What to do when it rains in Charente-Maritime

Damn ! It's raining… We forget going outside and try to find shelter. So if you lack inspiration and wonder where to go when it rains in Charente Maritime, don't worry. You will find all kinds of activities to do indoors: museums, castles, well-being areas, playgrounds and sports parks… there is plenty to keep you busy on bad weather days. We take you for a rainy but lively getaway in Charente Maritime.

Opening photo: Credit © SGR Photography | Adobe Stock

Shopping at the covered market in Royan

Do you feel like shopping, but you don't feel like putting on a k-way to walk the shopping streets? This is the perfect opportunity to discover Royan's beautiful covered market. Spacious and bright, it is also sheltered and offers you a refuge of choice for shopping in the rain. It is located on Boulevard Briand, not far from the tourist office and the Grande Conche beach. It is open all year round, from Tuesday to Sunday. You will find local products in a friendly atmosphere.

Take a trip back in time, in the Charente castles

If you are a fan of old stones, Aunis, Val de Saintonge and Haute-Saintonge have some nice surprises in store for you... Of course, for a rainy day, it is better to avoid those where the gardens are remarkable, because you would be disappointed not to be able to fully admire them. We have therefore selected the most interesting Charente Maritime castles for their interiors:

• The magnificent interiors of the Château de Dampierre-sur-Boutonne, in particular its sculpted ceiling.
• The Château de Crazannes, the “chateau du chat botté” and its museum of old objects.
• Take a guided tour with the tourist office of the Château de Jonzac, witness to the 100 years war and the wars of religion and the troubled period of the Fronde...

Credit © The Château de la Roche Courbon

Delight the children at the Château des Énigmes de Pons

If you are with your family, the Château des énigmes de Pons will satisfy the whole family. A course suitable for children from 4 years old allows them to put themselves in the shoes of a pirate, in an exceptional setting. You will visit this splendid Renaissance castle, involving the children with a treasure hunt. With teenagers, we recommend the escape-castel to escape from the Marquis' room. And if a few thinnings are showing up, you can take a little height to admire the landscape from the cabins perched in the trees of the park.

Take up the challenge of an escape game

An escape game is a very nice game to brighten up a rainy day. It is an intellectually stimulating activity, which develops team spirit and it is particularly exotic. You are in total immersion in a setting, designed to immerse you in the heart of an investigation, on a specific theme. The objective is to find clues, answer puns, solve puzzles to free yourself from a room or a universe. Here are the most unusual escape games in Charente-Maritime:

• The police investigation of the Château de Panloy and its haunted evenings (fr).
  
• The "castel-game" of the Château de la Roche-Courbon, a fortress from the 100 years war.
• The indoor escape game of the Cep Enchanté wine estate: “The mysteries of blending”.

Let off steam in a laser game

The laser game has the wind in its sails and it is an outing really suited to a rainy day. In a large interior space often furnished with futuristic decorations, you will flush out your enemies of the day to emerge victorious from this labyrinth. It is a very physical activity and you will be able to let off steam with family or friends.

Relax in a wellness area

It's raining, morale is down and energy is not there... No worries, we offer you a moment of warm cocooning, lazing by the pool, or a massage to take care of you. And yes, we are talking about a relaxing afternoon with friends or lovers. Depending on your wishes, go to a beauty institute, a well-being space, with a chammam or a sauna… It's a program that is good for the body and the mind.

Discover marine life at La Rochelle Aquarium

The La Rochelle aquarium is one of the finest ocean museums in France, and even in Europe. You will see extraordinary species there, in a temperate environment. Different spaces show you marine animals from all continents, but also from the most distant depths. No doubt it will appeal to the whole family and satisfy your curiosity.

Discover the Charente Maritime wine region

The Charente Maritime is renowned for its wine-growing region, with big names and nice surprises. More than a simple wine tasting, you will discover a real local heritage. Indeed, it was the Romans who planted the first vines on the territory. From the friendly local wine to the oldest cognac, you will learn everything there is to know about the Charente vineyards. We recommend these good addresses that practice wine tourism to delight your mind as well as your taste buds!

• Visit the House of Vine and Flavors.
• The Domaine de Beaulieu for its table d'hôte and the visit of its distillery.

Credit © Guide Charente Maritime visiting Vignoble Vincent

Satisfy your curiosity in museums

Museums are favorite sites for bad weather days. You will learn the local history, the habits and customs of yesteryear, and you will see old objects. They also reveal a unique environment between the ocean, the mouth and the Charente rivers. Our favorite Charentais museums are:

• The Maritime Museum of La Rochelle: from the history of the city to the world of the oceans.
• Unusual and timeless visit: the Museum of Old Shops in Rochefort.
• An astonishing cave of shells, hung on the cliff! (fr)

Credit © The Paleosite of Saint-Cézaire

Swim in an indoor aquatic center

Just because it's raining doesn't mean you don't want to swim and enjoy aquatic leisure activities. Never mind, we have looked for the best equipped indoor aquatic centers in Charente Maritime for you.

• The exotic aquatic universe of the West Indies by Jonzac
• The Ileo Aquatic Park on the island of Oléron
• The Aquatic Center of Châtelaillon-Plage, with spa, sauna and well-being area and water sports

We hope to have given you some good ideas to save a rainy day during your holiday in Charente Maritime.

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