Location and Attractions

La Forge is in the village of Thenac in the heart of beautiful countryside. It is surrounded by vineyards, sunflowers fields, rolling countryside and smooth quiet roads (a cyclists dream). Within 5 minutes walk of La Forge you will find 2 restaurants (one also with takeaway pizzas) a boulangerie, post office, general store, hairdresser, other small shops and public telephone. In Gemozac, a 10 minute drive away, you will find two Supermarkets.

The Gironde estuary is a quiet 15 minute drive away and provides us with a micro climate that makes this the second sunniest part of France. Along the estuary you will find delightful marinas and wonderful restaurants with delicious sea food platters. Your information pack includes a list of recommended restaurants in the area and will help you make the most of your time with us, whatever you want to do.

Royan and St. George are 40 minutes away where you will find wonderful beaches of golden sand. Nearby is Meschers where the beaches are coves. Along the coast there are many more fine beaches.

There are wonderful historic towns to explore. Enjoy the beautiful port of La Rochelle and its Sunday market. Explore Saintes the old Roman capital of the area, in the summer take a boat trip on the Charente river. Sample the old town of Cognac with its famous Brandy producers - enjoy a guided tour and free tasting. Visit the pretty fishing port of Mortagne, the market town of Mirambeau and the fishing village of Port Maubert. Discover Talmont with its delightful arts and craft community.

Many of the towns and villages in the area have markets that can absorb many hours of exploration. In addition Futurescope and the award winning zoo at La Palmyre are very popular attractions. "Les Antilles de Jonzac" offers indoor swimming pools, beaches, tropical gardens and lagoon all year round regardless of the weather outside.

You may want to enjoy the many outdoor activities that are available in the area. These include golf (4 courses within 1 hour - please see www.golftoday.co.uk), cycling, walking, horse riding, fishing, tennis, go-karting and water sports. The big skies and wonderful colours make this area a must for artists and photographers.

The beautiful wine regions of Medoc, St Emillion, Cotes de Bourg and Cote de Blaye are within an hour's drive of La Forge.

Please also note that if you are looking for a home in this wonderful part of France, www.kaydreamhomes.com.fr has a regularly updated selection of properties.