Apartments and Villas in Poitou Charentes
Situated on the Atlantic coast of western France between the chateaux of the Loire Valley and the vineyards of the Dordogne, bed and breakfasts or self catering cottages, gites and villas in Poitou Charentes will give you the opportunity to discover a region with plenty of its own history and culture to boast about. With around 300 miles of coastline and a vast inland landscape of lushly wooded valleys cut through by rivers and chequered by meadows of grazing cattle, the sheer abundance of outstanding natural beauty throughout the area is often the reason why many people rent the holiday gites and cottages in Poitou Charentes when looking for a location that guarantees a totally relaxing break and a complete change of scenery - in more ways than one! Benefitting from a blissful Mediterranean climate and thought to be the sunniest part of France, holiday accommodation in Poitou Charentes is popular throughout much of the year, being highly sought after anywhere in a region where 'summer' often begins in early spring and lasts until late autumn.
Charente Maritime is where a holiday apartment or villa can show you Poitou Charentes' breathtaking coastline from a selection of lively resorts or sleepy villages, and being based close to La Rochelle will give you the chance to investigate the fascinating maritime history of the region's main seaport as well as the beautiful white sand beaches on the offshore islands of Oleron, Aix and Re. From this ancient walled town you'll also be within easy reach of Marais Poitevin, or 'Green Venice' - a system of canals and dykes first created by monks in the 11th century in the area between La Rochelle and Niort, the principle town of neighbouring Deux Sevres, named after the Sevre Niortaise and Sevre Nantaise rivers that flow through it. Cottage and gite rentals in Poitou Charentes' remaining 'departements' of Vienne and Charente can also be found in destinations located near to rivers of the same names, and as there are so many criss-crossing the countryside of this entire region of France, holiday accommodation in Poitou Charentes has plenty of potential for fishing, canoeing and watersports, not to mention a variety of other outdoor activities.
Where Romanesque architecture exists anywhere from the vibrant capital city of Poitiers in Vienne to the remotest rural village in Charentes, holiday rentals and bed and breakfasts in Poitou Charentes are often chosen by those planning a thorough investigation of a region that is simply bursting with more than its fair share of 12th century churches, medieval castles and magnificent chateaux - France being renowned for its proliferation of such historic monuments, but Poitou Charentes is particularly rich in them, perfectly illustrating a cultural heritage that dates back hundreds of years. The 9th century abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe in Vienne - now with a UNESCO accolade - will testify to this fact with one of the oldest and best preserved murals in France, as does Poitier's incredible display of ancient art and architecture, and if you experience time spent exploring Cognac in Angouleme, you'll soon discover that holiday gites and cottages in Poitou Charentes can show you a destination whose history and culture also has a unique warmth and flavour to it!