It’s so quiet and restful here at La Maison Blanche and with the woods all around us you are guaranteed woodpeckers by day and owls by night for company. Oh and not forgetting the frog chorus in the springtime emanating from Claude’s pond in the woods when the frogs get a little ‘amoureuse’ shall we say.
Perfectly situated
La Maison Blanche is situated in a tiny hamlet a very short walk from the little town of Saint-Romain-de-Benet. It’s in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the Department of Charente Maritime, which is on the Atlantic west coast of France. Living here we are now officially known as Saint-Rominoises!
We live next to three natural springs, ‘Trois Fontaines’ as our address suggests. One of the springs is directly opposite the house. It’s on a tiny track that winds its way into the village between the woods and the fields. In summer the fields are planted with either sunflowers or maize. It’s sight to behold when there are swathes of bright yellow sunflowers as far as the eye can see.
Our lovely little village
Following the track for a ten minute stroll, you pass the second natural spring and picnic area. The track continues to lead on to the square of Saint-Romain-de-Benet. Our lovely little village has a patisserie, a boucherie, Simon’s bar. This is also our post-office, coffee bar, tabac, newsagents and shop. Of course there is the grand architecture of the Mairie or ‘Town Hall’ across the road. Also, the beautiful XII century church of Saint Romain with two unusual round domes and a square bell-tower.
Sandy beaches on our doorstep
On our doorstep, and literally minutes away, is the beautiful Abbaye de Sablonceaux. It’s a former Augustinian monastery established in 1136 by William X, Duke of Aquitaine. We are 20 minutes from the coast and the wonderful sandy beaches of Meschers, Royan and Saint-Palais-sur-Mer. Need I say more.
There is so much to see and do very close by. There are nearby airports in La Rochelle, (1 hr ), Bordeaux, (1 hr 45 mins), Poitiers (1 hr 45 mins), Limoges (2 hrs 10 mins) and Nantes (2 hrs 15 mins).
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