Cycling  -  Cycling is one of the best ways to discover the nature and rich heritage of the Poitou-Charentes which offers a huge network of cycle paths.  There a various handbooks and cycle maps available to help plan your routes and the cycle paths are well maintained  and guarentee safe rides.
Parts of Deux-Sevres and Charente-Maritime are perfect if you prefer flat terrain.
The Île de Re, Île d’Oléron and Île d’Aix off the Atlantic coast are paradise for anyone who likes cycling the easy way. Most people seem to cycle than use their car on the Île de Re in the summer months, attracted by the many cycle paths - and of course the lack of hills! Marais Poitevin also offers easy cycling and bike hire for the more leisurely cyclist.
If you prefer a chellenge then you should try hiring a bike in the Charente-Limousine. This area in the north-east of the Charente marks the start of the mountain range the Massif Central that climbs and climbs until it dominates the centre of France. There aren't any snow-capped mountains here there are some steep hills to negotiate, for example around Massignac or Étagnac.
If you prefer urban cycling it’s easy to hire a bike and explore La Rochelle, where there are about 180km of cycle routes in the city and around the surrounding area.
Royan is a great place to explore the nearby pine forests and spectacular scenery of the Côte Sauvage. Again, it’s easy to find places to hire bikes in and around Royan.
Poitiers offers some 400km of cycle routes, which take you through some beautiful countryside. In the Deux-Sèvres a popular cycling route is between Thouars and Parthenay, a journey that takes you past Roman remains, across old bridges and through pretty wooded valleys. It’s possible to hire a bike in both towns.

Hiking - The Charente-Maritime has a huge network of signposted paths, you will be spoilt for choice. There are 845km of Grande Randonnée (Long-distance) footpaths and a network of 2,700km of Petite Randonnée ( local) footpaths. All of these maintained paths allow you to discover the secrets of the departement at your own rhythm

Horse riding - The Charente-Maritime offers a very varied environment for horse riders. Keen riders can trot or gallop through forests, past the vineyards, across the marshes or near the coast.  There are a good number of stables available where you can arrange  horse riding lessons.

Water sports in the Charente-Maritime and Poitou-Charentes
Seaside watersports:
At the  more popular resorts of the Charente-Maritime, including Ile-de-Re, La Rochelle, Ile d'Oleron and Royan, you can choose to swim, sail, jet ski, wind surf, surf, sea-kaying, kitesurf or even trysand yachting
Sailing
With the long Atlantic coastline, the sea breezes make the Charente-Maritime a great place for sailing. Sailing is very popular right along the coast of the Charente-Maritime and northwards into the neighbouring Vendee.  Sailing boats can be hired from many sailing schools in La Rochelle, Ile-de-Re, Ile d'Oleron, Royan and St Georges de Didone amongst other places. La Rochelle is one of the best sailing area of France, it has a  huge Les Minimes marina which has plans to extend it in the coming years by more than 1,000 places and will make it the largest marina in Europe.
Windsurfing and kitesurfing
The wind conditions and long expanse of coastline also makes the Charente-Maritime ideal for windsurfing  and kite surfing which is a relatively new and increasingly popular sport. Popular places to take your own kit or hire a board and sail include the Île d'Oléron, the Île-de-Ré, St Trojan-les-Bains and Fouras. Kitesurfing lessons and hiring can be found at La Palmyre and on Île d'Oléron and the Île-de-Ré.
Surfing
Popular places for surfing are the islands - Île d'Oléron and the Île-de-Ré - plus St Trojan-les-Bains, Aytré, Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, Pontaillac at Royan and the appropriately named Côte Sauvage.  Other popular places to surf include La Tranche Sur Mer and various resorts in the Vendee which are easily accessible from the Charente Maritime.
Water skiing and Jet ski
Water-skiing is a 'traditional' water sport that is popular around Royan and surrounding resorts. Jet skiing is growing in popularity and jet skis can be hired and lessons taken in the usual resorts.

Canoeing and boating on rivers and lakes in the Poitou-Charentes
There are lakes in the Charente-Limousine in the Charente and flooded quarries. The rivers Charente, Vienne and Sèvre offer a variety of opportunities for different type of water sports and pastimes, other rivers in the region also offer various water sports..
The River Charente has lots of activities based in or near it as the waterway winds its way through the department of the Charente, the Charente, Vienne and Deux-Sèvres - join in the watersports fun too.  A great choice to enjoy canoeing and kayaking, hire a boat for a leisurely day or more on the River Charente or the Marais Poitevin, hire a pedalo or even water-ski on a flooded quarry.
Hiring river boats
One of the best ways of seeing the River Charente is of course to hire a boat. There are a number of places where you can hire a boat on the River Charente, at Angoulême, Cognac, Jarnac and Chaniers. This is one of the best ways to explore the river.
There are also small boats that take visitors on short trips along the Charente to see the wildlife and stunning scenery.
Canoeing and kayaking
The various rivers and lakes of Poitou-Charentes also provide plenty of opportunity for canoe and kayak enthusiasts. There are various places to hire canoes and kayaks on the River Charente and River Vienne, as well as the Gartempe and Tardoire rivers, and canoe trips through the marshes of the River Seudre. For the more courageous there's even some white water rafting at Lathus on the River Gartempe!

Marais Poitevin
Boating and kayaking, angling, rambling and riding are among popular activities here. There is a good network of marked cycle tracks. There are numerous places (Maillezais is one of the best) where small rowing boats can be hired (with or without guides). Maps are provided and you can navigate round canal systems to set routes.
Lakes of Haute-Charente
The main area of lakes in the Poitou-Charentes is in the Charente-Limousine, and in particular the Lacs de Haute Charente. In terms of geography this part of the region has more in common with the Limousin - which it borders - than the rest of the Poitou-Charentes; these are the foothills of the Massif Central which reach their peak far to the east in the middle of the country. The lakes are set in wonderful countryside and are much-visited by local and tourists alike for their clear, cool waters, fishing, and water sports. At the Lac de Lavaud, which is the main nautical base in the area, you can go sailing, windsurfing or hire a canoe or kayak.

In the Charente you can also take to the flooded quarry at Saint-Même-les-Carrières for water-skiing or at Roullet St Estephe for jet-skiing.
Lac du Gué du Magne at Moncontour
In the department of the Vienne there's the excellent aquatic base at Lac du Gué du Magne at Moncontour. There is a  ten hectare lake here upon which you can indulge in caneoing, kayaking, wakeboarding and water-skiing. There's also facilities for beach volleyball and mini-golf.

Fishing
The options for fishing in Poitou-Charentes are varied.  The region offers coastal fishing, river fishing, lake fishing and canal fishing.  The variety  of fish is also varied.
Pescalis  -The largest fishing-orientated centre in Europe, Pescalis near Moncoutant in the North of Deux-Sèvres, has over 100 hectares of lakes with a variety of specialist sites, including night fishing. The complex is not just for anglers, there is an aquarium, parks, horseriding and other activities. A place for all the family to visit.    Pescalis is located in Moncoutant, Deux Sèvres.
More information on Fishing in Poitou-Charentes

Golf
There are a choice of 21 golf courses throughout Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sevres, Charente and Vienne.
More information of Golf in Poitou-Charentes

Airborne activities
Airborne activities is the ideal way to have a spectacular view of the département. Up in the air, all the beauty of the coast, the islands, inland, the hills, the waterways and certain monuments become even clearer.
Activities
The various airborne activities include maiden flights, tourist flights in planes, micro-lighting, parachute jumps or hot air balloon flights across the département.


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