THE CHARENTE-MARITIME

Museums, churches and palaces reflect the rich history of the Département of Charente-Maritime of the past centuries.  The natural heritage of La Rochelle, set in a harbour on the Atlantic coast, and its geographic location, have endowed it with a string of interesting features. These include the old salt marshes, glacis and fortifications of the town, the old canals dug out for trading purposes, and now used for fishing, canoeing and excursions.  Numerous products of international fame come from this region, including Cognac and Pineau…

To the north of La Rochelle lies the Marais Poitevin, known as “The Green Venice”, an area entirely covered by canals and rivers, recently declared a Natural Park.

Bordeaux: a town famous, above all, for the surrounding vineyards.  Since the Roman era, it has served the natural market for the entire Aquitaine basin, and includes the medieval core of a Gallo-Roman settlement.  In Bordeaux (216,000 inhabitants), it is possible to admire and visit some of the finest examples of French 18th century architecture, as well as an important museum of fine arts. 

Visitors will enjoy walking along the river, near the Quai de la Douane.


COGNAC

Even without the river Charente, which Henri IV described as “the most beautiful in my kingdom”, Cognac would have been able to achieve its renown thanks to its flourishing trade in wine and salt, and to its inhabitants, the “Cognaçais” who were proud of their nickname  “cagouillards” (snails), and lived a tranquil life.  In the course of the 17th century, the “Cognaçais” perfected a method of double distillation that enabled them to transport concentrated alcohol, brandy, under excellent conditions, even on long voyages, thus offering advantages in terms of security and economy.  Once it arrived at its destination, the alcohol, preserved in oak barrels, was diluted.  It was only by pure chance that the “Cognaçais” realised that brandy improved as it aged in contact with oak wood.  They therefore started to drink the product obtained in this way, which became famous under the name of Cognac.

VISITS TO THE MAIN DISTILLERIES.  It is possible to organise guided tours to the main Cognac distilleries.  All the firms, whether medium-sized or large, open their doors to visitors and give them a warm welcome.  Tours of distilleries always end with a tasting session of Cognac and Pineau des Charentes, kindly offered by the owner.
HENNESY / MARTELL / OTARD / REMY MARTIN


SAINT-EMILION
The town of Saint-Emilion, famous for its full-flavoured red wines, definitely deserves a detour. It is elegant and friendly, picturesque with small paved streets, medieval houses and a romantic décor.
Situated in the region of Bordeaux, Médoc is the area that produces some of the most prestigious red wines. This traditionally wine-growing land has 8 Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (a label guaranteeing the origin of wine) and more than 750 vintages, some of them famous throughout the world.  The eight municipalities that now compose the former jurisdiction of Saint Emilion are of great interest from the historical point of view, and they each enjoy an excellent position in this magnificent rural landscape.
This is the first time that UNESCO has classified a wine-growing region.
ICOMOS is of the opinion that Saint-Emilion has an exceptional value “combining monuments of an outstanding quality, residences that have remained intact throughout the ages, and a landscape of great beauty and stability, justifying their inclusion in the World Heritage List”.

HISTORY
The town of Saint-Emilion gets its name from a monk who settled in this region during the 8th century, where he founded his hermitage and lived in total solitude for 17 years.  History then refers to him as being at the head of the group of Benedictine monks.  He gave his name to the religious community that was gradually transformed into a fortified citadel.  A reproduction of scenes from that period can be seen in the Trinité de St-Emilion Chapel and the Tour du Roy.

Saint-Emilion is one of the greatest cultural and historic treasures of France.  One of its most important monuments is undoubtedly the Monolithic Church, the biggest in Europe, which was cut out of an enormous rock between the 9th and 12th centuries.

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. Saint-Emilion is located in the South West of France, 35 km to the North East of Bordeaux.  The town stands on the northern slope of the Dordogne valley.  The 2,800 inhabitants of Saint-Emilion live in the area of the municipality that stretches over 27 square kilometres.

THE SITE
This fortified village was built in a small limestone valley shaped like an amphitheatre.  It rises up 76 metres over the sea.  The high karstic plateau on which this valley rests, culminates at an altitude of 100 metres.  Vines were planted for the first time on these slopes.  Over the centuries, the vineyards spread, turning this region into one of the most famous wine-producing areas in the world.
The Place de la Trinité et du Marché, the Tour du Roy at the end, the entrance to the Monolithic Church on the right.

THE MONUMENTS
AND LOCAL SPECIALITIES

Saint-Emilion

Saint-Emilion is already a historic heritage in its own right.  It has numerous medieval monuments illustrating a religious and military past: the Hermitage, the Monolithic Church – unique in its kind – and its bell tower, the Catacombs, the Collegiate Church, the chapels, the cloisters, the ruins of many monastic buildings, the fortified walls of the town, the tower of the Château du Roi, the stone quarries that during Antiquity was turned into an underground network, and later converted partially into cellars.

Among the specialities, there is of course the celebrated Saint-Emilion wine, considered by many international connoisseurs as the best wine in the world.  Another culinary tradition was introduced during the 17th century by the Ursuline Sisters: the macarons of Saint-Emilion are still prepared according to a three-hundred year old recipe.

WHAT IS THERE TO SEE IN SAINT-EMILION?
The Hermitage, the Trinity Chapel, the Catacombs, the Monolithic Church: daily visits departing from the Tourist Office.  Other places to visit : the Collegiate Church (12th  to 16th century) and its 14th century cloister
From the top of the bell tower of the Monolithic Church, visitors can admire a beautiful panoramic view of the town and its surrounding vineyards.

- La Tour du Roy
- The Cloister of the Cordeliers (14th century)
- The moats, the ramparts and the canal
- The ruins of the Palais Cardinal
- The Tour du Guetteur (watch tower)
- The sloping lanes and their communicating stairs
- The Pottery Museum – collection of old pottery from the South West of France from the 13th to the 19th century
- Exhibitions, concerts and Jurades festivities (in traditional costume) are some of the many events that punctuate this medieval town throughout the year.

EVENTS
“Proclamation of the St-Emilion Harvest”. The third Sunday of September, after a succession of different events, the grape harvest starts everywhere in the region.  From the top of the Tour du Roy, the aldermen officially proclaim open season and a procession winds its way through the streets of the town, ending in a solemn mass.  Finally, after tasting the freshly picked grapes, everyone, including the winegrowers, gathers in the Cloisters of the Collegiate Church.

LA ROCHELLE

Ships used to raise anchor from La Rochelle to set off on their long distance expeditions, and this is why the town has always played an important diplomatic role. Whether it is for fishing, yachting or cruising, La Rochelle is a “must”.  Thanks to its four ports, it is one of the biggest port towns in France, both from the tourist and commercial points of view.  This town is one of the largest areas on the Atlantic devoted exclusively to the sea.  It is a centre for culture and knowledge, for training and research.  All the expertise of La Rochelle in terms of navigation, ecological education and maritime traditions is concentrated here.

A new area with numerous centres of culture, tourism and water sports: 

• The Maritime Museum “Neptunia”

• The Aquarium of La Rochelle: with 550,000 visitors a year, it is the third most frequented tourist attraction in the Poitou-Charentes region

• A port for big luxury yachts, a promenade along the sea just a few feet from the water, a conference centre, exhibitions, shows (Espace Encan), and an area uniting talents in applied and practical maritime research

EVENTS
• Les Francofolies
• The Théâtre de l’Utopie / Patrick Collet
• La Coursive, a National Centre of Art Works
• The International Film Festival
• Jazz Entre les Deux Tours
• Atlantic Ballet / Régine Chopinot
• Le Grand Pavois
• International Sailing Week
• Autumn Rally
• The La Rochelle Marathon

ACTIVITIES THAT ARE POSSIBLE IN THE REGION

• Horse riding, walking or cycling. Sail or paddle along the coast. Everyone has a favourite sport to discover the region and its natural beauties.

• Safari in Haute Saintonge! Excursion in a 4X4: 2 hours on earth tracks (like in Kenya) winding through trees, meadows and ponds, in direct contact with animals, for a discovery of the animal world in which man rarely interferes but respects nature.

• Visit of Le Château de Beaulon – Cognac – Vin de Pays

Our products : Vin de Pays, Pineau de Charente, Cognac


GASTRONOMY

• Restaurant Richard Coutanceau
La Rochelle. 1 hour by road / 2 Michelin stars

• Château Cordeillan-Bages. Pauillac. 45 mins by road / 2 Michelin stars

• L’Hostellerie de Plaisance in St Emilion