Charente-Maritime is situated on the southwest coast of France and is part of the larger Poitou-Charantes region. It enjoys long hot summers and very mild winters which are so necessary for the production of fine grapes used to make the wonderful wines and Cognac. 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 department – 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.







Located in the small town of Néré, which is only a few minutes drive from La Foye, there is a baker, butcher, hairdresser, chemist, bank and a supermarket. And just a short journey in any direction one will find many more quaint villages and towns that support open air markets, shops, restaurants and historic churches.




Just fifteen minutes by car you will find the immaculate town square of Aulnay. The charming town boasts a full range of boutiques and shops including an Intermarché supermarket. The town has weekly markets, bars, hairdressers, chemists and a delightful kitchen shop that serves tea. Aulnay Church is a World Heritage Monument and is regarded as one of the top ten Romanesque churches in France.


Other towns in the region include Angoulême, Chef Boutonne, Cognac, La Rochelle, Poitiers (Futuroscope), Saintes, St. Jean d'Angély, and Royan. All these, and the coast, are an hour or so away.


Places to visit include picturesque La Rochelle with its colourful harbour, cafés, restaurants, aquarium and ancient fortified port.

Poitiers is celebrated for its parks, shops and restaurants and also for Futoroscope, a virtual reality theme park with IMAX attractions and impressive 3D experiences.





Also nearby, you can discover the delights of Cognac and the estates of the famous distilleries, the charming seaside resorts of Royan and Rochefort, and Green Venice (Venise Verte) with its maze of ancient canals. There is the opportunity to boat in traditional barques, using a form of punting. There are several 'embarcadères', from which boats can be hired.



The lovely town of Chef Boutonne with its weekly market is only 15 minutes away. Numerous picturesque villages and medieval towns are just waiting to be explored. Many of them display interesting historical architectural features including Romanesque churches, abbeys, renaissance buildings and a variety of classic châteaux.



The meandering rivers are surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside, while the scenic River Charente offers opportunities for boating and fishing with the Forest of Aulnay but a few minutes walk away.

© Le Manoir de La Foye 2006