The countryside of the département of Charente-Maritime, overlapping the regions of Aunis and Saintonge, blends diversity, beauty and authenticity and is - as yet - largely unspoilt.
Discover the countryside !
Open country and regional produce
Forests, fields of sunflowers, charming waterways and vineyards cover the hinterland. A multitude of places to find peace and rest, but also a wide range of activities - walks, bike rides, horse rides, tennis...the interior of the Charente-Maritime is also a region of good living, with excellent regional produce such as pineau, cognac, goat’s cheeses and so on.
A unique heritage
The heart of the Charente-Maritime is a huge open-air history book, rich in Romanesque churches, abbeys and châteaux. The main towns of the interior count many awe-inspiring historical monuments; for example the Roman town of Saintes, with its arenas, hot springs and triumphal arch, as well as the splendid Abbaye-aux-Dames ; Saint-Jean-d’Angély and Pons on the road to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle are also well worth a visit. There is also Surgères with its medieval fortifications, and Jonzac with its château and old town.
