Activitées locaux à Boureverre et aux alentours
Pêche
If you enjoy fishing, Bourdeverre is the perfect holiday location for you. Set in lovely, peaceful surroundings in the grounds, the property has a large private fishing lake just a short stroll away from the farmhouse, gîtes and mobile homes. Guests staying at Bourdeverre also have private access to the River Vonne, which passes through Bourdeverre's land. Both the lake and the river may be fished 24 hours a day, free of charge.
Bourdeverre's lake is well stocked with tench, pike, roach and carp, many of which weigh more than 6kg. John is available should you need any tips or advice about bait or fishing techniques. He is also happy to help novices get started! Bourdeverre is also ideal for children wishing to have a go at fishing for the first time... and for non-fishers, a barbecue and outdoor table & chairs have been provided for lakeside picnics and barbecues!
Bourdeverre offers anglers Bed & Breakfast accommodation in the farmhouse or self-catering accommodation in the mobile homes or gîtes. Bed & Breakfast anglers also have use of a fridge and a barbecue during their stay. Packed lunches are available to order; supper may be booked in advance for 15€ per person (12€ for under 10s). Bed & Breakfast anglers may also request a laundry service.
Three miles away is "Le Grand Étang", a 12-acre private fishing lake stocked with mirror and common carp, tench, roach, pike, perch and zander. The lake is surrounded by agricultural land, with various types of natural swims to test both sport and social fishing. Nature lovers will also enjoy looking out for deer, wild boar, herons, kingfishers and Montagu's harriers around the lake.
Being privately owned, "Le Grand Étang" has no closed season and can be fished both day and night. The price of a day ticket for up to three rods is 10€ (dawn to dusk). Night fishing costs an extra 10€. Fishing is free for under-16s. The lake may not be a specimen hunter's first choice (fish weigh up to 9kg), but it really is an excellent venue for both serious anglers and fun family fishing trips.
"Le Grand Étang" was created during the 1700s, as was the impressive "Château de Marconnay", which overlooks the lake. The château is open to the public all year round and has a friendly café and bar. It also has a taverna, which is extremely popular for lunch and evening meals.
Animals
Swimming pool
Sanxay and the Site Gallos-Romain
Bourdeverre is located between the lovely towns of Poitiers and Niort in the heart of the Vienne countryside in western France. The pretty riverside town of Sanxay - famous for its Roman remains - is just minutes away from the farmhouse. The Atlantic coast and the port of La Rochelle are an hour away.
Sanxay's impressive Gallo-Roman settlement is within walking distance of Bourdeverre. The ancient remains of the temples, thermal baths and amphitheatre are some of the best preserved in the world. And each summer, the amazing acoustics of the amphitheatre are put to good use when Sanxay hosts open-air concerts and operas for audiences of up to 2,000 people!
Sanxay itself is a bustling medieval town with an 11th-century church and several 16th-century houses. The River Vonne flows through the town and is a delightful picnic spot. For everyday shopping, Sanxay has a bakery, a grocery shop, a tabac and a bar with a restaurant. For a greater choice of shops, the larger town of Menigoute has several bars and restaurants, a bank and a garage with a petrol station.
On the banks of the river, Sanxay has a leisure park where you can hire canoes & kayaks to explore the Sanxay by water. The leisure park also has an open-air swimming pool, a children's paddling pool, a play area, pedalos and a bar. In addition, boating, go-karting, fishing, horse riding and an excellent golf course are all within easy reach.
Wildlife
The beautiful countryside around Bourdeverre is perfect for both walkers and cyclists (the Tour-de-France came through the area in 2005). The fields of sunflowers and hedgerows with colourful wild flowers attract a multitude of butterflies and bird life, such as buzzards, herons, hen harriers, kestrels, hoopoe and woodpeckers. If you bring your binoculars, you may even be able to spot our resident owls nesting in the barn.
Chateau Marconnay
Other interesting places to visit in the immediate vicinity are the medieval "Château de Marconnay" and the "Mouton Village" at Vasles. "Château de Marconnay" has a private fishing lake (Le Grand Étang) and a very popular local taverna with an interesting menu. At "Mouton Village", you can stroke and feed the lambs - a delight for young and old alike.
In addition to "Le Grand Étang", anglers of all abilities are very welcome to use Bourdeverre's private lake which has been stocked with carp. It is also possible to fish along a stretch of river which flows through Bourdeverre's land.
Tourist attractions
If you fancy exploring further afield, "La Vallée des Singes" (Monkey Valley), "Futuroscope" and the glamorous towns of Poitiers and La Rochelle are all well worth visiting.
Poitiers is just 20 minutes away from Bourdeverre and has dozens of narrow, winding shopping streets which lead up to a central square and the town's superb church of Notre-Dame.
La Rochelle and the Atlantic beach resorts are about an hour away. La Rochelle has a sandy beach, a fabulous aquarium, pedestrianised shopping streets and a gorgeous harbour with a huge choice of mouth-watering seafood restaurants.
If you're feeling really adventurous, drive across to Ile-de-Ré, close to La Rochelle. The island has something for everyone - beaches, interesting architecture, picturesque villages, water sports and fabulous views. And we heartily recommend a lazy lunch in one of the seafood restaurants overlooking the harbour...
