The gastronomique St Pierre restaurant is 1 minutes walk from the house. The Carpe d'Or restaurant and bar overlooks the lakes of the Pescalis nature and fishing centre, 15 minutes walk away. In the village square is another lunch-time restaurant/bar, and there are several other excellent restaurants nearby.

Many of the vinyards of the Loire can be visited to try the local Muscadet and Pineau.

The large Super U in Moncoutant is of a very high standard - the local Parthenaise steak is the best quality, and there is a good fish, cheese and charcuterie counter, plus excellent seasonal vegetables and fruit, plus a wine section. The Moulin des Sevres boulangerie makes the best pastries and cakes we have ever tasted
 

The area is unspoilt and peaceful, with lovely rolling countryside, suitable for touring, walking and cycling. There are traditional markets in Parthenay, Bressuire, Coulonges and Fontenay, and an artisans market every Sunday in the summer at Pescalis fishing centre

Heres some ideas for days out:

Walking & cycling routes – there are many in the area & guides are available at the property.

Parthenay (30 mins to the east): pretty medieval town with good restaurants. Market on Wednesdays. On the way back stop at the “plan d’eau” at Secondigny – lake, walking, fishing and picnic area. Or head north towards Thouars and visit the Chateau at Oiron with its modern art exhibition www.oiron.monuments-nationaux.fr/en.

Mervent Forest (30 mins): one of the largest woodlands in France with walks in the forest or by the lake where you can go boating or fishing. Continue on via Vouvant (a pretty artists’ town) to Fontenay-le-Comte, a larger town with good backstreet restaurants near the Church at the top of the hill. Market including fish market on Saturdays.

La Rochelle (1 ¼ hrs): Famous port is a must with its harbour-side sea food restaurants, quayside markets, cobbled streets plus museums, shopping and aquarium. Continue on to the Ile de Re with its beautiful beaches, or go south where there are more lovely sandy beaches, starting with Aytres.

Venise Verte (green Venice) (50 mins) – the Marais Poitevin national park – a network of canals and waterways stretching all the way to the coast. Coulon and Arcais are very pretty towns and you can either hire a bike, or take a canoe or punt and spend a relaxing afternoon amongst the leafy green waterways. On the way back visit the market at Coulonges sur l’Autize (Tuesdays).

Puy du Fou www.puydufou.com/uk (45mins to north west)
An incredible historical theme park by day with battle re-enactments by gladiators in a full-size colosseum, jousting medieval knights, Vikings, and hunting birds “dancing” to music. By night the population of 15 communes retell their story in a “son et lumiere” spectacle of fireworks, fountains, lasers and stunt riding against the flaming background of a ruined fortress. Advance booking required during the summer months.

Loire Valley: why not drive to Chinon or Saumur and then head east as far as you want, visiting chateaux and vineyards as you go!

Abbeys & Churches: Moncoutant & Bressuire have lovely churches. Also worth a visit are the abbeys of Maillezais and Nieul sur l’Autise to the south east.

Sport: fishing at Pescalis, 9 golf courses within an hour, windsurfing

Go-karting is available at nearby Chantemerle. Or go and see the ostrich farm and maize maze at Courlay. Futuroscope at Poitiers is a futuristic theme park with 3-D Cinerama and evening laser show www.futuroscope.com/eng/. There’s also a waterpark to the north at Massais.

There are also many "Plan d’eau" in the area – lakes with man made beaches for a relaxing day by the water.

Details of all the above and more are available at the house.