Having rented accommodation in France in the past, we were expecting the gite to be very basic but we were pleasantly surprised at the size of this one. It was also clean, airy and very well equipped and having use of a pool was a definite bonus. We were greeted by Colin the collie (who we all fell in love with), promptly followed by Clair and Robert. Our hosts were extremely friendly and very knowledgeable of the area and were able to make recommendations re. places to visit. We were, however, quite happy to chill on this holiday and only ventured forth to visit the lake on one day (which is worth a visit, especially with youngsters/teens/young adults). One great recommendation was lunch at Le Ricordeau in Loudun. We had a stunning 4 course lunch for 18 euro and had one of the best meals we have had in a long time (including Michelin star restaurants!). We would definitely recommend a visit to Le Coindries and, if you have time, Le Ricordeau for a special meal. We certainly hope to return to both in the not too distant future.