Charente department hotels - Book hotels in France at great rates

The Département Charente is in western France in the Region Poitou-Charentes. Angoulême is the main city and visitors come to see the magnificent cathedral of St. Pierre with its west facade containing 70 sculpted figures. The city walls are still complete and tourists enjoy the walk around the city, looking down on the picturesque houses of the old quarters. The Museum of Archeology is well known for its exhibits illustrating the past and the City Museum interprets the history of Angouleme. There is a wide range of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets.

A trip to one of the most famous wine producing areas in France will take you to the old town of Cognac where the world-famous drink has been produced since the 17th Century. You should not miss a tour of one of the distilleries, the warehouses and the tasting afterwards. The old town of Cognac has some wonderful aristocratic houses dating from the 16th & 17th Centuries. At the end of June the Film Festival and at the end of July the Blues Festival take place in Cognac, bringing the town alive.

Confolens is a medieval gem on the banks of the Charente reached by a granite bridge dating from the 13th Century. The romanesque Town Gate emphasises the history of the town. In summer there is a world famous folk festival when groups from all over the world perform their local music. The Abbey Church in Ligugé dates back to the 4th Century. The Benedictine monks here are renowned for their enamel work and examples of their work are always for sale as a fitting souvenir. The region can easily be reached via the airport in Angoulême.

Population: 344 500 (2006)
Main towns: Angoulême, Cognac, Confolens