Peak inside our Aug issue

As we continue to enjoy the long, golden days of summer, I am thrilled to share our latest issue with you. It’s brimming with vibrant features, fabulous photography and our unique blend of local news and views.

Our team, being long-time residents of the region, have embarked on many adventures over the years, discovering the less travelled roads and exploring beyond the headlines. In this edition we harness this knowledge to continue our car-free travels, uncover hidden gems often overlooked by crowds heading to our sandy coastline and explore more wine-themed days out. As the Rugby World Cup arrives in France, it seems the perfect time to take a look at our local heroes, Stade Rochelais. And we have all your favourites - gardening tips, delicious recipes, French expressions, nature watch, plus a guide to la rentrée and, of course, our overview of local news.

With so much going on around the region, it’s impossible to fit it all into the pages of a single magazine. So, rather than repeat ourselves, we’re delighted to share our popular Summer Guides to Poitou-Charentes and surrounds which we’ve updated for 2023. Packed with days out and festival fun, you can read them free online at www.livingmagazine.fr.

For those of you who love the simple pleasure of settling down with your own copy of LIVING, please consider subscribing. Not only will you receive your own copy hot-off-the-press no matter where you are in the world, your subscription will also support us as we continue to bring you the best that our region has to offer.

Meanwhile at LIVING HQ, we are eagerly awaiting our summer holidays, set to commence as soon as this issue lands in your hands. After all, we need to seek out fabulous new places so we can share them with you!

Here’s to a fun-filled summer, packed with new experiences and unforgettable memories...

A bientôt!

Kathryn

CONTENTS

6 Snippets - Local news from around the region

16 Look & Sea

Join Roger Moss as he bypasses the crowded sands and seeks out some fascinating landmarks

23 Ici, ici, c’est La Rochelle!

Rugby fever has taken over La Rochelle so we send Jessica Knipe to find out more

28 Away from it all

Want to see deepest France? We explore car-free travel

34 All Shook Up

We find out more about the recent earthquake

36 C’est La Rentrée

Doing it for the kids? La rentrée is for everyone as Gillian Harvey explains

38 Small Actions, Big Changes

Seemingly minor acts can help the environment around us as Rosie Neave discovers

40 Practical Advice

Your questions answered by our experts

42 Wine Days Out

Caro Feeley recommends more wine themed days out

45 Nikki Legon's Cuisine

Easy meals for hot days

50 Changing Places

Visit Chabanais in Charente

53 Business Directory

The region's best companies waiting for your call

66 Pardon

Our regular foray into the French language