Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is located where the departments of the Charente and Dordogne merge and only 5 minutes from Manoir de Longeveau, one of our favourite family friendly escapes.
Aubeterre is home to the Monolithic Church of Saint Jean, one of the most important rock hewn, subterranean churches in France. It was originally carved into the limestone cliff in the 7th centaury.
Wandering through the medieval streets there is plenty to discover, from pretty boutiques, food and wine emporiums to art galleries, glass and ceramics studios. Further on and into the heart of the village there is a great selection of restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlours and bars nestled within a very pretty square, all providing the ambiance and charm associated with this picturesque region.
The river Dronne curves romantically around the base of the village and offers a respite from summer temperatures with a good sized river beach, children’s play area, restaurant and facilities.
There are Kayaks, pedelos and paddle boards available for hire and the summer months bring an array of events, offering activities for the whole family. The river beach is an easy solution for parents with adventurous little ones, providing a safe way to enjoy water and sand play!
All of this only a short drive , fun bike ride or walk through lanes and woodland trails to the holiday resort, Manoir de Longeveau. With 32 beautifully renovated 17th centaury stone properties, there are options for families of all sizes.
The well-equipped self catering properties range in capacity from 2 – 10 guests, with space for extra beds and baby cots and sofa-bed options. These cottages all have something unique to offer and the family focussed resort provides lots of little extras from extensive baby / toddler packs to arrival shopping service, all designed to make traveling with little ones as hassle free as possible.
The former Cognac estate offers guests an on-site bar and restaurant, heated swimming pools; including a children’s splash pool, children’s club, play parks, three tennis courts, 9-hole golf course, table tennis and lots of outdoor toys and games. In season there is weekly archery and wine tasting.
The Children’s club (‘Club des Enfants’) is run by a qualified team and invites children from 0-7 years to enjoy a Variety of activities three mornings a week.
This part of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region provides an accessible and charming holiday experience where you can enjoy life at a different tempo with less traffic and crowds than in some of the larger towns. There are many local activities and stunning days out available including a trip to the largest market in the Perigord and river boat cruise or gastronomic restaurant experience in Brantome, ‘the Venice of the Dordogne’.
The team at Longeveau are also on hand to organise and recommend activities to entertain the whole family. From tree top adventures in Poltrot or Angouleme, horse riding, water parks and aqua games to local farm visits where children are invited to feed the animals or a day trip to La Palmyre Zoo.
With a solid track record of fun filled family holidays Longeveau gets booked up far in advance. So, if you would like to explore this beautiful corner of South West France, we highly recommend that you enquire now for 2023 – early booking discounts are available for some periods!
