The 10 things to do in Charente

On holiday in the southwest of France? Stop in Charente to visit the must-sees of this department. Follow the Guide!

Apart from the digestive, Charente is full of natural and historical treasures. Angouleme, the prefecture of the department, offers a selection of unusual museums. Welsh-Roman theatre makes you cross the centuries. The Tour de Charente also offers hiking trails to visit the Charente on both sides.

If you want to discover this department and its treasures, follow our guide to the must-sees in Charente.

1. The Royal Castle of Cognac

During the French Revolution, this building gradually escapes destruction through Baron Otard. The latter was seduced by the site. Not only does the Château Royal de Cognac have a unique heritage, but it also offers exceptional aging to life. Thanks to the thick walls of the fortress, alcohol keeps its color clear and colorless. This allows the cellars to make a delicious cognac.

The visit of the Château Royal de Cognac is both a jump in the past and a discovery of the manufacture of the digestive. Built in a different architectural style, each piece impresses the visitor. The most striking are the casks room and the vault dating from the 12th century.

The kings had the madness of greatness and loved to receive their guests in exceptional conditions. Baron Otard decided to keep this tradition and organized several seminars or galas in the castle enclosure.

Today, the Château belongs to the Bacardi-Martini group and offers you a wide variety of flavors during your visit. The course always begins with an exploration of the castle and ends with a tasting of cognac. Depending on your budget and your desires, the Château offers several varieties of cognac.

2. Museums of Angouleme

Visiting Charente is also going to discover the unusual museums of the prefecture.

Angouleme Museum

Located in the historic centre of the capital of Charente, the Angouleme Museum offers an impressive collection. Built in 1921, the museum is the oldest in the city.

The exhibitions are separated by four levels:

• The ground floor is dedicated to the archaeological and paleontological world. Thanks to this, you will discover the Charente history for almost 500,000 years. Many excavations have been made over the centuries to offer you this unique collection. Among the emblematic works of this floor, do not miss the skeletons of aurochs, the remains of elephants dating from prehistory or the skulls of cro-magon men.
• The first floor hosts works of art first, and more specifically the arts of Africa and Oceania. In total, more than 3,000 pieces were released to the Angouleme Museum. You will discover a simogui mask, a lobi statuette, a bust of Kanak warrior, and many others.
• The second and third floor you discover paintings, sculptures and weapons of age. In fact, some of the paintings of the Louvre reserve are exhibited.

Paper Museum

During your visit to Charente, you can't miss the paper museum. Built on the Charente River, the museum occupies the old Lacroix stationery. Cigarette paper was made there, which was exported to the Middle East and Egypt.

The manufacture of paper is an old tradition in Angouleme which dates from the sixteenth century. It was in 1516 that the first paper mill in Charente saw the day in Negremus. Gradually, the mills used for wheat are then remodeled to make paper.

New mills were also built to develop this increasingly prosperous activity. Thanks to its limestone soil and pure water, Angouleme became the seat of the stationery.

The paper museum presents the history of stationery and its manufacturing secrets.

Comic Strip Museum

In a resolutely more modern style, the comics museum welcomes you throughout the year. Anime lover is a must if you come to visit the Charente.

The museum's collections are spread over an area of nearly 1,300 square metres. You will find original boards, numerous drawings and of course derivatives. This is one of the largest collections of comics in all of Europe.

Subject to strict rules of preservation on the works of paper, the museum must renew itself permanently. The original boards can not be presented more than three months in a row, they are placed in reserve for three years after their exposure. You can therefore come regularly and discover a new museum at each passage.

Several events are also organized to vary the pleasures; temporary exhibitions, conferences, meditation workshops, etc.

3. Saint-Pierre Cathedral

Located among historical monuments, Saint-Pierre Cathedral is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. The façade is the masterpiece of the cathedral. His sculpture was particularly worked with statues and bas-reliefs. The ensemble dates from the 12th century.

In addition, some representations were added to the 19th century during restoration. This is the case for example of Saint-Martin and Saint-Georges. The façade presents three themes: the Ascension of Christ, the Last Judgment and Pentecost.

Above, the capital represents different scenes of work in the fields, called “Sea”. The four scenes refer to spring, summer, fall and winter.

Inside the Cathedral, a unique atmosphere awaits you. Blue and gold tones diffuse a multitude of shades of lights.

Continue your visit and discover the treasure of St.Peter's Cathedral. This one is revealed over three rooms; Lapidaire, Engagement and the Wonderful. You will discover an important collection of objects of worship.

4. A tasting of cognacs

Visiting the Charente without making a tasting of cognacs is simply unthinkable. The department offers a multitude of tasting workshops.

To imbue yourself completely with the atmosphere of this typically French alcohol, you are installed in a charming home.

Cognac initiation is done with an experienced trainer who explains all the tasting techniques. The goal is to work your senses both gustative and olfactory with theory and practice.

The atmosphere is friendly and warm so that you would enjoy discovering or rediscovering the cognac of Charente.

For a cognac tasting in the department, there is a multitude of choices. Large cognac house or small producer, there are everywhere in the area.

5. A hike on the Charente Tower

What to do in Charente to discover nature? A hiking tour of Charente is an excellent opportunity to discover the whole department. A total of 450 kilometres of marked tracks. These routes allow you to visit 350 communes, almost all the cities of the department (which are 397).

Several service information relays indicate the points of view to be discovered and the level of difficulty. And of course, picnic areas are present on the whole path so that you can recharge on the road.

There are several paths accessible both for walking and cycling. The most important are:

• La Galope mugine: This is a 22-kilometre hike between Barbezieux and Chantillac.
• La Coulée d’Oc: To the east of the department, this path connects Mornac and Souffrignac.
• Val de Nouère : This route crosses the old railway “le petit Rouillat” and connects Rouillac to Hiersac via the river Charente.

6. The vineyards of Jarnac

Located between Angouleme and Cognac, Jarnac has an indisputable historical and wine heritage. Historically, cognac has allowed the development of the city. It is located on the river road where the goods were transiting to reach the ocean. Its strategic position will change its history from the 18th century.

From that date, the first traders of life water radically transform the city with their white stone dwellings, trading counters and storage trays.

Around Jarnac, several vineyards produce Charentais and Pineau de Charente. During your visit to Charente, don’t hesitate to stop in this charming city to discover its vineyards.

7. The caves of Queroy

Quéroy caves are natural caves dating back to several million years. They were dug in the limestone by the river Tover which flows below. During your journey, explore 1,200 metres of galleries with about 30 rooms. You will see limestone concretions, sheets, stalactites and stalagmites.

Although very old, the caves were discovered by chance in 1892 by a walker and her bitch. As soon as the caves were discovered, they were immediately exploited by Norbert Casteret.

Caves also served during the Second World War as a shelter for resistance. It was from the 1960s that they were completely redesigned for tourism activity.

During your visit to Charente and its caves, think about taking warm clothes, because it can be very cold under the ground. The temperature is usually between 8 and 12 degrees.

8. The Gallo-Roman theatre of the Bouchauds

What to do in Charente to discover its history? Why not the Gallo-Romain Theatre of the Bouchauds located in Saint-Cybardeaux? This site dives you to the Augustan period.

You will discover authentic Gallo-Roman ruins and an interpretation space. The theatre was installed in an old farmhouse built in 1846. Inside, drawings, models and videos help you understand the secrets of the archaeological site.

Theatre and ruins testify to the transformation of Gaul during romanization. The rise of Christianity from the fourth century unfortunately left to abandon these pagan buildings.

Progressively, nature resumed its rights on the Bouchauds site. It was only in the nineteenth century that the remains of the theatre were cleared by Jean Gontier. And in 1970 excavations allowed the discovery of the forgotten sanctuary.

9. The church of Saint-Jacques d’Aubeterre-sur-Dronne

If you come to visit the Charente, you can’t miss the church of Saint-Jacques d’Aubeterre-sur-Dronne.

Built in 1171, the church was later destroyed by Protestant extremists in 1562. It was only in the early eighteenth century that the reconstruction of the building was realized. Even today, restoration works are regularly undertaken in order to give back to the church of Saint-Jacques d’Aubeterre-sur-Dronne all its superb. Its portal was also listed as a historic monument in 1862.

The church is a scholarly mix of Roman art with Roman influences, mozarabs, carolingians, celts, and Byzantine.

If you make a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela , know that the church is one of the steps for pilgrims.

10. Culinary specialities

After having tasted the wines and cognacs of the region, take the time to eat. At this level, Charente offers its culinary specialties all the more delicious than others. First, start with the main dish, with a delicious Barbezieux Chapon that has a fine and mellow flesh.

Then go to cheese where you have the embarrassment of choice; Taupinière, taupinette, squarely charentais, chabichou, or mothais on sheet. Finally for dessert, test the Charentaise and its cream heart with pralined butter.

How to get to Charente?

The heart and prefecture of Charente, Angouleme is one of the places to visit absolutely. To get there, you have a choice:

• The train: the TGV line serves the cities of Bordeaux, Paris, Lille and Strasbourg.
• La voiture : Angoulême est situé à 4 h 30 de Paris, 1 h 30 de Bordeaux et 7 heures de Marseille.
• The plane: La Rochelle Airport – Île de Ré is the closest to Charente. The airlines to La Rochelle include Paris, Lyon, Ajaccio, Nice, Marseille, London (Stansted, Gatwick), Geneva, Brussels-Charleroi...

Where to sleep in Charente?

The city of Angouleme can serve as a drop point to visit the Charente. ♪ different neighbourhoods have varied accommodation offers for all types of travellers. To get away from the city, you can choose Charente villages like Cognac , Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, La Rochefoucauld, Confolens or Ruffec. These destinations allow you to immerse yourself a little more in Charente and discover this department more in depth. You can find housing offers among particular on Airbnb or hotels on this Compare hotels .