Poitou Charentes
Poitou-Charentes is made up of four departments: Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Deux-Sèvres (79) and Vienne (86).
The Poitou-Charentes region is almost completely unspoiled with virtually no industry and is one of the most tranquil in France. Its long Atlantic coastline is noted for long, sandy beaches, marinas, golf courses and islands, which make it an ideal summer holiday destination.
Two large islands, the Ile de Ré and the lle d’0leron, with their pine-shaded beaches and superb shellfish, were connected by road bridges to the mainland a generation ago and have seen their populations grow rapidly as a result; camp sites have also proliferated. No cars are allowed on the smaller island of Aix, where Napoleon spent his last night in France before leaving for Saint-Helena.
The marshes along the estuary of the Seudre have been converted into oyster beds with lines of thick wooden posts, on which mussels are also farmed. In fact, the region is France’s biggest centre for the production of oysters and other shellfish, Elsewhere, the flat shore is used for drying out sea water in shallow pans to make salt.
Inland, the landscape is flat, particularly in Charente, and the land is used for mixed farming and livestock breeding. The gently rolling chalk hills of Charente and Charente-Maritime are covered with white wine and cognac vines, poultry farms and grazing for dairy herds, the wooded hilltops rising to over 160m (50Oft).
The region is crossed by the medieval routes used by pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Saint James at Compostella in Spain, a practice which is currently being revived. These routes were also used by the stone masons who built the region’s many Romanesque churches, such as Saint Pierre at Aulnay (17). Other notable monuments include the 15th century church tower built by the English at Marennes (79), the fourth century baptistery in Poitiers (86)and the collection of 11th century frescos in the church at Saint-Savin (86), and there are numerous places of historical interest, including the fortified town of Brouage, abandoned as a port when the sea receded, the 17th century naval port of Rochefort which replaced it, and the Vieux Port at La Rochelle (all in 17).
The west coast climate means mild winters and hot summers, with temperatures a little more extreme inland, where rainfall is also higher.
One traditional food from this region is a ‘Tourteau’, which is noticeable everywhere, due to its surprising appearance. It is a round cheesecake, traditionally made with goat’s cheese, and it has a charcoal black crust. Tourteaux are a speciality from Deux-Sèvres.
Local produce is ‘surf and turf’ and includes superb goat cheeses, melons, oysters, mussels, lamb (often served with ‘mijottes’ – beans), and snails. These are often used in the simple, tasty dishes of this area, and served with local wines – the region’s borders reach down to Bordeaux, and Cognac is also produced here.
To view some Gites in Poitou Charentes, please visit Gites in Poitou Charentes.
All the best
