Cognac · river country · Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Cognac vineyards, a beautiful river, historic towns and quiet countryside.
Discover the Charente
The Charente has an understated appeal: the river winds through vineyard country and old towns, Angoulême rises above its ramparts, Cognac brings world-famous heritage, and the countryside remains remarkably peaceful.
From the Cognac vineyards in the west to Angoulême, the Charente Limousine and the southern villages around Aubeterre, the department works particularly well for slow touring, river days and uncrowded rural stays.
Independent holiday rentals
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Explore the whole department
The department changes from vineyard country around Cognac to Angoulême and the central river valley, greener Charente Limousine in the north-east and the softer southern countryside towards Aubeterre.
Distilleries, river quays & vine-covered country
Cognac and Jarnac sit beside the Charente in the heart of the spirit-producing landscape. Vineyards, trading houses, distilleries and river villages give the west of the department a strong identity.
Cognac · Jarnac · Segonzac · Châteauneuf-sur-Charente
Ramparts, culture & the river valley
Angoulême crowns a limestone plateau above the Charente, while nearby towns and villages follow the river through a landscape of locks, mills, fields and wooded slopes.
Angoulême · Fléac · Mouthiers · Roullet
Greener country, lakes & historic small towns
The north-east around Confolens is greener and more pastoral, with the Vienne and Charente valleys, small towns and easy access towards the Limousin.
Confolens · Chabanais · Montbron · Massignac
Aubeterre, rolling country & village heritage
The south becomes gentler and more rural towards Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, with small villages, churches, farms and country roads close to the Dordogne border.
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne · Barbezieux · Villebois-Lavalette · Chalais
Towns & villages
These towns and villages spread the focus beyond Cognac and Angoulême, following the river and reaching into the quieter north and south of the department.
A striking hilltop city enclosed by ramparts, with cathedral heritage, broad views and a celebrated comics and illustration culture.
A handsome riverside town whose old streets, quays and historic houses are inseparable from the world-famous spirit produced around it.
A beautiful southern village known for its steep lanes and remarkable underground monolithic church.
A small Charente-side town in vineyard country, closely linked to Cognac production and the birthplace of François Mitterrand.
A historic town dominated by an impressive Renaissance château beside the Tardoire.
A picturesque town where the Vienne and Goire meet, known for bridges, old streets and its international folklore festival.
A very attractive riverside village dominated by a château and watermill on the upper Charente.
A small river town between Angoulême and Cognac, with waterside recreation and vineyard country nearby.
A village at the heart of Grande Champagne, surrounded by some of Cognac’s most prized vineyard landscapes.
A southern market village below a hilltop château, with a distinctive covered market hall.
A useful southern town with château remains, shops and access to the rolling countryside towards Haute-Saintonge.
A northern market town on the edge of broad agricultural country and the upper Charente valley.
Make a holiday of it
The Cognac landscape is both agricultural and cultural. Major houses, independent growers and distilleries explain the journey from vineyard to barrel, while the river and old trading towns provide the setting.
The Charente was once described as one of France’s loveliest rivers, and it remains ideal for boating, canoeing, cycling and relaxed stops around locks, mills and waterside villages.
Angoulême, Aubeterre, La Rochefoucauld, Verteuil and smaller market towns provide a varied heritage trail without the crowds found in more heavily visited departments.
Travel & getting around
Angoulême is the main rail gateway, with high-speed services on the Paris–Bordeaux line. Cognac has regional rail connections and the N10 provides the principal north–south road through the department.
Bordeaux is the nearest major international airport for much of the Charente; Limoges can also be useful for the north-east depending on routes.
The river towns can be linked by road and some rail services, but a car is the most practical option for vineyard visits, rural villages and holiday homes away from the main centres.
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