Taste the holidays in the countryside in the Vienne

Try the nature and sporting activities of the Vienne for an unforgettable vacation in France!

La Vienne is a family department rich in leisure activities, close to Paris (1h30 by train)! Whether you want to spend a sporting or relaxing holiday in the countryside, discover a selection of activities to share with your loved ones.

Enjoy walks along the river or in the forests

La Vienne offers beautiful walks along the river. During your holidays in the countryside in France, take a walk on the landscaped paths of the towns crossed by the river of the Vienne. For example, visit the state forest of Châtellerault or the Moulière Forest in Montamisé, the largest in the department.

The Croix Blanche trail in Chauvigny allows you to discover the imposing medieval town on the riverbank, while enjoying the unmissable view from the viaduct. In L'Isle Jourdain, hiking trails offer you another superb view of the Vienne, the main river of the department. 

À PoitiersTake a stroll in a protected setting along the Clain River, from the Chasseigne Mill to Îlot Tison. This nearly 3 km walk is ideal for getting some fresh air with family or friends. Along the way, you'll find a playground, football and basketball courts, a skate park, fitness equipment, and more. Once you reach Îlot Tison, treat yourself to a well-deserved break at the... Guinguette Pictave. The bravest can make a detour to the viewpoint of the Dunes, to enjoy a superb panorama of the historic city center and its bell towers.

Playground for children, zip line, canoe trips or mini-golf course... In the south of the department, near Civray, on the banks of the Charente, many activities for young and old are available to you. What to enjoy a beautiful day in the great outdoors with the family!

Get out of the ordinary by spending the night in an unusual rental

Are you looking for unusual accommodation for your stay in the countryside? The department of Vienne, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, offers many original vacation rentals that you won't find anywhere else!

• The Domaine de Dienné is located 25 minutes from Futuroscope, is an unusual village in the heart of nature. In this park, you will have the choice between several accommodations, each more original than the last: mushroom house, treehouse, caravan, Mongolian yurt or even tree castle. You will remember this magical night as a couple or family for a long time!
• Spend a night in the floating village of Pressac, one of a kind. You will access your ecological floating cabin using a small boat, to become one with nature!
• During your vacation in the countryside, visit the beauty park and walk in a natural setting of 12 hectares. In the evening, live the experience of treehouses to spend an unusual night with your loved one or family in the Vienne. Parc de la Belle offers rentals of family and duo cabins.
• Camping Le Petit Trianon, located near Châtellerault, offers a selection of unusual accommodation. Treehouse, perched bubble, tepees and charming little houses, enjoy a unique night in peace in the heart of a natural environment near Futuroscope!
• In Montmorillon, recharge your batteries in The shack, an adorable 18 m tiny house² nestled in the countryside, near a walnut tree. Take the time to read and drink a good tea on the large terrace, comfortably seated in one of the rocking chairs and listen to the birdsong.
• At Vigeant, a new type of unusual accommodation welcomes you to admire the starry sky at night. The bubbles of Pre'en Bubbles invite you to a romantic night, under the stars, in the heart of lush vegetation.

Discover all our ideas for an unusual night out in the Vienne :

Visit farms and meet farmers

During your stay in the Vienne, come and meet the farmers. They will be delighted to welcome you to introduce young and old to their profession.

• The FermothequeIn Lathus-Saint-Rémy, your children can discover life in the countryside on the Bardet family's Limousin cattle farm. Cooking workshops are also offered, which will delight the younger ones!
• In the south of the Vienne, in Vigeant, visit the small age farm, a small entertainment farm that offers the opportunity to discover farm animals through fun and educational activities for children.
• For an original visit to the farm with the family, go to Leigné-les-bois to discover the snail farm, an atypical snail farm, with possibility of tasting.
• Also worth visiting in the Vienne : the Maras farm, the Coudret farm, or the farm Taillefer.

Take a breath of fresh air in the various natural parks of the Vienne

To the north of New Aquitaine, the Vienne is a territory full of natural parks, the opportunity to take a breath of fresh air during your holidays.

• La Pinail National Nature Reserve, freely accessible throughout the year, allows you to stroll on a discovery trail for 2 hours, between ponds and meadows to discover the fauna and flora. Test the Family Experience and live a unique moment with your family, meeting frogs, water lilies and dragonflies.
• Recharge your batteries as a family at Domaine du Lac de Saint-Cyr by practicing activities for children as well as adults in the heart of nature: walks, sports activities and barbecue are on the program.
• Take a stroll in the Moulière state forest, the green lung of the department! This forest of approximately 4,200 hectares is located between Poitiers and Châtellerault.
• The Scévolles Forest has a pond and pretty marked hiking trails. This green setting is ideal for recharging your batteries during your vacation in the Vienne

Put on your sneakers to discover the heritage of the Vienne

Go on vacation in the VienneIt's also about discovering the cultural, historical, and gastronomic heritage of this region. Between visits to charming villages and tasting local specialties, you won't be short of activities during your stay.

Stroll through charming towns and villages

Between tradition and history, the Vienne brings together many small charming villages: come and discover them, for an unforgettable holiday in France!

• Charroux, a small town of character located a few steps from Poitiers, has a real medieval past, which you can observe while strolling there. There is the "Charlemagne" Tower, a vestige of the Saint-Sauveur Abbey founded in 789.
• Montmorillon, city of writing and book trades, is one of the 10 towns and villages of character in the Vienne. Immerse yourself in medieval times by visiting this village, where you will find charming bookshops and artisan workshops.
• Angles-sur-l'Anglin, voted the most beautiful village in France: if you are looking for authentic sites to discover, this pretty picturesque village will not disappoint you! Stroll through its narrow streets steeped in history and admire the old residences from medieval times.

Meet small producers and taste the flavors of the region

During your getaway in the Vienne, do not miss to taste the local specialties and go for a Gourmet road trip in Haut-Poitou. Many farms and producers open their doors for you to test the good products of the Vienne.

• Poitou Honey: The Bee Farm in Lavoux offers educational sessions to discover the five honeys of the Poitou region and their production. Families can learn about beekeeping and participate in a honey extraction demonstration.
• At the Honey Farm in Saint-Jean-de-Sauves, you have the opportunity to taste different varieties of honey.
• Oils: Taste authentic walnut oilrock oil mill or toNeuville oil mill by following the artisanal production of this delicious oil.
• The vineyards: to discover the 2 vineyards with an AOC of the Vienne, Upper Poitou and Saumur, take the Wine Route and meet the producers and winegrowers of the Vignobles region. The Domaine du Grand Clos, the Domaine de la Rotisserie, the Ampelidae Domain, the Domaine de Villemont and Domain of the Beaumont Tower welcome you all with joy to offer you tastings of their grape varieties.

Looking for activities to do with children in the Vienne ?