the poitou-charentes region

Why choose the Poitou-Charentes ?

There are so many reasons- the long sunny days with cloudless blue skies, the peaceful unspoilt countryside with its fields of sunflowers, beautiful honey-coloured stone houses with terracotta roofs nestling in tranquil hamlets, the rivers, the food, the wine. The list is endless.
The Charente is a department of the region Poitou-Charente, which also includes Deux Sevres, Charente Maritime, and the Vienne. The region benefits from a micro climate which gives us long hot summers with temperatures often around 40°C, and makes us the second sunniest region of France after the Riviera. These extend to long warm autumns when it is still possible to enjoy a lunch outside in the sun even in November. Winters are short and sharp, but again blue skies predominate, and soon Spring arrives and doors and windows are thrown open again.
This warm, dry climate means that the region is ideal for arable farming, and throughout the Charente you will find fields of sunflowers stretching off to the horizon, whilst around Cognac there are large areas of vineyards, essential for the production of the Charentes most famous export. As well as farmland there are many woods and forests where horse-riding and walking are a pleasure, and the many rivers and lakes will suit boating, fishing, and sports enthusiasts.
Although largely an unspoilt area, you are never very far from a busy (by French standards) cosmopolitan towns, with many shops, excellent restaurants, and those pavement cafés where we all love to while away an hour or two watching the world go by.
The historic city of Angouleme is the capital of the Charente department and as well as the above shops etc, here you will find architecture from all eras, from Roman through to 20th Century, and the city holds many festivals throughout the year. The most famous of these is probably the “Circuit des Remparts”, a race through the old part of the city for classic cars of all types, held in September.
Poitiers is the capital of the Vienne, and is another city with a wealth of history , as we as an airport served by Ryanair and a TGV station (Paris in about 1½hr, London in 6hr-depending on connections).
For those of you who like the sea, the Atlantic coast is within 1½hr drive. Here there are many small resorts as well as the city of La Rochelle, where you can sample the fabulous seafood for which this area is famous, stroll round the “old town” shops, visit the indoor market, take the kids to the incredible new Aquarium, or just sit on the beach!
And on the subject of kids (of all ages), throughout Poitou-Charente there are many attractions including Futuroscope, one of France's most visited theme parks, “Vallée des Singes” , a large park where monkeys of all types wander around freely amongst visitors, and La Palmyre Zoo at Royan, one of the largest in Europe. Add to this the many inland leisure beaches, boating lakes, and outdoor activities, and there is enough to keep even the most energetic child occupied
As you can see the region has something for everyone, which is why we love it here. If you think you will love it too, please contact us. We can help you find your dream home in this beautiful region of France