A Postcard from the Charente

The Charente is part of the former Poitou-Charente, now part of the much larger Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is one of four departments that make up this now popular and extremely attractive region.

The Rise of Charente

The Charente was a well-kept secret until relatively recently, when it became a popular destination for those seeking a location that was a bit different and off the beaten track. The Charente was relatively late in being discovered, but it’s certainly making up for lost time now.

Exploring the Capital and Beyond

Charente’s capital, Angoulême, is not only of historical significance, but it’s also a pretty place. That said, it has to contend with stiff competition for ranking when Cognac is factored in. Famed for the drink that takes its name, Cognac is a buzzing town that with a lively social scene and, not surprisingly, offers great opportunities for Cognac tastings.

The other towns in the area that are well worth a visit are Barbezieux, Aubeterre, and Confolens. All of that said, it would be a shame to come here and only visit the urban areas, because the countryside in this neck of the woods is simply stunning. One thing that will strike you immediately when you arrive in Charente is the enormity of the Cognac vineyards. It is easy to see that this region produces one of the world’s most modern-day drinks.

Staying in Angoulême

For our visit, we’ve decided to base ourselves in Angoulême and then take a trip to Cognac for a tasting. Our accommodation in Angoulême is a very standard Mercure Hotel room. We’ve chosen this because we like to know what we’re getting, and with the Mercure group, you know the quality will be high, the price is good, and the accommodation will be clean and modern. While there, we learned about the very popular Hotel du Palais, a 3-star hotel with a warm and friendly atmosphere, situated in the heart of the old part of the city, close to restaurants, cafés, and other attractions.

Dining Experience

When it came to dining, we opted for Agape Restaurant, which has a very unassuming storefront but, once inside, it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about. It’s only a stone’s throw from the main market, and although the à la carte menu can be quite expensive, it boasts excellent and creative choices. We took the opportunity to book a table, which was good because, when we arrived just after 8 pm on a Friday, the restaurant was already pretty full.

Cognac Tasting Tour

The day after our fine-dining experience, we headed to Cognac and participated in a Cognac Tasting Tour. We decided to take the train from Angoulême to Cogna, so no one had to worry about driving. When we arrived in Cognac, our guide met us, and he explained that we’d be able to visit Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell and Rémy Martin, all in the same day. We couldn’t believe our luck.

As real fans of Cognac and Armagnac, it was like all our Christmases had come at once! We were treated like kings and queens for the day, and needless to say, made quite a few purchases on our way!

Although this isn’t a part of France that we were familiar with before we arrived, we’ve truly fallen head over heels in love with it and are now more keen than ever to find out all about this area.