Cottages in Poitou-Charentes

There are many beautiful and fun French locations to enjoy your holiday in the holiday hut. Poitou-Charentes offers coastal locations and access to some of the best French landscapes and heritage. All the cottages in Poitou-Charentes offer beautiful mountain scenery, hiking trails and bright beaches in the Mediterranean.

Find cottages in Poitou-Charentes with private pools, dog facilities and all the other amazing features and facilities to help you enjoy a brilliant holiday. You can choose from cozy holiday huts for two or large properties that are ideal for large groups. So, whether you long for rural ghettos framed by rolling green spaces, spectacular Mediterranean villas overlooking the sparkling blue waters or just somewhere cozy and comfortable with plenty of charm, nature house properties are a perfect escape from the gray everyday life.

The amazing nature

Wheat, barley and especially maize are widely grown, and the lowlands around Poitier and the central and southern parts of the region specialize in these crops. Sunflowers are also a key crop in these areas. Brandy, especially cognac(named after a town in the valley of the Charente River), is produced in Charente and Charente-Maritime. Cattle are raised in the Central Massif and the Massive Armor, and dairy cows are raised in the southern de Sevres and in the central eastern regions of the region. Sheep graze extensively in the Montmorillon area of ​​Vienna, while goat cheese is produced around Melle in southern Deux-Sèvres. The cultivation of shellfish, especially oysters, is a major activity in coastal areas.

Marais Poitevin Regional Park

There are many streams and rivers around, shaded by willows and overgrown with emerald green algae. You can ride a boat with a flat bottom, but always with a rower or go-kart - the system is very confusing, it is easy to get lost. For centuries, these lands had to be conquered by seas and rivers, building canals, and dams. The park is located in three departments(Vendée, De Sevres and Charente-Maritime), less than an hour's drive from the Atlantic beaches of La Rochelle.

From the city of Niort in the northeastern part of Poitou-Charentes to the Atlantic Ocean stretches the extraordinary "Green Venice" - a vast swampy area, divided by canals of regular squares. This complex irrigation system was created by the inhabitants of the Poitou region to drain the fields and in 1979 entered the Interregional Reserve.

The Poitou Swamps, known as Marais Poitevin, are a paradise for migratory and waterfowl, and the canals themselves are a mesmerizing sight. The canals are almost entirely overgrown with reeds, sedges and lilies, and the branches of trees and bushes create real green corridors with openwork arches above the water. Exciting flat-bottomed boat rides take place in the water mazes, accompanied by locals. Nearby is the impressive Foret de Chize forest with ancient beeches, oaks and conifers. In the middle of the forest are created conditions for semi-wild habitat of more than 600 species of animals from different continents - this is the European Zoo.

Things to do in the summer in Marais Poitevin

In the Marais Poitevin Regional Nature Park, there are many things to do in the summer to enjoy nature and recharge your batteries.

Take a boat walk in the swamp

In the summer we let ourselves glide on the water with a boat in the swamps. In the shade of the oaks you will surely see a fisherman on a branch watching his next prey. And if you don't make a noise, maybe an otter will dare to show itself. To relax, get off the boat and go visit the smallest villages. For those who do not want to leave the ship, go and meet the traders at water markets.

Leave the car to go on an escape in nature

To discover the Marais Poitevin regional nature park this summer, there is nothing better than leaving your car aside to explore the lands of Poitou by boat, bicycle or on foot. Take a bike ride along the paths of the Poetin Swamp, discover beautiful cities like Coulomb or Arçais and go around the swamps! While walking, the small treasures of Marais Poitevin are at your disposal: vegetable gardens, small ports, towing paths. Take a break to board a boat in the wet swamp. Close your eyes and listen to the sound of birds for a moment of calm. At Marais Poitevin you should leave the car to reconnect with nature!

Discover fishing in Marais Poitevin

Summer in Marais Poitevin, go on a sunny day and try your hand at peach! Fishing is sustainable and resource-efficient: the fish return to the water once they have been caught. For fishing in the region, there are different techniques: fishing for flounder, bait, crabs, mussels and crustaceans. And to spend fun time with family or friends, test the float tube in wet swamps!

Hiking trails in Marais Poitevin

Set off on foot or by bike to conquer the paths of Marais Poitevin! Crossing bridges and paths for a leisurely stroll by the water, in the heart of the woods or even to the ocean! Plan a picnic for lunch in the shade of the oaks, by the water: a beautiful day in perspective!

Enjoy the flora and fauna of Marais Poitevin

In summer, come and admire the flora and fauna of Marais Poitevin. For lovers of animals or nature, quite simply, during a walk, you can spot an otter or a heron in the wild lands of the Marais Poitevin. To observe the birds, go to the many bird sanctuaries in the region. And if the Rosalia of the Alps are numerous, it is also because the flora of Marais Poitevin attracts insects.

A welcoming weather

Poitou-Charentes is one of the sunniest regions on the west coast of France. The mild climate and access to the Atlantic Ocean make this place desirable for tourists, at least from early spring to late autumn. The convenient location, between the castles of the Loire and the vineyards of Bordeaux, allows you to enjoy the best that France has to offer.

Holiday homes Aquitaine in nature? The Aquitaine region covers more than 41,000 km2 and consists of five departments: Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The capital Bordeaux is well known to everyone. Aquitaine is made attractive by its location. To the west lies the sea and to the south the province borders on Spain.

Its oceanfront location makes it a popular holiday destination for surfers. But for you as a nature lover there is also plenty to do.

Cottages in Aquitaine

Natuurhuisje.nl also has a nice selection of rural gites in this region. A gite in Aquitaine must be quietly located and ideal for nature lovers before the gite ends up on Natuurhuisje.nl.

The nature of Aquitaine is very diverse. Because part of the region is adjacent to the national park the Pyrenees and also adjacent to the coast, the altitude difference in the region is great. If you like hiking in the mountains we offer you a holiday home Pyrenees or Dordogne. But we also have a holiday home Dordogne for you near the sea.

Aquitaine has 3 protected natural parks. The Pyrenees National Park is the best known of these. But the regional nature park Périgord-Limousin and les Landes de Gascogne also have a lot to offer. When you think of Aquitaine, you are in fact thinking of the Dordogne region. This region is very popular with holidaymakers and a holiday home in Dordogne is the perfect place to explore this natural region.

National park the Pyrenees

A large mountain range that is partly located in the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The mountain range is located in both France and Spain. A trip to Spain is thus easily made. The Pyrenees have enormous mountain peaks and large lakes. The high mountains provide habitat for a special bird species such as the rock creeper. But also for various other scarce flora and fauna. Enjoy the beautiful views that the peaks of the mountains offer you. After a brisk hike in the mountains, you can relax in your holiday home and enjoy the nearby natural surroundings that the holiday homes Aquitaine on nature house have to offer. The mountains in the Pyrenees are mainly known for their varying character. The mountains sometimes have very steep stretches that are a challenge for hikers and cyclists. Visit a holiday home Dordogne or a holiday home Pyrenees! And you will be amazed by the stunning surroundings.

Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park

When you explore this natural park you will wonder if the Pyrenees are really in the same region. Périgord-Limousin is completely different. The park located in the Dordogne gives you a beautiful example that nature and culture together can form something very beautiful. Look around in an old chateau or take a walk through the hilly green landscape. Make the experience even more complete by spending the night in a bed and breakfast or holiday home Pyrenees near this area. Natuurhuisje gives you the opportunity to choose between unique holiday homes Aquitaine that show you nature.

Regional natural park Les Landes de Gascogne

The Landes de Gascogne area is an enormous protected area of about 290,000 km2. It is an area that is entirely man-made nature reserve, of the time for ecological reasons. That it is man-made is often no longer visible. Nature has gone its own way and that gives it a unique character.

Near all these parks we offer you an Aquitaine holiday home. So you have the choice of what kind of nature you prefer to spend the night in. It is also possible to make a small tour through Aquitaine and different holiday home Aquitaine.

The nature near the holiday homes Aquitaine certainly have a lot of beauty to offer. Look at the advertisement of the holiday home to see what that particular holiday home has to offer.

Cottages in Limousin

The cottages are the classic holiday destination in France and are ideal for holidays, long weekends and school holidays. We hope you enjoy browsing the selection of cottages in Limousin. They range from ancient country estates, radiating character and charm to newly built modern cottages.

Maybe you are looking for a cozy French cottage for 2 or more holiday properties for 10 or more. Remember that many of the ads show clusters of holiday cottages on one site, ideal for a stay where several families are vacationing together. You can refine your search for holiday cottages by region, capacity and activity to get to your list of Limousin cottages that best suit your holiday needs.

Perigord-Limousin Regional Nature Park

Cross-border Haute Vienne and Dordogne, the purpose of the Perigord-Limousin Regional Nature Park is to protect and enhance both the natural, cultural and architectural heritage of the region. The wide variety of landscapes makes this a wonderful place where river mixtures, limestone plateaus, forests, rocks, swamps, lakes ... On these background landscapes develop a rich fauna, such as hopots, hens, ungulates or hawk worshipers. Try to notice the many hiking trails that cross the area. A total of about 2,000 kilometers of trails wait for each address on a particular topic, such as honey plants, bees or rosacea.

Part of the nature park, located in Haute-Vienne, has a beautiful architectural heritage. These include the castles of Chalus, Brie or Montbrun. Stop in the charming medieval town of Rochechouart, dominated by its castle, and look at a giant collapsed meteorite crater that has existed for more than 200 million years. When you are there, look at the sky and enjoy an endless ballet with butterflies and birds flying over the plain.

Flora

The park has many different habitats, so its flora is very diverse. Orchids are remarkable with 25 different known species. Orchids include Anacamptis coriophora, bee orchid, Dactylorhiza maculata, flying orchid, frog orchid and pyramidal orchid. In addition to orchids grow snake's milk, common bellflower, cornflower, predatory Drosera rotundifolia, Equisetum, Gentiana pneumonanthe, enchantress, honeysuckle, mint, Papaver rhoeas, Polygonatum multiflorum and Verbascum thapsus. Fungi are also common with taxa such as Agaricus, porcini, craterellus and truffles. Among the shrubs and trees are Fraxinus excelsior, hazel, malus, Mespilus germanica, oak, Prunus spinosa, Robinia pseudoacacia, sambucus, sweet chestnut and walnut.

Fauna

More than 40 different species of mammals live in the park, including squirrels, common genetics, badger, European squirrel, European mink, European otter, fox, garden dormouse, hedgehog, red deer, squirrel, roe deer and wild boar.

Bats include 12 different species, including barbastella, large horseshoe bat, smaller horseshoe bat, pipistrellus, plecotus, and baleen bat.

The birds are represented by 110 species, for example, barn owl, black kite, redtail, black woodpecker, buzzard, cuckoo, kingfisher, moorhen, robin, great spotted woodpecker, partridge, woodpecker, honey buzzard, hoopoe, jackdaw, owl, nightingale, squirrel ilastovitsa.

Among the reptiles in the park live 12 species, such as the grass snake, Vipera aspis, wall lizard and western green lizard. Amphibians also include 12 species, such as the clever frog, the common frog, the common toad, the European tree frog, the fire salamander and the marble newt. Among the fish are trout, minor, river lamprey and bull.

There are also many different invertebrates, including Austropotamobius pallipes, freshwater pearl mussels and insects such as Caelifera, crickets, Geotrupidae, Lucanus cervus, Lepidoptera and Odonata.

In the heart of the Central Massif

In Limousin you will find landscapes that combine mountains, plains and large lakes - this is the Central Massif. This is exactly the place where you can enjoy nature: the Dordogne Valley, the Milwache and Perigord-Limousin Regional Nature Parks.

In Limousin, nature and art enter into a dialogue: the commune of Crozan, located in the valley of Croesus, attracts impressionist artists. Lake Vassiviere has typical southwestern landscapes full of greenery. Time can stop while wandering around the International Center for the Arts and Landscape of Vassiviere Island and speed up when you are active.

The Correuse department stands out with its traditional cuisine, while Croesse enjoys the wildlife. The Haute Vienne department is known for its decorative arts: porcelain, Limoges enamel and Saint-Junien gloves are made here.

Culinary traditions of Limousin

Writer Antoine Blondin once said, "There are no caviar in Limousin, but there are chestnuts." Chestnut leaves have even become an emblem of the region, and the chestnuts themselves are found in a variety of dishes: in chestnut sausages, in Limousin salad, in baked goods. Chestnuts are next to nuts, apples, fruits(strawberries, raspberries, blueberries), mushrooms and the best types of meat: lamb, pork, game. These delicacies are especially valued during traditional festivals: the Durzanak Chestnut Festival(in the Perigord-Limousin Regional Nature Park), the Limoges Small Belly Festival, fat fairs and the Brive-la-Gaillarde Animal Breeding Festival.

Beef limousine is a delicious, world-famous fragrant meat. Gourmets are delighted with the fruit pies "clafoutis", the pies with nuts, which are so successfully complemented by cider Limousin. Chestnut liqueur or aperitif based on chestnuts, nuts or fruits is known for its rich taste.

Climate

It is often said that the weather in Limousin is humid, that it rains constantly and the sun is a rare sight, but those of us who are lucky enough to live here know that this is definitely not the case. Each department of Limousin experiences a different time and it is possible to bet that you are enjoying a glass of wine in the garden and then a phone call from a neighbor who is not very far away who is in the middle of a heavy hailstorm.

In summer you can see temperatures of 40°С, but in winter it would not be a surprise to see temperatures of -14°С. Winds are not a feature of Limousin's climate, so that we do not stay, we do not get quite gusty days and the planned monitoring of wind generators in certain parts of Limousin shows that it can be quite liquid in the higher regions.