Civray is in the Department of Vienne, 40 minutes drive south of Poitiers, and is a pretty little town on the banks of the Charente. There are riverside walks and picnic areas, and a beautiful Romanesque church only a stone's throw away from the apartments.

Also in the centre of Civray there are some good restaurants, several café/bars, two small supermarkets, and local butchers and bakers.  There is a post office, a small cinema, as well as doctors, dentists and chemists.  On the outskirts are two large supermarkets and petrol stations.

There are markets in the town centre on two mornings each week throughout the year.

Many activities are only a short drive away and include canoeing, tennis, horse-riding and fishing (permits can be purchased in the town centre which allow fishing on the river Charente anywhere in the region).

Just a 5 minute drive away is a freshwater lake suitable for swimming, with a sandy beach, water slide and café, set in a secluded, pretty wooded area.

Walking or cycling in the lovely countryside is a delight, especially when the fields are filled with sunflowers in full bloom. The Poitou-Charentes region is renowned for having the largest number of hours of sunshine after the south of France.

Collectors will be interested in the three Brocantes (antiques fairs) held annually in Civray town centre.

St. Saviol railway station, 7km away, provides a frequent service to Poitiers, and the means to reach other regions by T.G.V. (high speed train). The large towns of Confolens and Angouleme are well worth a visit, and the drive to the coast takes less than two hours.

Cognac will be of interest to many with tastings offered at the distilleries such as Remy Martin and Hennessey, and a lovely boat trip passing the great riverside Cognac Houses can be taken from Jarnac.

The Valley of the Monkeys is a 10 minutes drive away.  The natural setting allows you to stroll across islands observing the 350 primates and 30 species roaming freely - not to be missed!

Poitiers is 45 minutes drive away and has indoor shopping precincts and a large pedestrianised shopping centre. There are some lovely walks organised by the Tourist Board in the medieval areas of the town which will appeal to history lovers.

Futuroscope at Poitiers  - an audio visual theme park - is open most of the year and features laser and firework displays on many evenings.