Villa Hirondelles
Saint Jean d'Angely
Saint Jean d'Angely - historic market town in the heart of the Charente Maritime
Just a 12km easy drive from our family holiday rental, villa Hirondelles, lies the historic market town of Saint Jean d’Angely. With a population of just 7000 it has a surprising number of great facilities.
The town boasts a thrice weekly local market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and a smaller Sunday morning one too. Here you can wander the cobbled medieval streets with the locals and pick up fresh fish, oysters and mussels, home grown vegetables, as well as local wines and cheeses. There are also two large supermarkets, E.Leclerc and Intermarché, plus several smaller ones; providing a good array of produce including fresh milk (but not at Lidl) and big familiar brand names (Kelloggs, Nescafé and even PG tips in the foreign foods section)
History of Saint Jean d’Angely
The town of Saint Jean d’Angely has had a long and brutal history. The Abbey is the main feature of the town. It was founded in the ninth century to house a relic of Saint John the Baptist, and rebuilt in the 14th, 17th and 18th centuries because of repeated destruction. The Abbey was then abandoned and is now a listed building.
Saint Jean d’Angely is situated on the pilgrim route that led to Santiago de Compostela ] the edifice still constitutes a major stopping-off point for pilgrims. Since 1989, the Royal Abbey has housed the Centre of European Culture, which has breathed new life into the Abbey by restoring it as a historical and cultural site and as a place for the exchange of ideas.
Saint Jean d'Angely has always been a source of hot springs but now the town is being developed as a thermal spa town.
Restaurants, cafés and bars
After practicing your French chatting to the producers and picking up some local delights for your evening meal you can relax in a café bar and watch the local life go by. There are dozens of bars where you can sit outside and soak up the atmosphere of a small French town. ‘Rum runners’ is a popular one and very central, located on the place du Pilori opposite the tourist information centre. The children can run in and out of the tables and peer into the ornate Pilori well (don’t worry it’s covered !) whilst you enjoy a morning coffee. When my two were young, they used to enjoy dipping their croissants in a large hot chocolate – very French ! The bars tend not to serve pastries but are happy for you to pop over to the boulangerie to pick up your favourite French treat.
The town also boasts a good selection of restaurants from simple bistros to top class cuisine. Le Scorlion is highly recommended ( and we concur) a delightfully 'grown up' restaurant, worthy of a babysitter. Enjoy a night out whilst I (a registered childminder) look after your children in your holiday rental villa. Alternatively enjoy one of the many family restaurants the town has to offer – Le bon vivant and
Le Cabanon bistros, Les Jacobins pizzeria, Le Mareyeur fish restaurant or La creperie de l’Abbeye for some simple crepes. All the restaurants do however not open until 7pm in the evening and many are closed on Sunday and Monday. Check their web sites for up to date opening times. We are happy to make reservations for you.
Atlantys swimming pool centre
For a small town, we are fortunate to have such an impressive indoor swimming facility. The Atlantys swimming pool center features a 25-meter sports pool, a diving pool that reaches a depth of 5 meters, and most importantly, a spacious children's pool equipped with fountains, a hot tub, a baby pool, and a giant slide.
On Saturday mornings from 10 am to 12 pm, during the non-school holiday months of June and September, the pool is dedicated exclusively to children under the age of 4. The water temperature is raised, and the center provides changing mats and potty facilities. The pool is filled with an array of toys, floats, mats, climbing frames, and other fun activities for young children. I visited every week with my two children when they were toddlers, and it’s where they learned to swim at an early age.
During the summer holidays, the pool is open every day. It features direct access to a sunbathing area and a play zone for younger kids, plus a café offering snacks. There are no time limits on your stay. The facility provides clean changing rooms, lockers (requiring a 2€ coin, refundable upon return), as well as toilets and showers. Please note that men and boys (including toddlers) must wear fitted swimwear—loose swim shorts are not permitted, and this rule is strictly enforced. Suitable swimwear can be purchased from a vending machine on-site, but buying it in advance might be more economical.
The Atlantys swimming pool center is conveniently located next to the Saint Jean d’Angely park, making it easy to enjoy a full day of fun.
Saint Jean d’Angely park
The Base de Loisirs near the Atlantys swimming pool center is a fantastic spot for a morning out:
**Getting There:**
- Follow the signs for the hospital and urgences until you see signs for Base de Loisirs or Plan d’eau (the park).
- Parking is ample, but there is only one toilet near the café, so make sure to use it before heading to the play area.
**Activities Available:**
- **Water Activities:** You can hire canoes and pedal boats for a fun experience on the lake. If you're adventurous, there are opportunities to explore the connected river Boutonne.
- **Walking Trails:** There are lovely signposted walks around the park, perfect for a leisurely stroll.
- **Amenities:** The park features a café/restaurant that operates during the summer months, a football pitch, a ping pong table, mini golf, and a skateboard park.
- **Children's Fun:** Kids can enjoy the play park, which includes a rope climbing web.
- **Picnicking:** Don’t forget to pack a picnic to enjoy while feeding the ducks by the water.
This location offers a wonderful combination of outdoor activities, relaxation, and family fun, making it an ideal choice for an enjoyable afternoon!
