Cozes welcomes you for nature holidays combining the calm of the countryside and proximity to the beaches of Meschers and Royan. Thanks to its geographical location, close to the “Most Beautiful Village of France®” Talmont-sur-Gironde, the town of Cozes will delight fans of slow tourism.
Cozes, holidays in the Green
À 15 km from Royan on the road to Bordeaux, escape the bustle of the city for a week or a weekend. Between the hillsides of Gironde, fields of sunflowers and forests, Cozes is an authentic and friendly Charente-Maritime village. Its preserved environment in the heart of the Saintongeais region makes it an ideal place to spend a natural stay.
If you're looking for a meaningful vacation, you've come to the right place!
The municipality of Cozes has been able to develop a green tourism close to the sea, eco-friendly. This is an opportunity to come and meet the inhabitants, to discover the local heritage and to practice activities closer to nature.
A history marked by the importance of agricultural trade
In the heart of town, we meet on Wednesday and Saturday mornings under the old halls for the Brive market. This place of exchange, a vestige of the past, is distinguished by its wooden frame and its imposing pillars.
Around the halls of Cozes stand pretty bourgeois houses built by merchants and notables. Their facade with molded cornices and their large windows testify to the wealth of the time.
A few steps from the halls stands the imposing Church of St. Peter built in the 5th century and remodeled since. We note its particularities: a Romanesque nave, an octagonal bell tower but also a sculpture of the fable of the Fox and the Stork on its exterior capital. Its XNUMX bells ring a perfect chord in F major, unique in Charente-Maritime.
Before arriving at the church of Cozes, stop for a few moments in the garden of the presbytery. It now houses the stele of the "Avenger-of-the-people". This monument was erected in memory of the sailors whose boat of the same name was sunk by the English at the end of the XNUMXth century. The vessel's lieutenant, Louis-Auguste Pillet, was a native of Cozes.
At the end of the Main Street, look up to admire a strange little character watching over the city. Supporting a sundial, the "Cozes Man" would embody Saturn, god of time but also symbol of wheat and fertility.
Fill up on outdoor activities in Cozes
Cozes is a nature destination which is discovered at its own pace. On foot, by bike or on horseback, enjoy a range of outdoor activities in the heart of a varied natural heritage. The Detours® trails invite you to stroll while the orienteering course combines reflection and active walking. For a longer hike, you can also follow the trail of the GR 360 to Talmont-sur-Gironde through the varied landscapes of the Gironde estuary.
It is also possible to explore the Saintonge countryside by mountain bike via circuit 12 or to opt for an original ride by cyclerail. With family or friends, you cross the vineyard by pedaling on an old railway line.
Fancy a swim to cool off after working out? Behind the town's sports complex and the Logis de Sorlut, the summer swimming pool de Cozes is waiting for you!