The town of Celles sur Belle is not only a beauty by name, but also by its nature. Classified as little city of character, the town is indeed very attractive, with its ancient Abbey and listed church. Celles sur Belle stands on the River Belle, and is located 5 miles to the North.The town was originally built as an extension to the Abbey, for which Celles sur Belle is best known today. The town is full of character and appeal, yet has all amenities required for a comfortable modern lifestyle. The central square, which forms the hub of local life, has shops, a bar, a restaurant and an auberge. In summer, the town is filled with the bustle of tourists, and even in winter there is a great spirit and vitality to Celles sur Belle.

Located 10 miles to the north is Niort, chief town of the département of Deux-Sèvres, lies on the Sèvre Niortaise. All that remains of a castle built by Henry II of England and Richard Coeur-de- Lion is the keep, consisting of two massive square towers, which now houses a museum of folk art and traditions. Other features of interest are the old half- timbered houses in and around Rue St-Jean; the former Town Hall (16th C.), on a triangular plan, now containing the Musée du Pilori, an archeological museum; the church of Notre-Dame, in the west of the town, with an elegant tower and Aubusson tapestries; the Natural History Museum; and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (tapestries, French, Italian, Flemish and Dutch paintings, etc.).

The Vieux Port, the seaward entrance of which is dominated by the two towers, La Tour de la Chaine and La Tour St Nicholas, is the focal point of this bustling coastal town. On summer evenings this area will be buzzing with a variety of activities, street markets, artists, buskers and other entertainers, as well as the lively and the more sedate restaurants and bars offering a wide range of styles of food and drink to suit all tastes. Behind the port the lovely arcaded shopping streets are worth a visit, whatever the weather! Do not miss other attractions in La Rochelle: The Musée d'Orbigny-Bernon with a section on the history of the area, the Musée du Nouveau Monde and the Musee des Beaux Arts, as well as the Hôtel de Ville and other historic fortified buildings of this town with a rather turbulent past. Finally, as with most French towns you should visit the cramped and noisy market square, to purchase your local produce!

The island's capital, St Martin, is a lively, bustling fishing port on the north-east coast. The streets are lines with traditional whitewashed houses which radiate away from the stone quays of the harbour, where sailing yachts, small trawlers and flat-bottomed oyster boats rub fender to fender. The quayside abounds with good restaurants and bars, many of which specialise in fresh seafood; this is a perfect place to sit enjoy a cool drink as you watch the activity of he port and town. There is a small market most mornings where local produce and the day’s catch may be purchased. The streets behind the harbour have many small shops selling a wide range of products from those purely aimed at the tourists (salt containers and models of donkeys in trousers), through nautical bits and pieces to designer clothing. The “donkeys in trousers” can be seen, and ridden, on the edge of St Martin and bicycles can be hired from many locations around the town.

The Ile de Re is a beautiful, long narrow island famed for its many beaches and unique quality of light. It is linked to the mainland by a toll bridge on the North side of La Rochelle. Being only 30km long and 3km wide you are never far from the coast which is fringed with mainly sandy beaches of differing character. One side of the island is more exposed and largely faces the Atlantic whilst the other is more protected and faces the French mainland, this results in beaches with quite varied character on such a small island. A myriad of water sports can be found on the island such as sailing, surfing and canoeing, together with boat trips and fishing trips. During August the big stretches of sand on the Atlantic side can get busy, so for those who enjoy more peace and quiet, the smaller bays and coves on the North-East side of the island are worth a visit.