cathedral town of Lucon with many shops, bars and restaurants plus a local market. The Cathedral Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (photo below left) is superbly illuminated at night to show off it's wonderful facade and gothic steeple Ten minutes drive to the Floral & Tropical Park. Take a tour of the real world of exotic botany and see the beautiful Lotus flowers.

The coast is just 20mins drive passing through L'Aiguillon -sur- Mer. This is a little fishing port where they have the Oyster beds. It is a very un-pretentious port with lots of work going on, small boats are made and repaired here.

La Faute -sur- Mer is a pretty little seaside town, bustling in the season with a good choice of restaurants, also many little boutiques and attractive shops before reaching the superb beaches and pine forests. La Tranche-sur -Mer and Les Sables-d'Olonne are within easy reach.

La Rochelle (photo below left), which is approx 50min drive, is one of the prettiest harbour towns in France. It has beautiful architecture, ancient arcades and harbour restaurants. Ile de Re, which is known in this area as 'The White Island', is a beautiful island to visit and has many restaurants and shops. You can drive along the Island and visit the many small towns. This is a haven for cyclists or walkers.

Puy de Fou - take yourself back in time at this park which has a medieval village and offers a great day out for the whole family with superb falconry displays, jousting tournaments, gladiators in the arena, son et lumiere and many other spectacular sights, with 1000 actors and evening entertainments.