The Charente is known as the sunniest region in the West with the land being a mix of Châteaux and Romanesque architecture. The countryside is a delightful blend of vineyards, fields, rolling hills and forests. Sighting hills and gorges in the east and south together with many rivers and lakes, this department provides the backbone to the region.

Cognac and pineau are two of the major agricultural products, as well as producing excellent butter. The Charentaise slipper is the 2nd most well-known product (after cognac).

An easy days’ drive from the north coast, the Charente is an area ideal for that dream property especially for those that have the opportunity of frequent visits. The inhabitants of the Charente are probably the friendliest in France. Weather wise the climate is envied by more northern Departments, spring comes early and is warm; summers are long and hot a reaching well over 80º between June and September. The meteorological station in Cognac regularly records the second highest winter temperatures in all of France, second only to Nice, bought in by warm air currents off the Atlantic Ocean which flow across the Charente Maritime and into Western Charente.

The bustling town of Angoulême is the capital of the department and is a lively town, which is conveniently situated only 2hrs from Paris via the TGV high speed rail service. It is also worth noting that the Eurostar from London connects at Lille with the TGV network, thus one can go by high speed train from London to Angoulême with just one change of station platform. This makes the Charente an ideal location for a second home and weekend breaks.

Property for Sale in Charente France

If you fancy buying a property in the Charente, you will find plenty to choose from. The ‘Poitevines’ and ‘Charentaises’ houses are built in sandy colour stone and have Roman roof tiles. You will discover on studying these properties further that they have unique and multiple characteristics.

Nice sized properties in the Poitou Charentes region can be acquired at very reasonable prices. For example, a good sized four bedroom property can be bought for around €160,000. The website has a few properties for sale in Poitou Charentes, with the list updated regularly.

Property for Rent in Charente France

The website currently advertises over 100 self-catering rental properties in the Charente and over 450 self-catering rental properties in Poitou Charente as a whole. Prices start at around €50 per room per night for bed and breakfast and between €150 to €250 a week for a 1 bedroom self-catering property.