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Poitou-Charentes
The Poitou-Charentes region conceals many attributes, as well historical and cultural there are also culinary. Like Aquitaine the region was ruled by the English and it is only in 1373 that the duchy was attached to the kingdom of France. Famous for its religious architecture and its multiple Romance abbeys, the Poitou-Charentes region is today a great destination for countryside lovers.
Property for sale in Poitou Charentes is varied from cheap property to renovate right through to holiday homes for sale and onto stunning Chateaux at reasonable prices.
The Green Venice of the Poitevin Marsh which you visit by boat will enchant you with many scents and colours. Poitou-Charentes is also a place looking towards the future in the shape of the Futuroscope Park which attracts visitors from all over the world. Don't forget the exclusive island of Ile de Re for a stunning holiday.
The region is divided into the following departments:
Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Deux-Sèvres (79), Vienne (86).
Weather
Transport
By road the A10 motorway goes through the region and enables access to many towns including Chatellerault, Poitiers, Niort and Saintes, and connects the region to Bordeaux and Paris. By Train through Poitou Charentes from Paris. By air: main airports are Angoulême, Poitiers and of course La Rochelle. The rail network links the region to the rest of France and to Paris. Poitou-Charentes has no direct ferry link but there is one in Aquitaine to go to Spain or the UK. Good road links when looking for the right French property for sale.
Food
One of the main attractions is of course La Rochelle which is a superb fortified port on the Atlantic Coast. In one of the many restaurants of the old city you can savour the delights of the Ocean or a plate of Oyster Marenne d'Oléron. Along the country roads of the region you can call in to one of the many wine cellars of the area, you can taste the delicious Pineau des Charentes, pleasant at any hour. For those who are fond of delicacies try the snails, Burgundy is not the only destination! Also worth a mention is the famous Poitou-Charente Butter, the Salt of Ile-de-Ré, the Bouchot Mussels, the Mojhette or the wines of High-Poitou. And we cannot finish this regional review without the town of Cognac, universally known as the fatherland of famous drink of the same name, which is also used in delicious recipes and astonishing cocktails.
Leisure
Venise Verte or "Green Venice" covers much of the sea-level flat land inland from the coast, it is an area of slow moving rivers and channels, woods and fields. Boating and kayaking, angling, rambling and riding are among popular activities here. There is a good network of marked cycle tracks. Angoulème (16) is an attractive hill town. Aubeterre sur Dronne: (16) small town with unusual romanesque "monolithic" church is rated as one of the "most beautiful villages in France". Cognac (16) Visit the great cognac houses.
La Rochelle (17); historic Altlantic port city, with mediaeval fortifications. The Aquarium at la Rochelle is one of the 20 most visited attractions in France. Rochefort (17). Small city just inland from the coast has old naval buildings, including the old naval rope works, and the Maritime museum, with historic collection of model sailing ships, and a shipyard where a replica 18th century frigate, the Hermione, is being built. Royan (17) : classic seaside resort. The la Palmyre zoo is one of the best in France. Jardins du Monde offers a discovery of garden styles from round the world, plus a butterfly house. Saintes (17). Lying on the river Charente, Saintes was once the capital of the Roman province of Aquitaine. The historic Abbaye aux Dames is the largest example of Saintonge romanesque architecture. There are so many villages, harbour marvels of medieval heritage, that sometimes they are not even signposted. Iles de Ré and Oléron - Popular offshore islands, accessible via road bridges from the mainland.
Niort (79). The capital of the Deux-Sèvres department is a classic old French town. Niort is an old town of sleepy stone buildings dominated by a medieval castle overlooking the river Sèvre Niortaise . Parthenay (79) . Small town on the river Thouet, best known for its impressive mediaeval fortified bridge.
Chauvigny (86) the town of the five castles. Five impressive castles and a romanesque church make up the medieval quarter of this old town built on a rocky spur beside the river Vienne, just east of Poitiers (86), Regional capital, Poitiers is an old hill-town with an attractive old centre. The city is most famous for its ancient churches, including the mediaeval frescoes in St. John's Baptistry, reputedly the oldest place of Christian worship in France, and the Notre-Dame la Grande church, one of the most famous and distinctive romanesque churches in France.
Futuroscope (86) A future-based theme park, famous for its variety of high-tech cinemas including IMAX and 3D.
Property
There is a wide selection of property for sale available from Stone built farmhouses with terracotta tiles to stunning Chateaux for sale as well as coastal properties and old mills. Property is still good value in the region and of course offers warmer weather than its neighbours further north. In comparison with the South of France and the more central regions property here remains excellent value.
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