HIGHLIGHTS

Visit the world famous distillery town of Cognac
Soak up the sun on the beaches of the Ile de Re
Sample the succulent seafood at La Rochelle
Hire a boat and investigate the Venise Verte
Pop in at Poitiers, the capital of the region and visit Futuroscope

Poitou-Charentes

This area of France is steeped in history and has borne witness to some of the region’s many power struggles over the centuries. From the Moorish columns of the church of Notre-Dame-la-Grande in Poitiers to the Roman ruins of Saintes, the foreign influence of the past has left its legacy.

To the west of the region lie the Charente Maritime ports of La Rochelle and Rochefort, which face out towards the islands of Oloron and Ile de Re. The latter being very popular with families with young children as its many beaches enjoy more hours of sunshine than any other part of France away from the Mediterranean coast and its waters are shallow and safe.

North of Poitou-Charentes, the Poitevin marshes can be found. This area, which is now a regional park, has been drained with canals, dykes and sluices and it stretches from Niort to the sea in the west. A good starting point for boat trips is Coulon, a large well-equipped village where punts can be hired out to explore the Venise Verte or another popular option is a cruise on the River Sevre.

Forests form the backdrop to this beautiful area of coastline which is criss-crossed with walking trails and cycle tracks.

North east of the region is the capital Poitiers, which makes a good base for visitors to Futuroscope. The theme park is situated 10km north of the city.