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We have beautiful
rivers running through mediaeval towns
and villages and a wealth of ancient
churches and magnificent chateaux.
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the small towns, villages and
countryside and even in the larger towns
you will be hard put to find any
business that doesn’t shut for at least
a two hour lunch break except of course
the auberges, brasseries, and bistros
where you can still find a quality meal
for a reasonable price especially on the
menu du jour. |
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Lonely Planet’s Best in
Travel
Top 10 regions for 2012
includes Poitou-Charentes, France |
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With quiet
country roads wending through vine-striped hills and wild stretches of
coastal sands interspersed with misty islands, the Atlantic coast is
where the French get back to nature. Much more laid-back than the Med
(but with almost as much sunshine) and ideally suited to family
holidays, this is a place where you can slow the pace right down. And
there are numerous ways in which to do this. You could spend a morning
quietly greeting curious ducks as you kayak down the glowing green
canals, rivers and streams of the Marais Poitevin. You could cycle over
the lazy landscapes of the dreamy Île de Ré or raise a glass in the
pretty town of Cognac. Or soak up the salty air of the white city, La
Rochelle, after exploring its fascinating museums and breathtaking
aquarium.
Poitou-Charentes is far from undiscovered – French tourists have been
flocking here for years – but aside from the city of La Rochelle (an
increasingly popular weekend break destination thanks to arrival of
budget airlines), the area is woefully under-visited by foreigners.
– Stuart Butler
Lonely Planet > |
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Villeret |
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The small village of Villeret
sits in the tranquil and gently
undulating Charentaise
countryside. |
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This is the very best of
unspoiled rural France
basking in a
micro-climate with the
sunniest weather in
France after the Cote
d’Azur. |
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Forests of oak, chestnut
& walnut, acres of
sunflower and maize
fields and vineyards
that provide the grapes
for the regional
specialities of Cognac
and Pineau de Charente
cover the land. |
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We have our own local producer,
GAEC Cognac who make the fine XO
Cognac Athanor and Pineau.
Tours of the production
facilities can be arranged with
the opportunity to buy direct
from the vineyard.
There is a daily boulangerie van
and the boucherie charcuterie
van visits 3 times a week. |
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Ruffec – 15
minutes |
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Ruffec is a historic market
town and the centre of
agriculture in the region. |
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It has over 100 shops
and a thrice weekly
market with a special
fair on the 13th and
28th of the month so
lots of fresh local
produce as well as other
French specialities. |
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In the ancient quarter
beside the Lien River
sits a mediaeval
chateau, a Romanesque
church and narrow
streets of ancient
houses. Just to the East
lies the Charente River
which is a focal point
for outdoor activities
such as angling,
kayaking and walking
trails. At the Aire de
Rejallant, you can enjoy
all three as well as
have a dip in the
shallow waters and a
hearty meal in the
restaurant which has
been converted from the
old water mill. In the
town itself and the
villages nearby are a
large number of other
friendly bars, bistros
and restaurants all
providing the perfect
place to rest, relax and
enjoy the local cuisine.
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more information > |
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Verteuil sur
Charente – 20
minutes |
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3 miles (5kms) from Ruffec is
this beautiful village
straddling the Charente River. |
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With its imposing
Chateau originating in
the 12th Century
overlooking the village
and the church with a
famous tableau of
Christ’s Tomb (the other
is in The Louvre). |
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There is also a working
watermill which mills
the flour for the
boulangerie, a couple of
very decent restaurants,
a great walking circuit
and even a small park
for the kids, this is a
great place to wander or
just chill and paddle in
the shallow waters of
the river. |
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more information > |
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Villefagnan –
5 minutes |
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A small town
with twice
weekly market, 2
grocery shops, 2
boulangeries, a
boucherie-charcuterie,
3 small bars, 2
serving food,
take away Pizza
and Kebab stall,
Chemist, Tabac
and Post Office. |
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more information > |
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Les Trois
Fontaines lake and park – 5
minutes |
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A short drive or
a slightly
longer cycle
away is this
delightful,
safe, clean
swimming and
fishing lake
with a sandy
beach,
children’s
playground,
picnic areas and
food bar. |
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more information > |
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Tusson – 5
minutes |
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A protected
village (think
Grade 1 listed),
Tusson has a
mediaeval
monastery and
gardens, a
museum of rural
life, the
renowned
Restaurant Le
Compostelle, a
tea room and a
shop selling
local produce as
well as a wealth
of old
buildings. It
was previously a
centre for the
trading of
donkeys.
Marguerite of
Angouleme also
built an abbey
in the village. |
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more information > |
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St Fraigne –
10 minutes |
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A nearby small
village but with
boulangerie and
grocers and a
beautiful park
and wildlife
gardens created
on marshland and
exhibiting local
history and
crafts in
stilted
traditional
buildings. |
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Aigre – 12 to
15 minutes |
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Home to Gautier
Cognac one of
the oldest
producers in
France, Aigre is
a delightful
small town with
shops of all
varieties,
including a
speciality
chocolate
supplier,
market, bars,
restaurants and
the local
Tourist
Information
Office. A great
place for a
refreshment stop
or lunch on a
local cycle
tour. |
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more information
> |
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Gautier Cognac > |
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