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The Region hits up against the Atlantic coast. Nestled between the châteaux and the castles of the Loire Valley and the Bordeaux vineyards, the Region is a part of France that received some of the greatest numberof days of sun. With about 2,250 hours of sunshine per year. There are beaches and forests. Resorts such as La Rochelle, Royan and the islands of Oléron, Aix and Ré are all very busy in the summer. We have toured the valley of Vienne, the foothills of Charente and of course, a visit to Cognac. The Region has the following Departments: 16 Charente (Angoulême is the capital city); 17 Charente Maritime (La Rochelle is the capital city); 79 Deux Sèvres (Niort is the capital city); and 86 Vienne (with Poitiers the capital city of the department. |
The town has an impressive appearance as above the Vieux-Ponts, the old bridges, two large square towers let you know you have reached this town.
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We stopped here and nearby to spend some time in the area called the "Venice-Verte" a network of canals that were used by farmers to transport their goods. There is a grand canal with a series of smaller canals that provide for hours of pleasant boating along the "green" water. The algae that grows in the water almost totally covers it giving all a green look. You can paddle along, enjoy the peace and quite (as long as you are not near our boat) and see sights such as the ruins of a 13th Century abbaye - the Abbaye de Maillezais. |