The Poitou-Charentes region of western France is not a historic region of France, but was formed in 1956 from the major part of the old Poitou area, plus three smaller areas in the south. The region is reputed to be one of the sunniest areas of France. In brief, the region covers the central part of France's Atlantic coastal plain, together with a gently undulating hilly area further inland. Located to the west of the higher Limousin area and the start of the Massif Central mountains, the region is reputed for its mild climate. Though frosts are possible in winter, right down to the coast, they are unusual, and less rigorous than further inland. In the southern part of the region, extensive vineyards provide the grapes that are used in the production of Cognac and the famous local apéritif wine Pineau des Charentes.
       In the north of the region, the departments of Deux Sèvres (79) and Vienne (86) make up the historic Poitou region, centered on the ancient city of Poitiers; the low-lying departments of Charente (16) and Charente- Maritime (17) make up the southern part of the region. The whole region is largely rural, and even the regional capital Poitiers has less than 100,000 inhabitants. Niort, capital of the Deux Sèvres department, is specialised in financial services, notably insurance, and mail-order, which is surprising for a town of just 60,000 inhabitants; however the town was hit hard in 2008 by the collapse of the CAMIF, one of France's big mail order cooperatives, and by the financial crisis in general.
     The regional council has tried hard to develop the regional economy; the creation of the Futuroscope theme park, just north of Poitiers, opened in 1986, was designed to give an economic boost to the region; but though it has generally been a successful tourist venture, with an average of  over 1.5 million visitors a year, it has not transformed Poitiers into one of France's major cities, and many of those who visit the Futuroscope, located beside the A10 motorway, are just passing through on their way to the coast, or further south.
        The coastal area, including the towns of La Rochelle, Rochefort and Royan, is popular for seaside tourism and also with yachtsmen; however many kilometres of the coastline are given over to oyster beds, oysters being one of the big local specialities. The coastal islands of Oléron and Ile de Ré are famous for their beaches and maritime environment.
       

Access: by train (TGV) from Paris Gare Montparnasse or Gare d'Austerlitz. Access by road from the UK, via any of the Channel ports, then via Paris or Rouen. The Poitou-Charentes region is crossed by the main motorway between Paris and western / southwestern France, the A10 (Paris-Tours-Bordeaux).  Air access is provided via airports at La Rochelle, and to airports just outside the region, at Bordeaux, Bergerac and Limoges.

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Main tourist attractions in the Poitou-Charentes region of France

Part of the Futuroscope theme park     Photo St.A 12th century fresco - St Savin sur Gartempe By the river Sèvre Niortaise    Photo Dynamosquito

Le Marais Poitevin - Venise verte.  "Green Venice" covers much of the sea-level flat land inland from the coast, mostly in Deux Sèvres and Charente maritime. It is an area of slow moving rivers and channels, woods and fields. Boating and kayaking, angling, rambling and riding are among popular activities here. Poitiers (86), Regional capital, Poitiers is an old hill-town with an attractive  old centre. The city is most famous for its ancient churches, including the St. John's Baptistry, reputedly the oldest place of Christian worship in France, and the Notre-Dame la Grande church, one of the most famous and distinctive romanesque churches in France. Futuroscope (86) A future-based theme park, famous for its variety of high-tech cinemas including IMAX and 3D St Savin sur Gartempe (86). UNESCO world heritage site, a romanesque abbey with a remarkable collection of mediaeval frescoes. La Rochelle (17); historic Altlantic port city, with mediaeval fortifications. Rochefort (17). Small city just inland from the coast, once a major naval base. Old naval buildings, including the old naval rope wiorks, and the unusual House of Pierre Loti, a French 19th century traveller, with its genuine Moroccan interior. Royan (17) : classic seaside resort. Saintes (17). Roman triumphal arch and remains of the Roman amphitheatre and other remains from antiquity. Saintonge: (17)  a remarkable ensemble of 11th and 12th century romanesque churches, with magnificent carved porches and stonework. Iles de Ré and Oléron - Popular offshore islands, accessible via road bridges from the mainland. Angoulème (16) Attractive hill town, with an old but not particularly historic old town centre. The cathedral, of romanesque origin, was extensively renovated in the 19th century. Aubeterre sur Dronne: (16) small town with unusual romanesque "monolithic" church, carved out of the rock Cognac (16) Visit the great cognac houses, and the cognac and pineau cellars.

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For further information, click on one of these  links: / pour plus d'informations, cliquez....
Official Poitou-Charentes region tourism site	Gites and cottages in Poitou-Charentes	Bed & Breakfast in Poitou-Charentes