Things to do in Poitou-Charentes

Head out on a boat trip on a 16-meter maxi-catamaran and admire the La Rochelle coast. Your crew will be able to tell you about the local landscapes and history and also a bit more about the boat itself. Meet at the dock located in front of the 2 historic towers of La Rochelle. After an introduction, you will sail up the channel, admiring the Richelieu Tower and the harbor of Les Minimes on the way. Once at sea, the crew will stop the engine and open the sails for you to relax and soak up the views. Enjoy an apéritif if you brought one and take in views of the ocean, enjoying the lights of the end of the afternoon.

Gain entry to the 3 medieval towers of La Rochelle with one ticket: Saint Nicolas, de la Lanterne, and de la Chaîne. Learn about their tumultuous history and royal past. Get your entry ticket for the main attractions in the Old Port of La Rochelle — the 3 Towers. Dating back to medieval times, learn about the tumultuous history of each of these towers.  From prisons for Huguenots and foreign sailors in the 16th-18th centuries, to military prisons in the 19th century, plenty was happening in La Rochelle in times gone by.  Discover the Saint Nicolas Tower dating back to the 14th century. See how it was equipped with royal living quarters, as well as a chapel, while functioning as a defense tower.  Mosey around the De La Chaîne Tower, also dating back to the 14th century. Home to exhibitions since 1998, it used to be a place to collect taxes from incoming boats and the entrance to the port. Learn how the tower was damaged and rebuilt in the 19th century.  Explore the De La Lanterne Tower, the old lighthouse, ship disarmer, and, later, prison for many centuries. Count the 600 graffiti prisoners left on the walls over the years.

Olala opens the gates in Charentes to famous regions and master artisans. Example of program : 9:00am - Pick-up from your stay in Bordeaux 10:30am- Visit at a family run Cognac producer followed by tastings 12:00pm - "Charente"-style lunch in Cognac 2:00pm - Visit at Chateau de Cognac 4:00pm - Visit at at famous Cognac distillery (Hennessy, Remi Martin...) 5:00pm - Leave Cognac 6:30pm - Drop off at your stay in Bordeaux

Cognac is a spirits unlike any others. Cognac has a long history starting 2.000 years ago, it may be considered as one of the first products resulting of globalization. As food or drink, it is one of those with the most different aromas, up to 40 aromas in the greatest cognacs. It can be drunk as an aperitif or digestive, as a long drink or cocktail, paired with an amazing list of food dishes. It is all this that you will discover during the workshop set up as a long journey where luxury and terroir are the red threads. Your expert will introduce you the elixir of gods, help you discover the various distinctive flavors, characteristics, vintages and blends of the great cognacs. Your expert is totally independent of any brand and any producer. He will not hesitate to answer your questions, unveil manufacturing secrets even those most jealously guarded by the world of cognac professionals.

Experience the Harry Potter challenge by the ocean in La Rochelle! The access to the 9 ¾ track has been diverted from King's Cross station! It is in the White City that you must now go to board the Hogwarts Express... As muggles, we call on you to ward off this curse and find the access to the platform! Dive into the adventure by going to the Georges Simenon platform. Be careful: the train will pass in 2 hours! Equipped with your smartphone, you will go through the city looking for each house. To win the game, you must collect 4 code words within the time limit. Thanks to these, you will discover the location of the platform. To validate each passage in the different houses, you will have to guess key clues. You will have to link them together to find THE final code word. You'll solve puzzles, meet wizards, and find bonus cauldrons. The Hogwarts Express will leave in 120 minutes. Tick tock tock... This game is accessible to all and multigenerational. You have the possibility to play in team, for that only one person of each team will have to enter the identifier and the unique code on his device. Then you can start the game simultaneously. You will be able to compare your points and the time obtained at the end of the game. Please note: this activity is an outdoor escape game where the plot is not directly related to the city (although it is held in attractive places in the city center). It is a game on a given theme and not a guided tour of the city.

Before your ride begins, your guide will provide brief instructions on how to operate the Segway. Even if you’ve never done so before, you’ll see that the technology is simple and easy to master. Once you’re familiar with your Segway personal transporter, you’ll head off to see La Rochelle with your guide. During the 1-hour tour you'll take in the following landmarks and monuments: • Le Gabut • Bassin des Chalutiers • Tour Saint-Nicolas • Vieux Port • Eglise Saint-Sauveur • Les Quais • Grosse Horloge • Tour de la Chaîne • Balade Jean-Louis Foulquier • Esplanade Saint-Jean d’Acre • Tour de la Lanterne • Remparts de la Ville • Plage de la Concurrence • Promenade du Mail • Casino • Parc d’Orbigny • Allées du Mail • Rue Saint-Jean du Pérot • Cours des Dames Throughout the ride your guide will provide commentary about the city and the attractions you pass.

Meet your guide and embark on a walking tour of La Rochelle, taking the sights of the Old Town, the City Center, and the Old Port. Known as "La Ville Blanche" (the white city), learn about this popular tourist destination which has a long history and rich cultural heritage. Discover the fantastic medieval architecture of the city, including the famous Lantern Tower and Saint Nicholas Tower. Hear stories of Eleanor of Aquitaine, the antics of Henry IV, and Cardinal de Richelieu. Learn about the modern developments of the city with its picturesque marina, terraces, and tranquil English-style parks.

Before your ride begins, your guide will provide brief instructions on how to operate the Segway. Even if you’ve never done so before, you’ll see that the technology is simple and easy to master. Once you’re familiar with your Segway personal transporter, you’ll head off to see La Rochelle with your guide. During the 90-minute tour, you’ll take in the following landmarks and monuments: • Le Gabut • Bassin des Chalutiers • Tour Saint-Nicolas • Vieux Port • Les Quais • Grosse Horloge • Tour de la Chaîne • Balade Jean-Louis Foulquier • Esplanade Saint-Jean d'Acre • Tour de la Lanterne • Plage de la Concurrence • Promenade du Maille • Parc d'Orbigny • Allées du Mail • Les Parcs • La Bourse • Palais de Justice • Clocher Saint-Barthélemy • Rue de l'Escale • Maison Nicolas Venette • Maison Henri II • Cathédrale Saint-Louis • Salle de l’Oratoire • Marché du XIXéme • Hôtel de Ville • Temple Protestant • Église Saint-Sauveur. Throughout the ride your guide will provide commentary about the city and the attractions you pass.

This year, forget the traditional birthday balloons! Stroll the streets and alleys of the White City with your friend who is celebrating his or her birthday! In teams and in a totally new way, come to the end of a playful urban itinerary dotted with unusual photo and video challenges... It's time to have fun together to create a day of unforgettable memories with your loved one! Arm yourselves with your good humor, your enthusiasm and your courage to carry out our wackiest missions and challenges! Because after all... There's no way this day is going to end the way it started! So offer this fabulous gift to the person who blows out the candles and especially on behalf of the whole team: HAPPY BIRTHDAY

This day-tour takes you on a discovery of the vineyards of Cognac in the famous Grande Champagne area. You will tour with an English speaking "Cognac Educator" (certified by the Cognac Interprofession Association) who will take you from the vine to the glass and teach you about the rich history of this region, evidenced in the local architecture and sceneries. During this tour you will meet local people whose families have produced cognacs for generations. They will show you their estates and distilleries, and even let you sample some of their production. With these visits, truly come to understand the meaning of the French saying "give time to time", as well as the different philosophies behind the production of cognac. You will also visit a traditional cooperage. This visit is only available on week days as the barrel factory is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, French public holidays, and August holidays. If you are taking this tour on a day the barrel factory is closed, you will instead visit some gardens. Established in 2003, the gardens are situated between the slopes of the Grand Champagne area and surround a former estate that has been owned by well-known families in the region. The gardens are actually a combination of 4 thematic gardens, each with its own charm and characteristics. Have lunch with your guide at a typical restaurant popular with the local people. This will be a great opportunity to taste a delicious meal with local drinks and enjoy a moment of French lifestyle. This tour is also an opportunity to discover Romanesque churches and enjoy the typical scenery of a terroir considered by many as the “French Tuscany”.