This is an area rich in history and culture. Due to its mini climate, the Charente region of France is claimed to be the second sunniest region in France.

It offers a wealth of attractions and places of interest for young and old. Within easy range can be found the historic port of La Rochelle, the unique canal system of Le Marais Poitevin (Green Venice), the fabulous prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux, the famous cinematic theme park of Futuroscope near Poitiers, the valleys of the Vienne and Charente rivers and, for the children, the ever-popular Valley of the Monkeys. For wine lovers the region is ideally situated mid way between the Loire valley and the vineyards of Bordeaux and the spiritual delights of Cognac are only a short drive away.

For those keen on golf there are exceptionally beautiful, and reasonable, courses at Les Forges, Mazière, Cognac, Angouleme and Poitiers. There are facilities for tennis, fishing, canoeing and horse riding close by, and the gently undulating countryside makes it ideal for cycling. If you enjoy your food there are some outstanding regional specialties in the nearby restaurants; foie gras, duck, the wonderful array of fresh sea food, and the excellent local cheeses.

One of the delights of this region is that the people are so friendly; it has not been spoilt by heavy tourism and the welcome you receive from everyone is genuine and warm.

Places well worth a visit:

1. Lascaux: This is the site of the world's most famous Paleolithic cave paintings and is only a two hour drive from the cottage travelling through extremely pretty countryside. Close to Lascaux is the delightful town of Montignac where you can stop to lunch in any of the many restaurants and bars, before heading off to see the caves. It has been necessary to create a facsimile of the original caves, Lascaux II, in order to preserve the original paintings from the deterioration caused by the constant  changes in the atmosphere created by open access, but this in no way minimises the fascination to the visitor. Thanks to the technology and the scientific approach taken in the reproduction, one can still appreciate the skill of the ancient artists and the difficulties they faced 17,000 years ago. (For more information you can view the website for Lascaux and other regional sites of interest at www.semitour.com)

2. Futuroscope: Situated just north of Poitiers, Futuroscope is the largest cinematic theme park in Europe. There are areas of interest for all age groups and it provides a stimulating and fun day out culminating in an impressive night time laser show.

3. La Rochelle: The historic port of La Rochelle is a must for any visitor to the region. Its sea food restaurants are famous throughout Europe and the range of fashionable boutiques sheltering under the famous arcades, are some of the finest outside Paris. Time should be found to visit the aquarium and the famous towers which surround the old port.

4. Ile de Ré: Only a short distance from La Rochelle and linked to the mainland by a stunning curved bridge, is the Ile de Ré. Known as the St Tropez of the west coast, it offers miles of sandy beaches and the old world charm of St Martin. It is the summer playground for many French politicians and stars of the entertainment world.

5. Marais Poitevin: Known as ‘Green Venice’, the Marais Poitevin provides a remarkable web of interlinked canals in their most stunning and natural setting. Visitors can hire boats and spend hours exploring this unique water system. It covers 96,000 hectares and sits between the sea to the west, the Vendée to the north and Niort to the east.

6. Valley of the Monkeys: No child’s holiday in the Charente region is complete without a visit to La Vallée des Singes. There are over thirty different species of monkeys on view and visitors can wander amongst the smaller monkeys and feed and touch them. The larger gorillas are safely contained on their own islands!

7. Charente River: Within a few kilometers of the cottage winds the enchanting Charente River. At the Aire de Rejallant, near Ruffec, one can hire canoes and spend from two hours to a whole day exploring this fascinating waterway. There are lovely places to picnic, sandy paddling and swimming areas, as well as a bar-restaurant.

8. Velo Rail: Running amongst the lovely countryside between the Charente and Vienne Rivers is the old railway line which has been imaginatively converted to provide hours of fun for all the family. Up to 5 people can travel together (two pedaling) and it enables the whole family to discover all the hidden delights of an old railway line as it winds its way through the beautiful and unspoilt countryside.

9. Angouleme: The old fortified hill town of Angouleme, capital of the Charente, is the centre of cartoon and image in France. The old town, perched high on a rock overlooking the Charente River, is full of lovely shops, cafes and restaurants. To sit out in summer in one of the tree lined squares provides another one of those special holiday memories.

10. Cognac: Under an hour’s drive away is Cognac, the home of brandy. Many of the big name distillers offer impressive tours including train rides through miles of vaulted cellars. The town itself, situated on the banks of the Charente, is well worth a visit. In nearby Jarnac you can visit the birthplace of former French President Mitterand.

11. Rochefort: The former home of the French navy at the mouth of the Charente is a town with many fascinating places to visit. The Corderie Royale, the former rope making factory, has been beautifully restored and offers visitors the chance to see how rope has been made throughout the centuries. Just nearby in a dry dock, you can see the ongoing reconstruction of the Hermione, a French sailing ship that went to the aid of the colonists during the American War of Independence.

La Rochelle Old Port

Vieux Cognac on the banks of the River Charente