Vue De L'Eglise

Brux has its own ‘Vival’ convenience store, with daily fresh baguettes, croissants and pastries. The store is open every day. For a weekly shop, you will need to visit Couhé (10 minutes by car) or Civray (15 minutes by car), our two closest towns. In Couhé you will find a large Intermarché, while in Civray there is a Super U and a Lidl.

No holiday in France is complete without a visit to one of the local markets and the Poitou- Charentes is no exception. Markets are generally held in the mornings so be prepared for an early start as they tend to close around midday. The best market in the Vienne department is in the lovely old town of Chauvigny, where there is a large, open-air market every Saturday. Smaller markets, devoted mainly to food and local produce, take place of the following days: Civray – Tuesday and Friday; Ruffec – Wednesday and Friday; Vivonne– Saturday; Sauzé-Vaussais and Gencay - Thursday. Also worth mentioning, at nearby Poitiers, is the covered market which spreads outside on Fridays and Saturdays. There are plenty of stalls selling meat and fish, plus fruit, vegetables, herbs and bric-a-brac.

Below are some of our favourite restaurants, many of which are within a 20 minute drive. Please note that it is always advisable to telephone in advance to check opening times, as these vary with the season. Prices are correct at the time of writing (March 2019).

Mad Hatters Kitchen: Le Logis, Le Breuillac, 79190, Caunay.
This restaurant is situated on the outskirts of Caunay, a sleepy hamlet tucked away in the French countryside. Menus are put together using fresh, seasonal ingredients, many of which are grown in the hosts’ own kitchen garden. The restaurant hosts regular music and bistro evenings, as well as a live musical festival which takes place over three days in August.

Café Portebleue: 3 Rue Du Baril, 16510 Verteuil-Sur-Charente.
Tucked away in a picturesque village, this little restaurant sits at the foot of the fairytale chateau in Verteuil-sur-Charente. Offerings include a Menu du Jour (14.25€) from Tuesday to Friday lunchtimes, plus an à la carte menu on Tuesday to Saturday evenings. The restaurant is also open on Sunday lunchtimes.

Les Droles: 2 Rue du Cedre, 86400 Blanzay.
Situated on the village green, just opposite the beautifully restored church, this country pub/restaurant offers French cuisine at its best.

Les Trois Fleurs: 4 Place de l'Église, 79190 Limalonges.
Authentic family-run restaurant situated in the centre of a pretty village. The four-course lunch menu offers very good value.

Les Archives: 4 rue Edouard Grimaux, 86000, Poitiers.
Located in a converted church, this restaurant offers a spectacular setting. Prices are reasonable and unusually for France, there is even a vegetarian menu!

O’Napoli: 1 Rue du Commerce, 86400 Civray.
Locally renowned, homemade pizzas with fresh ingredients to eat in or take away. The restaurant itself is tiny so it is advisable to book in advance if you want to eat in.

Le Melkinn’s: 7 rue du Commerce, 86700 Couhé.
This pizza restaurant has an attractive setting in the old covered market hall of Couhé.

O City’Ven: 2 Place Gambetta, 86400 Civray.
Good local restaurant on a sunny corner of the main square in Civray. The menu is simple, but carefully selected, with two options for a starter, two main dishes and three desserts. Highly recommended is the café gourmand!

Aux Petits Oignons: 1 Place du Puits, 86160 Champagné-Saint-Hilaire.
Reasonably-priced local restaurant offering beautifully presented food, made with care and using fresh ingredients. The menu changes regularly depending on the season and homemade fresh pizzas are available in the evening.