How to get to our little bit of paradise from the UK
Gîtes du Marigné is in a small hamlet just outside Savigné in Vienne. The region is known as South West France and is around two thirds of the way down the west coast. Heading directly about an hour and a half inland from La Rochelle you’ll reach our beautiful cottages nestled in the French countryside. We are just off the N10 heading south and half way between Poitiers and Angoulême.
Address: Gîtes du Marigné, 22 Maringé, 86400 Savigné, France
What three words: ///abroad.redrew.aircrew
By car
Driving from Calais you will need around seven hours to reach us, passing via Rouen, Le Mans and Tours. We normally travel via the Channel Tunnel from Kent to France - a 35 minute train journey which gets you to just south of Calais. There are also many ferry routes from southern England which will get you into France: P&O (Dover - Calais); DFDS (Dover to Calais/Dunkirk & Newhaven to Dieppe); Brittany Ferries (Portsmouth to Caen/Cherbourg/Le Havre/St Malo, Plymouth to Roscoff, Poole to Cherbourg) Driving in France on the toll roads is certainly less stressful than traveling on motorways in the UK. The cost of the drive from Calais to Gîtes du Marigné is about €50 which can be paid at the tolls, via a toll tag (www.emovis-tag.co.uk) or there are now some “free flowing” toll roads which have ANPR cameras and the toll needs to be paid online (If you have a toll tag you get the free flow toll billed to your account so makes life a lot easier as no need to pay online). If you drive through the Rouen metropolitan area, on your way down, please be aware that you should have a Crit’Air clean air sticker in your windscreen. The stickers identify the emission levels of the vehicle. The stickers cost under €5 (including postage) via: www.certificat-air.gouv.fr Failure to display a sticker could lead to a fine of €135!
By plane (+ hire car)
Having transport for local visits when you are staying is essential. You can reach us via several different airports and we would recommend hiring a car once you arrive.
Poitiers Airport
Poitiers airport is the closest at around 45 minutes drive north of the gîtes. RyanAir runs a regular service and this continues throughout the year with two flights a week in winter. In Summer months there are daily flights direct from Stansted. A medium sized car costs around €35-40 a day.
Limoges Airport
Limoges Airport is around an hours drive away and located to the East of Savigné. Flights are available throughout the summer months via RyanAir and again a reduced service through the winter.
La Rochelle Airport
La Rochelle airport runs a regular service from Stansted with Ryanair, from Bristol and Gatwick via Easyjet and with Flybe from Birmingham, Manchester and Southampton. These flights will vary in frequency throughout the different seasons of the year.
Bordeaux Airport
A little further afield, just over a two hour drive, is Bordeaux airport to the South. You can travel from Belfast, Glasgow, Bristol, London Luton, London Gatwick and Manchester with Easyjet into Bordeaux.
By train (+ hire car)
Having transport for local visits when you are staying is essential. You can travel to France via train and we would recommend hiring a car once you arrive.
If you prefer the train then France has one of the best train services in Europe. You can get on the Eurostar at London St Pancras and this takes just two hours to get you to Paris. A quick trip on the Paris underground takes you from Gare de Nord to Montparnasse where you board the TGV (High Speed Train) direct to Poitiers. The journey from Paris takes up to another two hours. The advantage of traveling by train is the luggage allowance and liquids! You can get some good offers on Eurostar but the timetable is only published three months in advance so you need to be mindful of your dates when booking.
We are excited to welcome you, however you decide to travel
Gîtes du Marigné consists of three gîtes nestled in the picturesque countryside of south west France. Each gîte (La Petite Maison, Chez Tournesol, and Chez Hiboux) offers self-catering facilities, cosy log burners, and access to the shared outdoor pool, pétanque pitch, and play equipment.
