Day trips from Angoulême

Cognac: capital of brandy

Around 40 km from Angoulême on the N141 or a two-hour ride along the Flow Vélo, Cognac is the unmissable excursion. The old town preserves a picturesque medieval quarter — half-timbered houses blackened by the cognac fungus (Baudoinia compniacensis) — and the great cognac houses offer guided tours of their warehouses: Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin, Courvoisier. Visiting a cellar and tasting a cognac and a Pineau des Charentes makes an ideal introduction to Charentais culture. Allow at least half a day, a full day to also explore the Charente riverside by bike.

Saintes: two millennia of history

Once the capital of Roman Gaul under Augustus, Saintes (Mediolanum Santonum) preserves two jewels from Antiquity. The Roman amphitheatre, dating from the 1st century, is one of the best-preserved in France: its ellipse once held up to 20,000 spectators and still serves as a concert venue in summer (entry around €4). The Arc de Germanicus, a handsome Roman triumphal arch, stands beside the Charente. The medieval upper town also contains the Abbaye aux Dames, a masterpiece of Saintonge Romanesque art, and several museums dedicated to archaeology and local history. Saintes is a key halt on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.

Aubeterre-sur-Dronne: the village in the rock

Listed among the 'Plus beaux villages de France', Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is a medieval village perched on a white tufa cliff above the Dronne river. Its main attraction is the Saint-Jean church, a monolithic church carved entirely from the limestone rock in the 12th century: the tallest of its type in Europe, with a nave hollowed out to 20 metres high. The village itself, with its cobbled lanes, wooden-balconied houses and flower-filled terraces, makes for a pleasant hour or two's exploration. The peaceful trout river Dronne invites a waterside break. Pack a picnic and stop at the cooperative cellar for local wine.

La Rochelle: the Atlantic in 1h30

At 120 km from Angoulême (1h30 by car or by direct TGV from Angoulême station), La Rochelle is the region's great Atlantic port. Its old harbour, framed by three medieval towers (Saint-Nicolas, de la Chaîne, de la Lanterne), is one of France's most photographed scenes. The La Rochelle aquarium, one of the largest in Europe, delights families and marine-life enthusiasts. The Saturday morning market at Les Halles is an unmissable sensory experience. In summer, the ferry from La Pallice serves the Île de Ré, whose white villages with green shutters and cycling paths make a perfect escapade. Allow a full day.

Romanesque Saintonge: an exceptional heritage

The Charente and Charente-Maritime are home to a unique concentration of 12th-century Romanesque churches, known collectively as Saintonge romane. The façades of these buildings, richly carved with geometric motifs, biblical figures and fantastical creatures, are one of the most accomplished expressions of southern Romanesque art. Some unmissables: the Saint-Pierre church at Aulnay-de-Saintonge (60 km, a flagship monument), the doorways of Pérignac and the church at Rioux. For enthusiasts, Angoulême's own Saint-Pierre cathedral is a masterpiece of Poitevin Romanesque and makes an excellent introduction to the regional style before heading out on an excursion.