Gîtes Charente

Discover the Charente and the surrounding area during your holiday.

With 1600 km of rivers and streams flowing through the department, fishing remains one of the far activities of the Charente region. Fishing enthusiasts can fish for trout, minnows, gudgeon, pike, carp, pike-perch… It is also possible to enjoy these waterways through water activities such as canoeing, kayaking, stand Up Paddle, pedalo… And appreciate the environment through a river cruise.

The Charente's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean makes this destination a favourable place for the development of a fragile biodiversity. By renting accommodation on the clevacances.com website, you can get as close to nature as possible and find 4 protected natural areas with the "Pôles nature" label, a designation created in 1995 on the initiative of the Charente department. It guarantees the quality of the site, as well as raising visitors' awareness of nature. During your stay, discover nature reserves such as Moêze in Charente, the Marais d'Yves in Charente, La Cabane de Moins in Charente, and La Station de Lagunage in Charente. When you stay in a Charente gîte, step back in time and discover the region's historic heritage by visiting the Donjon de Marthon, the Château de Barbezieux, which is close to the Château de Montchaude, and the Château de Bayers. Also discover its architectural heritage with the cathedral of Angoulême, the Abbey of Saint-Amant-de-Boixe or the church of Chateauneuf, via the church of Saint-Eutrope in Saintes. You can also visit Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, listed as one of the "most beautiful villages in France". Nearby are the villages of Labrade and Bonnes.

At Angoulême, don't miss the Gallo-Roman theatre, one of the largest in France, and its museums. In order to get to a Clévacances gîte in the Charente, you can come by train, as many large towns are served: Saintes, Jonzac, Angoulême, Cognac, Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire… You can also come by car via the A10 motorway and the well-developed road network.

Activities to discover in the Charente during your holiday

Book accommodation in Angoulême, considered the capital of comic strips. Every year, the city organises the International Comics Festival. It is the second biggest festival in Europe in terms of reputation and attendance. For young and old alike, it's sure to appeal to a wide audience. Last but not least, you can also take part in a number of music festivals during your holiday in and around the Charente: the World Music Festival in Confolens, Musiques Métisses, Cognac Blues Passion, and the Detective Film Festival in Cognac. While staying in one of the Clévacances gîtes in the Charente, you can sample cagouilles, which are snails cooked with a variety of condiments. You can also try the Barbezieux capon, roasted on a spit with chestnuts. The Charente's emblematic cake, called Cornuelle, is made from shortbread dough and aniseed. Goat's milk cheese is also a culinary speciality of the Charente. You can find it under the following names: Carrément Charentais or Chabichou. When it comes to drinks, the region is famous for its aperitifs. Pineau des Charentes is highly appreciated and known the world over. Cognac, a wine brandy, is drunk at the start of a meal or as a digestive. During your holiday with family or friends in a gîte in the Charente, you can visit distilleries and discover how it is made. Last but not least, there are plenty of breweries where you can sample Charentais beer, whether white, blonde, brown or amber.