France - stopping point between St Malo and Dordogne...?

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

We're off on holiday next week, due to fly Luton to Bordeaux for 12 nights.

I'd originally booked us a night in St Emilion, before head to Vitrac (near Sarlat) for a week, then four nights on the Garonne.

However today my flights were cancelled (Easyjet) and we've decided to take the ferry and drive to try and avoid the worry of flight cancellations/delays.

Can anyone suggest a good place to spend a night on the way from St Malo to Vitrac? Google Maps suggests perhaps Poitiers, Limoges?

Alternatively, what about Niort, Angouleme or Cognac?

BTW, doesn't have to be a city, we're very happy with unique/unusual places, but don't want to stray too far from our ultimate route....

Poitiers is said to be nice. The châteaux de la Loire are not far off either.

Are you travelling via Poitiers or Limoges because it is not the same route?
I would say Angoulême is too close to your final destination to be worth stopping at.

The music festival begins in Cognac next Thursday to Sunday so could be a good or bad choice depending on if you can get accommodation.
St Jean D’Angely is pretty.
Limoges and Angouleme are both fine but not the most exciting places.
There’s a place near Limoges called Oradour sur Glane where the Germans massacred the village population in WW2. Very sobering but worth a visit if you’re staying in Limoges.

La Rochelle ?

Saintes or St Jean d’Angely are nice places to wander, not loads there but nice historic centres. Niort is unexciting.

I can recommend this boutique hotel if you are foodie - the restaurant is great. Middle of nowhere so not really for sightseeing, but has a pool.

I need to check a map but if your route goes near the Marais Poitevin that’s worth a visit, it’s very charming.

Oh yes, you could take a route right through the Marais Poitevin, so I’d suggest that. There will be quite a few places to stay - Coulon is the main (small, very pretty) town there and you can rent boats from there or from La Garette.

Hello, sorry for the delayed response - I had no notifications from Mumsnet so thought I had been forgotten!

Thanks for all the suggestions - we're ultimately going to Souillac and I have landed on St Jean D'angely. I've found a place with a pool that looks great for the kids nearby.