The leading English language magazine. Now covering Poitou-Charentes, Dordogne, Vendée and Haute-Vienne too!

Aquifers and the water table are frequently out of sight and out of mind, but all this changed for Chris Luck when he met François Lefebvre from Vienne Nature…

We head for a quiet stretch of the Atlantic coast, where the Marais Poitevin meets the Vendée, for a gentle out-of-season amble...

We travel to the fertile plains of southern Vendée, to discover an extraordinary garden whose owner has devoted over thirty years to creating a world apart and who, for a few short weeks each summer, opens its doors to astonished visitors. 

While trunk road improvements and a new high-speed rail line make their marks on the local landscapes a quieter, greener revolution in transport is also taking place, as Roger Moss discovered... 

The Golf du Petit Chêne enjoys an enviable, secluded setting among lakes and woods – the beautifully-landscaped parkland of a gracious château which can trace its history back to the 13th Century. Just 3km from the village of Mazières-en-Gatine, between Parthenay and Niort, it’s conveniently located for golfers in Deux-Sèvres... 

The Domaine des Forges Golf Resort is among the best-known courses in western France, and its readily accessible location between Poitiers, Niort and Parthenay puts it squarely in the sights of golfing aficionados from Belgium, Holland and across the Channel. But for the most part it’s the region’s own golfers who get to benefit from the Domaine’s comprehensive range of facilities... 

We all feel the need to get away to a change of scenery, whether for a weekend or just a day, so here we visit the Deux-Sevres out of season

It’s not every day that you come across a brass band playing in rural France, unless, of course, you live in the heart of Poitou-Charentes, as Roger Moss discovered.

 Autumn golds and russets are guaranteed at this original arboretum in Melle, Deux-Sèvres, where a botanical visit takes you on a 7km walk around the edge of the historical town with its restored washhouses, fountains and Romanesque churches...

For a cool day out head to the fascinating emerald waterlands of the Marais Poitevin where you can hire a boat or simply enjoy the relaxing atmosphere…