Villas, Cottages and Gites in Poitou-Charentes

Treat yourself to a superb holiday villa, holiday cottage or gite in lovely Poitou-Charentes. Like its neighbour the Vendée, Poitou-Charentes is a beach lover's heaven. Book a gite in Charente and fall in love with the region's endless sheltered stretches of fine powdery sand, bathed in hot, reliable sunshine. This coastline's crowning glory is La Rochelle, a delightful place and one of France's most captivating ports. A town of winding, medieval streets, cobbled and arcaded. With three ancient forts guarding the yacht filled harbour. Or take a holiday villa in Charente and discover the marvellous Ile d'Oléron, a paradise of oyster beds and wetlands teeming with bird life.

You'll fall in love with the region's cool, lush pine woods and sunflower filled fields. Plus charming villages and grand Renaissance chateaux, including La Rochefoucauld and Chalais. A holiday cottage in Charente lets you explore the region's lovely north, where you can savour the café culture of Poitiers or visit the nearby Futuroscope. Or discover for yourself the Marais Poitevin marsh, a green Venice-like complex of canals, dykes and ambling rivers, by punt. If you're a Brandy fan, make the pilgrimage to Cognac to see the distillation process in action and taste their wares. Or discover nearby Limoges and the Limousin. Take a tour of our Charente villas, cottages and gites - your perfect Charente self catering holiday starts here!

View and book properties in Poitou-Charentes

When in Poitou-Charentes...

Gastronomy

Expect to find turbot, bass, mussels cooked in a tomato and brandy sauce and most definitely Oléron oysters. Also popular are 'les petits gris' (snails), beef, goose, Poitou-Charentes lamb and chabichou goat's cheese. Try the local aperitif Pineau des Charentes, and dinner is often rounded off with - what else? - a Cognac.

Places of Interest

La Rochelle is a must; you might wish to cross over to the Ile de Ré. Also worth seeing are the Roman remains in picturesque Saintes and the fashionable resort of Royan. Visit the abbey at Saint Savin sur Gartempe. Kids will love La Palmyre zoo and amusement park. You could even venture off for a day trip to the vineyards of the Médoc or the wine ch‚teaux of Bordeaux.

Sports and Leisure

Around 20 challenging golf courses are found in the area and many towns and villageshave tennis courts. Try canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting on the various rivers. Fish at the Montcoutant estate or on the River Touvre. Cycle miles of marked tracks in Marais Poitevin; horse ride in Segonzac; learn to sail in La Rochelle. Watch a son et lumiére display at Château La Rochefoucauld.

Weather

Poitou-Charentes is blessed with pleasant spring sun, warm summers and mild autumns, making the region perfect for activity and beach holidays.

Average Temperatures °C

Apr	18°
May	16°
Jun	22°
Jul	25°
Aug	25°
Sep	22°

Getting there

Charente villas and cottages can be reached comfortably in a day's drive after taking an overnight ferry to Caen or St. Malo with Brittany Ferries or an early morning crossing to Calais with P&O or Eurotunnel.

You may prefer a more leisurely drive by travelling the day before and stopping en route at a hotel in the Loire valley. Alternatively you can fly to one of the regional airports: Limoges, La Rochelle, Poitiers or Angouleme and pick up a hire car to take you to your Charente villa.