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Regions à la carte
Western France
Region at a glance |
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 Major city:
Poitiers,
La Rochelle
100 miles of
Atlantic coastline
Port cities and islands
Cognac vineyards
Marais Poitevin - marshes known as the "Green
Venice"
On the Atlantic coast,
between the châteaux of the Loire Valley and the
Bordeaux vineyards, lies Poitou-Charentes, one of the
sunniest parts of the French western coast. Its mild
climate - 2,250 hours of sunshine per year - makes it
desirable to visit anytime from early spring to late
autumn. A 300-mile coastline with fine sandy beaches,
backed by fragrant pine forests, lively resorts such as
La Rochelle, Royan and the islands of Oléron, Aix and
Ré provide attractions to tempt everyone.
Inland, the scene is one of serenity, with vast horizons
and wooded valleys, the Poitou fens and Marais Poitevin,
the soothing tranquillity of canals, the valley of
Vienne, the foothills of Charente and the world-famous
Cognac vineyards.
The Futuroscope theme park near Poitiers offers visitors
a glimpse into future technology and media.
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Places of
interest |
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Angoulême |
Town set on a hill-top surrounded by
ramparts, Tour Lusignan, the Cathedral |
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Aulnay |
Dampierre Renaissance château |
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Chatellerault |
Important commercial center |
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Cognac |
The most celebrated "eau de
vie" in the world, cellars, Valois Castle |
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Futuroscope |
(Near Poitiers) Futuristic theme
park dedicated to computerized technology and
robots |
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Montmorillon |
Unique octagonal ossuary, medieval
bridge, famous its macaroons |
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Niort |
Museum, Notre-Dame church, botanical
garden |
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Oléron |
(Island) - Access by 2 mile- long
viaduct, château Boyardille, military port
established by Napoléon |
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Poitiers |
Palais de Justice, St. Jean
Baptistry, Notre-Dame-la-Grande romanesque
church, Ste. Croix Museum, old city |
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Ré
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(Island) - Reached by ferry,
fishing, boating, oysters and St. Martin Citadel
constructed by Vauban |
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La
Rochelle |
Major port and commercial center,
"Porte de la Grosse Horloge" (clock
gate), St. Sauveur Church, Tower of St. Nicholas,
"Hotel de la Bourse", "Musée du
Nouveau Monde" (Museum of the New World) |
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Royan |
One of the largest seaside resorts
of France, Notre-Dame church, beaches |
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Saintes |
Germanicus Arch 19 A.D.,
"Abbaye aux Dames", Mestreau Museum,
Fine Art Museum, St. Eutrope church and crypt. |
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St.
Savin |
17th century abbey, mural painting. |
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Technical
tourism and sports |
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Angoulême's
National Center for cartoons and comic strips.
Handicrafts: Pottery, embroidery, lace making,
basket weaving
Barging on the Charente River. Horse-back riding,
sailing, house-boating, cycling.
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Cuisine |
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In Poitou-Charentes, eating
is always a feast with fish from the sea and
shellfish such as the renowned Marennes-Oléron
oysters, also freshwater-fish: eel, trout and
pike. Other mouth-watering local recipes make the
most of prime meat and wild fowl, and there are
fine butter and cheeses. Also popular are Cognac,
the Pineau des Charentes
(an aperitif of grape juice and Cognac), and the
light fruity wines from Haut-Poitou, Deux-Sèvres
and Charente.
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