GREAT DESTINATIONS ❘ DEUX CHARENTES THINGS TO SEE AND DO There is plenty to do in the Deux Charentes from comic books to cognac and plenty in between FESTIVALS
Festivals are staged in the Deux Charentes all year round. In January, in Angoulême, there’s the comic book festival known as Festival International de la Bande Dessinée. February sees the Fête du Mimosa (lots of mimosa in a procession of floats) in Saint-Trojan-les-Bains (www.
lafetedumimosa.com). In April, making the most of the wind off the Atlantic Ocean, there’s the Festival International du Cerf-Volant et du Vent, at Chatelaillon-Plage. Held over the Easter weekend, it showcases over 800 kites, plus plenty of kite- surfing (
www.chatelaillonplage. fr). Painting, photography and sculpture feature at Ascension de l’Art in Aubeterre-sur- Dronne in late May.
For more
travel inspiration visit www. francetoday .com/travel-in- france
Explore the many cognac houses in the area and make sure to taste a few to boot
From April to October you can take day cruises along it on the Bernard Palissy III, embarking at Saintes, and enjoying lunch aboard (
www.croisieres-palissy. fr). There are also two-hour cruises on board La Demoiselle – a contemporary version of the original Charente barges – departing from Cognac (https://
bit.ly/45Gd9UN)
The impressive Festival International du Cerf-Volant et du Vent
Over the summer there
are multiple music festivals across the region, including Musiques Métisses (world music in Angoulême, www.
musiques-metisses.com); Cognac Blues Passion (www.
bluespassions.com); Festival de Saintes (classical music, www.
abbayeauxdames.org/festival- de-saintes); Francofolies (Francophone music, www.
francofolies.fr); Festival de Musique en Ré (classical on Île de Ré,
www.musique-en-re. com); Stereoparc (electronic music in Rochefort, www.
stereoparc.com); Un Violon sur le Sable (classical in Royan, www.
violonsurlesable.com); Tribal Elek (world music in Andilly,
www.tribalelek.fr); and Jazz au Phare (in Saint-Clements-des- Baleienes,
jazzauphare.com).
BOAT TRIPS The river that gives its name to this region is particularly pretty.
104 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Oct/Nov 2023
STREET ART Angoulême, home to Europe’s greatest comic-book festival, boasts some really impressive street murals dedicated to this much-loved art form. Join an
(
www.rochefort-ocean.com/en/ thermal-bath-spa) and Saujon (
www.thermes-saujon.fr), plus various sea-water thalassotherapy centres at Royan, Châtelaillon- Plage, on the Île d’Oléron and on the Île de Ré.
ACTIVITY DAYS Whether you’re a little bit lazy or super-fit, there are various outdoor activities available at the Base de Loisirs de Poltrot, in Nabinaud, right in the south of the Charente. Highlights include tree-climbing, orienteering, fishing, kayaking and a huge maze. A great way to lose the kids for an afternoon.
www.poltrot.fr Halfway between Cognac and Saintes is Parc Aventure Fontdouce, offering tree climbing, zip lining, archery, laser guns, water fights, treasure hunts and off-road electric scooters. Open April to October. www.
parc-aventure-fontdouce.com
Enjoy the street art in Angoulême, such as this Blake & Mortimer piece
official tour and see if you can spot the likes of Asterix, Lucky Luke, or Blake & Mortimer. You can also download an app and guide yourself around. https://bit. ly/47Ow2WK
SPA DAYS For travel-weary tourists, there are plenty of opportunities to relax one’s muscles across the Deux Charentes. There are spa resorts at Jonzac (www.
chainethermale.fr), Rochefort
COGNAC TASTING All the major houses offer tastings. But for a Cognac experience that’s a little different, why not try these? Rémy Martin offers
trips in an electric car, first through the vineyards and then back to the cellars (
www.remymartin. com). Maison Boinaud, the largest family-owned distillery in the region, takes visitors on a two- hour, 4km walk amongst the vines, finishing with a tasting back at the cellars (
www.boinaud.com/en).
BIKING ON THE ÎLE DE RÉ Flat as a pancake and criss-crossed by a network of bike trails, the Île de Ré is perfect for cyclists. During the summer months, nearly all the
Cycling is the perfect way to explore the wonders of the Île de Ré
villages on the island offer bike hire, but in July and August you’d be wise to book in advance. Aim for the bird reserve, Maison du Fier et Réserve Naturelle, in the village of Les Portes-en-Ré, and don’t miss the pretty village of Ars-en-Ré, with its distinctive black and white steeple.
Camus Cognac is among the many houses that welcomes visitors
WINDMILL After years of painstaking restoration, the Moulin de la Brée, on the northern tip of the Île d’Oléron, has reopened as a working mill. Here the miller produces flour from locally grown cereals using traditional methods.
moulin-de-la-bree.fr
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