IT’S easy to overlook things that are close to home.

France is so familiar it often passes the adventurous traveller by.

But a short weekend on the Silver Coast opened up a whole new world.

Charente Maritime produces some of the world’s best seafood and wines - and as we found out, a fascinating architectural history.

We got a Brittany ferry from Poole early on Saturday morning, which arrived in France with plenty of time for the drive to Paris.

After a week there we set off for our weekend by the sea and took the scenic route, meandering along the Loire valley and stopping at various points on the river for picnics of fresh hazelnuts, meats and cheese along the way.

We arrived at Pontaillac’s little cove at ten o clock at night - and besides spending cash at the huge casino on the beach found there wasn’t much to do except turn in for the night at the pristine and pretty Hotel Miramar.

The next morning we woke to a perfect breakfast on the hotel balcony with panoramic views over the beach before heading for a stroll along the coast road in the beaming September sun.

Or you could easily take a bike ride along the 30km of gently winding coastal road.

Rocky outcrops all along the coast are lined with picturesque little fishing huts built on stilts out into the turquoise ocean, their carrelet nets suspended over the sea.

Pontaillac was founded in the 19th century and became one of the go-to sea bathing towns for wealthy Bordelais and Parisians.

Pockets of land were sold off and extravagant belle epoque-style houses built on plots all along the coastline, with streets designed to maximise light and make the most of the sea air.

This air of grandeur and relaxation has remained, with many of the houses retaining their original facades and features - a morning stroll picking out which one to buy for retirement is a more than pleasant way to work off breakfast.

Bathing pools were carved out of the rocks and the area’s natural health benefits became common knowledge.

But later the area’s strategic position on the Gironde estuary also made it a key position for German occupation, and in 1944 the neighbouring town of Royan was obliterated by hundreds of bombs in a round of ‘friendly fire’ by Lancaster bombers.

After the war town planners were looking for quick and easy ways to rebuild the town, and they found inspiration in Brazil of all places, where Oscar Niemeyer and others were constructing with concrete in what are now revered styles.

Now the city’s tourist office is offering walking tours of the seaside town’s quintessential 50s and 60s architecture.

Houses, flats and communist-looking blocks were designed with speed and style, with many now being snapped up by hipster holidaymakers with an eye for the trendy pads and freshened up in cool whites with accents of burnt orange and vibrant blues.

But the most striking building - and a key piece in the brutalist architectural roster - is the Notre Dame cathedral, a concrete masterpiece by architects Guillaume Gillet and Marc Hebrard, which stands on its own behind the main shopping district, casting its brutalist shadow over the The clam-shaped market hall is also a favourite with locals and tourists alike - head there for a good old Saturday morning food shop - and make time for lunch there too.

Royan with its temperature climate is a hive of sporting activities - we were there for a ‘triathlong’ - a 1.9km swim, 92km cycle and 21km run.

There are dozens of other events throughout the year to try, as well as the 30km of coastal path to walk or cycle along.

For a nearby day trip we went to Rochefort, a perfect example of a 17th century ‘ville nouvelle’ or new town and home of Hermione, an exact replica of General Lafayette’s 18th century tall ship which took him to America where he is said to have played a role in American independence. A crew recreated the same journey in 2015 and you can see an exhibition about the venture as well as have a walk around the ship and the town’s 350 year old naval dockyards.

The town is also home to the royal ropemaker’s museum, with live demonstrations and a fascinating exhibition of the area’s nautical importance.

Lunch came after a drive along the Charente river to Ile Madame, where little seaside cafes serve platters of seafood and shellfish trawled fresh out of the sea.

A trip to Royan, either on its own or as part of a longer holiday elsewhere, couldn’t be easier. The Brittany ferry timings from Poole get you to France early on Saturday morning, giving you the whole day to get to where you’re going, and the boat back leaves early Saturday evening.

We had the luxury of a cabin and four hours to relax after the long drive. The boat was spotless and canteen staff helpful and friendly.