My Account 
(0)
River & maritime cruising
Do you wish to leave earthly shores?
A land bathed in water, either sweet water or sea water, Poitou-Charentes is made for you!
From Angoulême to Rochefort, all the way to the oceanic coast, the Charente slowly and nonchalantly flows through the old provinces once named Angoumois and Saintonge.
The boats equipped for river courses perpetuate the tradition of the gabares, barges that used to transport paper and cognac. As he moves along in accordance with his wishes, a visitor may therein perceive a castle or a church; he can also pay a visit to one of the houses manufacturing cognac, the «liquor of the gods».
With a captain or by yourself, hire a boat and crisscross the Charente, stopping off in the towns and villages of your choice… and sleep on board!
Departing from the port of la Cayenne (Marennes), discover an oyster farm environment along with its oyster beds.
Departing from Fouras, witness the lives of oyster farmers and sample their wares.
The Charente by barge
Barges or «gabares», the flat-bottomed boats crisscrossing the Charente river and punctuating local economic life are now part and parcel of the tourist heritage. Constructed in the village of St. Simon, they embark tourists on a sedate and serene voyage of discovery of the Charente river.
Replica of a 19th-century barge, each summer the 'Renaissance' crisscrosses the river and allows you to discover Saint-Simon, Graves and its Roman church, the small village of Saintonge and the ancient port dedicated to hauling the stones of Saint-Même-les-Carrières.
Having arrived at an entry to the ocean, why not cast off your anchors and set sail?
From La Rochelle, Saint-Denis d'Oléron, Royan and Ré island, ocean cruises are proposed to you: head for the isle of Aix and Fort Boyard. From the ocean, the views of the coast are truly fantastic!
For a simple sea promenade lasting a few hours or a day-long inter-island cruise, let yourself be taken for a boat ride. Specially tailored to the pleasure and comfort of passengers, these boats will allow you to discover the Atlantic seacoast, its history, its nature, its culture and its most closely kept secrets.
Nautical activities
What with wind surfing, sailing, sand yachting, surfing, water skiing, rowing, canoeing and kayak, those going for nautical activities will have much to choose from as they travel down the Atlantic coast and its 150 km of beaches.
The miniature harbor of Saint-Savinien allows would-be seafarers to play at taking control of traditional miniature boats.
On the docks of the Seudre, oyster-farming landscapes alternate with seaside leisure on the Arvert headland.
And inland, numerous region-based water tables such as Saint Yriex near Angoulême and the park of St. Cyr in the vicinity of Poitiers facilitate the practice of nautical activities.
| Charente | Charente-Maritime | Deux-Sèvres | Vienne |
