Blog

Charente the hidden jewel.

Francis I said it well: The Charente is the most beautiful stream in the Kingdom!

Far from chauvinism, we can undoubtedly say that the Charente river is a hidden jewel of France.

The source starts in the Haute Vienne region in the village of Chéronnac. Not to be missed along the Charente, the towns and villages of Angoulême , Châteauneuf, Vibrac, St Simon, Bassac, Jarnac, Bourg-Charente, Cognac , Saintes , but also Taillebourg, Port d'Envaux, Crazannes, St Savinien,Rochefort , Fouras and Port-des-Barques.

From Angoulême it is the starting point for crossing the river either by boat or even by bike! Good cycling tip: The flow bike, is a charming cycle route which leaves from the island of Aix to reach Thiviers in Périgord.

From Rochefort, the cycle route flirts with the Charente river for an exceptional journey, crisscrossing a vineyard setting, passing through Saintes, Cognac, Jarnac, Angoulême before taking the greenway and making an incursion into the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park.

The Charente was for a very long time an essential communication axis. On board the gabares , long flat-bottomed boats, the spirits of Cognac , the paper of Angoulême, the cut stone of Saint-Savinien reached the ocean, while salt and spices entered the land.

Without a doubt one of the greatest pleasures is to sail along the water at sunrise. It is a spectacle of calm and relaxation while admiring the birds among which we can find Peregrine Falcon, Kingfisher, Black Woodpecker, Dipper, Little Owl, Barn Owl, Wood Lark and Red-backed Shrike.

Located between Angoulême and Cognac, on a hillside on the right bank of the Charente, the city of Jarnac is situated at the strategic crossroads of river and land routes.

Two historical facts remain in the memories: the Coup de Jarnac, a duel between Guy I Chabot (victorious), Lord of Jarnac, and François de Vivonne (defeated), Lord of La Châtaigneraie, which took place at the King's Court in 1547; the Battle of Jarnac which took place during the 3rd War of Religion (1568-1570) and which cost the life of the Prince of Condé.

Without a doubt, the town of Jarnac is a must-see when you come to visit the Charente region. Walk along its quayside while admiring the beautiful buildings of the old Cognac Houses, Courvoisier, Braastad, Hine, De la Main, without forgetting a tasting and a visit to their estates.

Renting a kayak or a boat without a license is a great option for taking a trip along the water and discovering its peaceful and wild landscapes.

We invite you to discover these hidden gems in France, we assure you that you will be pleasantly surprised!

In the end, how do you say in old Charentais IN CHARENTE WE ARE BENEZE!..

Alejandro VP Charentais Adopted.