Guidebook for Salles-Lavalette
Arts & Culture
High on a hilltop, Aubeterre is an absolute gem. Officially one of the "Les Plus Beaux Villages" (most beautiful villages) of France.
The village has many artist's studios. Also to be found are potters and glass blowers. The puppet theatre is very popular during the summer holidays.
The fascinating monolithic (subterranean) church of St. Jean carved out of the cliff is a must see. With a 20m high underground nave and necropolis containing over 100 sarcophagi.
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Aubeterre-sur-Dronne
High on a hilltop, Aubeterre is an absolute gem. Officially one of the "Les Plus Beaux Villages" (most beautiful villages) of France.
The village has many artist's studios. Also to be found are potters and glass blowers. The puppet theatre is very popular during the summer holidays.
The fascinating monolithic (subterranean) church of St. Jean carved out of the cliff is a must see. With a 20m high underground nave and necropolis containing over 100 sarcophagi.
Sightseeing
Known as "the Venice of the Perigord" this charming medieval town is built on an island on the river Dronne.
Quite rightly, a tourist honey-pot in the summer months, especially on market day (Friday morning) where there is an wealth of local produce on display.
It's always good entertainment to sit at one of the many cafes or bars and watch the canoeists paddling about - especially when they are attempting to get over the weirs!
A great place to visit for adults and kids alike.
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Brantôme
Known as "the Venice of the Perigord" this charming medieval town is built on an island on the river Dronne.
Quite rightly, a tourist honey-pot in the summer months, especially on market day (Friday morning) where there is an wealth of local produce on display.
It's always good entertainment to sit at one of the many cafes or bars and watch the canoeists paddling about - especially when they are attempting to get over the weirs!
A great place to visit for adults and kids alike.
City of the Comic Strip.
Angouleme is know as the "Cartoon, , Capital" of France and is world renowned for its annual international comic strip festival and the national museum devoted to the art of the comic strip and caricature.
Around the city there are many buildings with specially commissioned murals (see my current favourite at the bottom of this page!). You can visit the Angouleme tourist office and pick up a guided walking-tour of the best.
The Cathedral of St. Pierre
The Octagonal early 12thStanding on a rock high above the river Charente, Angouleme is an ancient city and capital of the district. The vibrant old quarter of the city centre has many shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.
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Angoulême
City of the Comic Strip.
Angouleme is know as the "Cartoon, , Capital" of France and is world renowned for its annual international comic strip festival and the national museum devoted to the art of the comic strip and caricature.
Around the city there are many buildings with specially commissioned murals (see my current favourite at the bottom of this page!). You can visit the Angouleme tourist office and pick up a guided walking-tour of the best.
The Cathedral of St. Pierre
The Octagonal early 12thStanding on a rock high above the river Charente, Angouleme is an ancient city and capital of the district. The vibrant old quarter of the city centre has many shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.
Drinks & Nightlife
St. Emilion is a beautiful medieval town built on the slopes of a limestone plateau overlooking the Dordogne Valley. With steep hilly cobbled streets running through ancient limestone buildings. The 13th century walls and winding ramparts remain, enclosing densely rowed caves (wine merchants) that offer a taste of the valley's finest wines.
The town and surrounding vineyards are a UNESCO world heritage site
The town derives its name from the hermit Emilion who lived there in the 8th century. Emilion carved out a cave for himself in the limestone and a monastery followed.
The 12th Century belfry rises above a rocky spur encrusted with catacombs, a hermitage, a chapel and an underground church
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Saint-Émilion
St. Emilion is a beautiful medieval town built on the slopes of a limestone plateau overlooking the Dordogne Valley. With steep hilly cobbled streets running through ancient limestone buildings. The 13th century walls and winding ramparts remain, enclosing densely rowed caves (wine merchants) that offer a taste of the valley's finest wines.
The town and surrounding vineyards are a UNESCO world heritage site
The town derives its name from the hermit Emilion who lived there in the 8th century. Emilion carved out a cave for himself in the limestone and a monastery followed.
The 12th Century belfry rises above a rocky spur encrusted with catacombs, a hermitage, a chapel and an underground church
Everything Else
Our local market town with doctor, dentists, banks, cash points and large modern supermarket is just 5 minutes away by car. The 10th century Chateau dominates the region from its hilltop. The Chateau is open to the public 10am to 6pm (with the obligatory French 2 hour lunch break!). From the top of the towers you'll get a magnificent views over both the Dordogne and Charente valleys. A market is held every Saturday morning where you can enjoy a dish of fresh oysters with a bottle of Musc
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Villebois-Lavalette
Our local market town with doctor, dentists, banks, cash points and large modern supermarket is just 5 minutes away by car. The 10th century Chateau dominates the region from its hilltop. The Chateau is open to the public 10am to 6pm (with the obligatory French 2 hour lunch break!). From the top of the towers you'll get a magnificent views over both the Dordogne and Charente valleys. A market is held every Saturday morning where you can enjoy a dish of fresh oysters with a bottle of Musc
To say that Cognac is where brandy comes from would be a little bit of an understatement.
The area around Cognac lives and breathes this devilish and at the same time, angelic nectar. With its ancient streets and mansions of the brandy merchants, Cognac is a jewel of the Charente.
The great vineyards of Cognac cover an area of around 200,000 acres, you can drive for miles and miles through impeccably groomed vineyards, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Things to do and see in and around Cognac
Visit the producers, many of the larger firms offer sophisticated tours of their distilleries Hennessy, Martell, and Courvoisier with the Napoleon museum at Jarnac.
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Cognac
To say that Cognac is where brandy comes from would be a little bit of an understatement.
The area around Cognac lives and breathes this devilish and at the same time, angelic nectar. With its ancient streets and mansions of the brandy merchants, Cognac is a jewel of the Charente.
The great vineyards of Cognac cover an area of around 200,000 acres, you can drive for miles and miles through impeccably groomed vineyards, stretching as far as the eye can see.
Things to do and see in and around Cognac
Visit the producers, many of the larger firms offer sophisticated tours of their distilleries Hennessy, Martell, and Courvoisier with the Napoleon museum at Jarnac.
Entertainment & Activities
Futuroscope is a beautifully laid-out theme park with a difference: more than 130 acres are devoted to using new audio-visual technology to create breathtaking and informative spectacles. Giant screens, 3D cinemas, circular cinemas and other state-of-the-art techniques (some unique to the park) add up to create an experience unlike any you have seen before.
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Poitiers
Futuroscope is a beautifully laid-out theme park with a difference: more than 130 acres are devoted to using new audio-visual technology to create breathtaking and informative spectacles. Giant screens, 3D cinemas, circular cinemas and other state-of-the-art techniques (some unique to the park) add up to create an experience unlike any you have seen before.
Parks & Nature
The fashionable resort of Royan bustles with life and has many attractive shops, bars and restaurants. A well know seaside resort since the late 19th century, it was completely rebuilt in the 1950's (uuhhh.... following a little spat between "a few" Germans retreating from the D-Day advances and the Royal Air Force)
Its stunning modern architecture will be appreciated especially around the sea front with its boutiques and lively side-walk cafes, and the surprisingly modern market.
Royan has over 2Km of fine, pale, pampered sandy beaches (known as "conches") backed by forests of maritime pine and oak.
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Royan
The fashionable resort of Royan bustles with life and has many attractive shops, bars and restaurants. A well know seaside resort since the late 19th century, it was completely rebuilt in the 1950's (uuhhh.... following a little spat between "a few" Germans retreating from the D-Day advances and the Royal Air Force)
Its stunning modern architecture will be appreciated especially around the sea front with its boutiques and lively side-walk cafes, and the surprisingly modern market.
Royan has over 2Km of fine, pale, pampered sandy beaches (known as "conches") backed by forests of maritime pine and oak.