Excellence Luxury Villas · Vendée & Charente
Luxury Chateaux and Country Houses in the Vendée and Charente
Chateaux, manoirs and stone farmhouses between the Vendée bocage, the cognac vineyards and the Atlantic
As featured in
Chateau country between the Loire and the Gironde
Between the Loire and the Gironde lies a stretch of western France that the French holiday in and the British have a habit of driving straight through on the way south. That is their loss. Here you find hedgerowed farmland in the Vendée, vineyards grown for cognac in the Charente, and an Atlantic coast of oyster beds, salt marshes and long sandy beaches.
Our collection here runs to 43 properties, and most of them are chateaux: turreted houses in their own parkland, elegant manoirs, and stone barns and farmhouses converted in the Charentais style. Several are big enough for a wedding party or three generations of a family under one roof.
Below you will find the lie of the land, what to see and when to come.
The Vendée and Charente at a glance
- Properties
- 43 chateaux, manoirs and country houses, with up to 22 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,900 to £7,000 a week, from around £1,500
- Best areas
- The Vendée bocage around Menomblet, Saintonge near Pons and Avy, and the coast
- Highlights
- The Puy du Fou, the cognac houses, La Rochelle's old harbour and the Île de Ré
- Getting there
- Nantes, La Rochelle and Bordeaux airports, depending on the house
Browse all 43 properties in the Vendée and Charente
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
The Millhouse | 10-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Annepont Le Mung10 bedrooms
Villa Belle De Nuit France7 bedrooms
Chateau De La Croix France9 bedrooms
Chateau De St Louis France10 bedroomsWhere to stay in the Vendée and Charente
The Vendée bocage around Menomblet for the Puy du Fou, Saintonge near Pons and Avy for cognac country, and the coast from Les Sables-d'Olonne to La Rochelle and the Île de Ré for beaches and seafood.
Hedgerows, hill towns and a theme park like no other
Inland Vendée is bocage country: small fields, thick hedgerows, sunken lanes and low wooded hills around Pouzauges, whose medieval keep looks out over it all. Menomblet sits here, above the River Lay, a quiet village where a chateau in its own grounds looks entirely at home.
The big draw is the Puy du Fou, a historical theme park near Les Epesses with Roman chariot races, Viking longships and jousting knights, and the Cinéscénie, a vast night-time show staged on summer evenings. Most children rank it above the beach, which tells you something.
Vineyards, Romanesque churches and a twelfth-century keep
South of Saintes, around Pons and Avy, the land rolls gently through vineyards and pale stone villages, most of the vines grown for cognac and Pineau des Charentes. Pons is crowned by a twelfth-century keep, and its old pilgrims' hospital on the road to Santiago de Compostela is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Cognac is around half an hour's drive away, and the great houses on the banks of the Charente open their cellars for tastings. Saintes has a Roman arch and amphitheatre, and Angoulême, further east, has ramparts, a Romanesque cathedral and an international comic strip festival each January.
Old harbours, islands and green canals
The Atlantic is never far away. La Rochelle has an old harbour guarded by medieval towers, arcaded streets and fine fish restaurants, and a bridge carries you over to the Île de Ré, a place of bicycles, salt marshes and whitewashed villages. Rochefort, to the south, has the Corderie Royale, the long naval ropeworks built under Louis XIV.
On the Vendée coast, Les Sables-d'Olonne has a long sandy beach and is where the Vendée Globe, the solo round-the-world yacht race, sets off every four years in November. Inland from La Rochelle lies the Marais Poitevin, a maze of tree-lined canals best explored by flat-bottomed boat.
Browse houses in the Vendée
Oysters, Pineau and long summer evenings
This is good country for eating. Oysters come from the Marennes-Oléron basin, mussels turn up as mouclade, in cream with a hint of curry, and Charentais melons are at their best in high summer. In the Vendée, look out for préfou, a garlic bread served with the aperitif, and brioche vendéenne. Start dinner with a chilled glass of Pineau and finish it with cognac, as the locals do.
May to September is the main season, with long light evenings and the Puy du Fou in full swing. Early autumn brings the grape harvest and quieter roads. Our concierge can arrange cognac house visits, oyster tastings, Puy du Fou tickets, caterers and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in the Vendée and Charente
Le Clos du Village France17 bedrooms · sleeps 34From £8,089 a week
Maison Ile de Re France5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £7,000 a week
Chateau De St Louis Keep France8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £6,961 a week
Chateau De La Vie France11 bedrooms · sleeps 22From £6,504 a week
Chateau De Vigner Estate France13 bedrooms · sleeps 26From £6,396 a week
Chateau Serbise Estate France19 bedrooms · sleeps 38From £5,800 a week
Maison des Pivoines | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Cherval6 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £4,874 a week
Chateau Roussignol | 12-Bedroom Chateau with Private Pool in Ciron12 bedrooms · sleeps 28From £4,801 a weekWhy book your house in the Vendée and Charente with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Our chateaux here are spread across three departments, from the Vendée bocage to the cognac vineyards, and we know which are an easy drive from the Puy du Fou, the coast or a good village market. With 43 properties in the Vendée and Charente, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Cognac house visits and tastings, Puy du Fou tickets, oyster tastings, private chefs and caterers, wedding and celebration planning, car hire and transfers from Nantes, La Rochelle and Bordeaux. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best area to stay in the Vendée and Charente?
The Vendée bocage around Menomblet and Pouzauges suits families heading to the Puy du Fou. Saintonge, near Pons and Avy, puts you in cognac country with Saintes and Cognac close by. If you want beaches and seafood, choose a house within reach of La Rochelle, the Île de Ré or Les Sables-d'Olonne.
When is the best time to visit the Vendée and Charente?
May to September is the main season, when the coast is at its best and the Puy du Fou is open with its evening shows. September and October bring the grape harvest in cognac country and a quieter, golden feel.
What is the Puy du Fou?
It is a large historical theme park in the Vendée bocage, near Les Epesses, with shows that bring Roman games, Vikings and medieval knights to life. Its Cinéscénie is a huge night-time spectacle held on summer evenings. Tickets go quickly in high season, so our concierge can book them for you in advance.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in the Vendée and Charente?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in the Vendée and Charente cost?
Across our 43 properties in the Vendée and Charente, weekly rates typically range from £1,900 to £7,000, with the most affordable from around £1,500 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to the Vendée and Charente?
Nantes is the most convenient airport for the Vendée, La Rochelle for the coast, and Bordeaux for southern Charente-Maritime, around an hour and a quarter from Pons by road. Many British families drive down from the Channel ports, and TGV trains link Paris with La Rochelle and Angoulême. Our concierge can arrange transfers.
Are there houses in the Vendée and Charente for large groups?
Yes. Our Vendée & Charente collection includes properties with up to 22 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
Explore More Destinations
Find your house in the Vendée and Charente
43 chateaux and country houses between the Vendée and Cognac, booked direct with our concierge on hand