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Charente / Vendee Towns  As a generalisation this area does not offer a vast choice of characterful towns and villages, however it does possess some gems with great variety including the Roman town of Saintes with a superb amphitheatre, the town of Cognac (known worldwide for its brandy) and the lovely coastal town of La Rochelle with a quaint harbour and intimate shopping streets.  La Rochelle especially we would rate as a "must visit"!

Aubeterre-sur-DronneAubeterre-sur-Dronne:

Location:- About 50km due south of Angouleme on D20/D17 perched overlooking the River Dronne.
General Information:- http://aubeterresurdronne.free.fr.
Description:- One of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, this is a really lovely village full of white buildings – the village’s name comes from the latin alba terre which means ‘white earth’. It is perched on the borders of the Dordogne and the Charente, and probably one of its most visited sites is the vast troglodyte church of St Jean, the largest of its type in Europe. You can wander around the Church at will (for a small entrance fee - €4 for all over 12 and €1 for children aged 8-12), climbing up inside it for views down into the nave which is 20m high, as well as visits to the catacombs. It is a fascinating place that  is open every day from 9.30-12.00 and 14.00-18.00.
During the summer English speaking guided tours of the village are organized. If you feel hungry try out the restaurant at the foot of the village.
For the children:- Of limited appeal.

Our favourite towns in the Charente and Vendee:

         - Aubeterre-sur-Dronne
         - Cognac
         - La Rochelle
         - Niort
         - Saintes
         - Talmont-sur-Gironde

Also worth a visit if you are close by are the seaside town of Royan, Coulon in the Marais Poitévin and many of the seaside towns sitting alongside the beach resorts we recommend.

External websites offering information on the Vendee and Charente Maritime:

-
Poitou Charente Vacances

- Le Charente

- Angela Bird's website on the Vendée

Chosen by our children:

     - Top Attractions in Charente / Vendee
     - Top ten Holiday destinations in France