| La Flaudrie | Places to Visit |
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| Jarnac |
is the birthplace of Francois Mitterand, the onetime president of France, and the town has a centre dedicated to his memory. It has an historical theme of the “coup de Jarnac”. It is also the headquarters of several of the major producers of cognac, indeed the Courvoisier offices dominate the centre of the town and lie alongside the river Charente. |
| Cognac | is 10 minutes’ drive from La Flaudrie – it has a highly developed tourist industry highlighting the theme of cognac production. Many of the cognac houses offer visits with ‘dégustation’ – so beware – the French police are much more watchful than was perhaps once the case. |
| Angoulême | lies to the east. This is the principal city of Charente. Here you will find plenty of history with good restaurants and wonderful views from the old town. |
| Confolens | lies north east of Angoulême and is a wonderful old town sited on the river Vienne. On the way there, stop in at la Rochefoucauld with its château on the banks of the river Tardoire. |
| Poitiers | lies directly north of Angoulême and is a famous old city with historical ties going back to the time when this part of France was part of the English kings’ domain. |
| Dordogne | heading south from Angoulême brings you to the Dordogne which, although perhaps offering more dramatic scenery, lacks the quiet serenity of Charente. |
| Bordeaux | further afield, Bordeaux lies about 120 km to the south. This is the major city which straddles the river Gironde and has plenty of traffic and ringroads to confuse the unwary. Look carefully at your map before you set out! |
| Arcachon | south of Bordeaux are some fine vineyards producing the wines this region is famous for. If you head down this way, don’t miss out on a diversion to Arcachon, a quiet seaside town and the Dune du Pilat [ a massive sand dune 150m high with breathtaking views up and down the coast]. |
| Royan & la Rochelle |
to the west lies the Atlantic Ocean – Royan and la Rochelle, and many other resorts which are quite busy in the season, about 1 hour’s drive away. |