Manoir de Ponsay

This is a great stopover on the Atlantic coast, between Bordeaux and the Channel ferry [ports. the bedrooms are lovely, the grounds are huge and there is a wonderful pool and jacuzzi to relax in after a tiring day travelling. It is definitely worth staying a couple of days in order to visit the Puy du Fou park, featuring events from French history, which includes a colosseum.

An excellent place to stay, but Sawday's website is seriously misleading in describing it as a Hotel, which it is not and does not pretend to be. It is a most welcoming Chambre d'Hotes with very good facilities and the owners are prepared to provide dinner from time to time. There are pleasant walks nearby and many sights to see in the vicinity. The nearest town is Chantonnay, which like much of France outside the high season seems prone to a lot of "fermeture exceptionelle". Nevertheless we greatly enjoyed our stay and appreciated the hospitality we received at the Manoir.