Charente-Maritime is situated on the south-west coast of France and is part of the larger Poitou-Charantes region. It enjoys long hot summers and very mild winters so necessary for the production of fine grapes used to make the wonderful wines and cognac brandy. It is known locally as the “western Mediterranean” and enjoys the second highest number of sunshine hours in France (after the Cote D’Azur).

The combination of the words “Charente” and “Maritime” help to capture the magic of this departement – producing as it does the best from the land with the Cognac grapes, cereal crops and fields of Sunflowers – and the best from the ocean with the oysters, mussels and fish. Located with the Atlantic to the west of its 150 mile coastline, the Vendee and Deux-Sevres to the north, the Dordogne to the east and the Gironde to the south, the Charente-Maritime is a magnificent and exceptional part of France.

The principal towns of Charente-Maritime are all rather different from each other. The most southerly, Jonzac, is a brandy distilling town and thermal spa. Saintes has a rich Roman heritage with many elaborate ecclesiastical buildings. Royan, on the northern bank of the Gironde estuary, is a glitzy young resort with fabulous beaches backed up by miles of pine forest. Twenty miles north of Royan, Rochefort is an appealing 17th century naval town with its former rope works and naval museum.

In the summer, La Rochelle, also a historic port, is constantly in motion, with holidaymakers eating, drinking and strolling along the old harbour beneath towers and ramparts!

La Rochelle