Ed And Jo’s guidebook
Food scene
Our local restaurant and highly recommended. Open every weekday (except Monday) for lunch with a 16 EUR menu for 3 course meal. The (more expensive, but also delicious) weekend menu is generally available on from Friday evening until Sunday lunchtime.
Le Relais Des Iles
1091 Rue PrincipaleOur local restaurant and highly recommended. Open every weekday (except Monday) for lunch with a 16 EUR menu for 3 course meal. The (more expensive, but also delicious) weekend menu is generally available on from Friday evening until Sunday lunchtime.
L Auberge de L Abbaye
Place de l'ÉgliseAgain a local favourite, good food next to a pretty abbey
Slightly more formal than some of our other recommendations, but excellent food and huge cheeseboard. This one isn't child friendly, however.
L' Auberge de Cheval Blanc
481 Av. de la CanebièreSlightly more formal than some of our other recommendations, but excellent food and huge cheeseboard. This one isn't child friendly, however.
Chez Paul
8 Pl. Francis LouvelGood restaurant with a garden and stream
Le Terminus
3 Pl. de la GareGood for fish
Le Moulin Neuf
Activities
Accro Parc station
Fun adventure course / tree climbing. Worth taking a picnic.
Hippodrome Rene Gounin is a horse track in Montignac-Charente, featuring harness, steeplechase and thoroughbred racing.
Les courses hippiques
34 Av. Jean MédecinHippodrome Rene Gounin is a horse track in Montignac-Charente, featuring harness, steeplechase and thoroughbred racing.
The infamous attraction that appeared in every French text book when we were younger. A bit dated now, but still interesting. About 1:15 minutes away.
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Futuroscope
Avenue René MonoryThe infamous attraction that appeared in every French text book when we were younger. A bit dated now, but still interesting. About 1:15 minutes away.
Small aquapark. Might be worth bringing speedos as a back-up (sometimes they get fussy about board shorts / bermuda shorts).
Nautilis station
Small aquapark. Might be worth bringing speedos as a back-up (sometimes they get fussy about board shorts / bermuda shorts).
An hour or so away, this place has 5 man carriages (with peddling and non-peddling seats) you can peddle on the old train tracks (the trip lasts approximately two hours) - worth taking some provisions though there is a shop - great for families.
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Station Confolens - Charente-Limousine Vélorail Train
Avenue GambettaAn hour or so away, this place has 5 man carriages (with peddling and non-peddling seats) you can peddle on the old train tracks (the trip lasts approximately two hours) - worth taking some provisions though there is a shop - great for families.
Lake with walking / running / boating options - there is a beach which is fun for families and a waterpark with inflatables
ST YRIEIX Plan d'Eau station
Lake with walking / running / boating options - there is a beach which is fun for families and a waterpark with inflatables
Fun obstacle course with inflatables - next to the Plan d'eau on the way to Angouleme
aquajump st Yrieix
N10Fun obstacle course with inflatables - next to the Plan d'eau on the way to Angouleme
Sightseeing
Interesting town on the Charente with a dungeon a local restaurant and a bar. Can be reached by Kayak in approx 1h30 (downriver, so have a plan to get back)!
Montignac-Charente
Interesting town on the Charente with a dungeon a local restaurant and a bar. Can be reached by Kayak in approx 1h30 (downriver, so have a plan to get back)!
The Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure National Cemetery and Memorial (Nécropole nationale et mémorial de Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure) were erected to the memory of soldiers killed in action and of the 1,465 martyrs of the Resistance.
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Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure
The Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure National Cemetery and Memorial (Nécropole nationale et mémorial de Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure) were erected to the memory of soldiers killed in action and of the 1,465 martyrs of the Resistance.
Oradour-sur-Glane was a small farming village of around 350 inhabitants, located near Clermont-Ferrand, some 15 miles west-north-west of Limoges. During World War II, it was located in the German-occupied zone of France. On June 10, 1944, troops of the 2nd Waffen-SS Panzer Division (armored division), Das Reich, massacred 642 people, almost the entire population, and then destroyed the village. After the war, Oradour-sur-Glane rivaled Lidice as an iconic symbol of Nazi crimes against civilians in occupied Europe.
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Oradour-sur-Glane
Oradour-sur-Glane was a small farming village of around 350 inhabitants, located near Clermont-Ferrand, some 15 miles west-north-west of Limoges. During World War II, it was located in the German-occupied zone of France. On June 10, 1944, troops of the 2nd Waffen-SS Panzer Division (armored division), Das Reich, massacred 642 people, almost the entire population, and then destroyed the village. After the war, Oradour-sur-Glane rivaled Lidice as an iconic symbol of Nazi crimes against civilians in occupied Europe.
Interesting Castle with 10th Century origins - still occupied by the (La Rochefoucauld) family... their blurb reads as follows:
"The Château de la Rochefoucauld is said to be one of the most remarkable castles in France. This site is of interest because of the quality and diversity of its architecture. This most imposing castle of Charente is a jewel of Renaissance. The Roman dungeon, which is the oldest part, and the numerous sculptures are the main points of interest. But the masterpiece of la Rochefoucauld is without a doubt the 16th century continuous spiral staircase. Comprised of 108 steps this monumental piece of work, a design attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, winds majestically around a central pillar."
44 personas locales recomiendan
Château de La Rochefoucauld
Interesting Castle with 10th Century origins - still occupied by the (La Rochefoucauld) family... their blurb reads as follows:
"The Château de la Rochefoucauld is said to be one of the most remarkable castles in France. This site is of interest because of the quality and diversity of its architecture. This most imposing castle of Charente is a jewel of Renaissance. The Roman dungeon, which is the oldest part, and the numerous sculptures are the main points of interest. But the masterpiece of la Rochefoucauld is without a doubt the 16th century continuous spiral staircase. Comprised of 108 steps this monumental piece of work, a design attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, winds majestically around a central pillar."
Well preserved amphitheatre with excellent views of the surrounding countryside - the acoustics are still good too!
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Gallo-Roman theatre at Les Bouchauds
Well preserved amphitheatre with excellent views of the surrounding countryside - the acoustics are still good too!
Spectacular underground church carved into rock centuries before the technologies we would use for such activities today existed.
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Église monolithe Saint-Jean
18 Rue St JeanSpectacular underground church carved into rock centuries before the technologies we would use for such activities today existed.
25 minutes away - a small but interesting place dubbed the balcony of Aquitaine for its ramparts - it has a pretty cathedral some museums, cute streets and some good restaurants.
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Angoulême
25 minutes away - a small but interesting place dubbed the balcony of Aquitaine for its ramparts - it has a pretty cathedral some museums, cute streets and some good restaurants.
A city on the up, bursting with beautiful buildings, good museums and restaurants. The Haussmann redesigned centre is a UNESCO world heritage site (and the city has more protected buildings than any French city other than Paris).
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Bordeaux
A city on the up, bursting with beautiful buildings, good museums and restaurants. The Haussmann redesigned centre is a UNESCO world heritage site (and the city has more protected buildings than any French city other than Paris).
Tusson
Pretty village with museum.
Very pretty village - you can swim in the river here too.
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Verteuil-sur-Charente
Very pretty village - you can swim in the river here too.
Has a huge market on the 27th of each month, regardless of what day of the week it falls on. The market (or foire) takes fills the streets with stalls and is busiest between 10:30 and 12.
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Rouillac
Has a huge market on the 27th of each month, regardless of what day of the week it falls on. The market (or foire) takes fills the streets with stalls and is busiest between 10:30 and 12.
City/town information
Does what it says on the tin. Very beautiful and a lovely aspect of the river. There are boats and interesting buildings but the cognac houses are the main draw.
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Cognac
Does what it says on the tin. Very beautiful and a lovely aspect of the river. There are boats and interesting buildings but the cognac houses are the main draw.