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. These are located in the foothills of the Massif Central which reach their peak far to the east in the middle of the country. These lakes are set in stunning countryside and are very popular attractions for the 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 kayak or canoe.
You can also visit the flooded quarry of Saint-Même-les-Carrières which offers water-skiing or at Roullet St Estephe for jet-skiing. There is also a flooded quarry at Lac du Gué du Magne at Moncontour in Vienne (see below).
Lakes of Vienne
The department of Vienne has an excellent aquatic base at Lac du Gué du Magne at Montcontour. There is a ten hectare lake her where you can partake in water-skiing, kayaking, canoeing and wakeboarding. Other facilities on offer her include mini-golf and beach volleyball, restaurant, bar, picnic area and various other activities.
There are also lakeside beaches just North of the department, in the Vendee - not far away and well worth a day out:
Chassenon-le-Bourg. The Lac de Chassenon is just outside of Fontenay-le-Comte and has a private beach which is open to the public during the summer season. This sheltered guarded beach is ideal for children and you can hire boats and canoes. Restaurant and picnic area. There are plans to redevelop this site into one of the biggest water-parks in the Vendee.
Various other lakeside visits for activities in the Vendee
Boating and canoeing on rivers and lakes in the Poitou-Charentes
The departments of Poitou-Charentes are actually named after the rivers Charente, Vienne and Sèvre. offer a variety of opportunities for different type of water sports and pastimes, as do other rivers in the region.
The River Charente, in particular, has lots of activities based in or near it as the waterway winds its way through the department of the Charente, past Angoulême and Cognac, before cutting through the Charente-Maritime via Saintes and Rochefort until it reaches the Atlantic coast.
Hiring river boats
Hiring a boat is one of the best ways to view the River Charente. There are various places along the river where you can hire a boat, the more popular places being at Angoulême, Cognac, Jarnac and Chaniers. You may decide to book boats with accommodation that you can hire by the week or sometimes a weekend, boats that can be hired by the day or half-day, and lunch or dinner cruises offering a meal on board. 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 lakes and rivers of Poitou-Charentes also provide plenty of scope for canoe and kayak enthusiasts. There are 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. If you prefer something a bit more adventurous to get the adrenalin going there is some white water rafting at Lathus on the River Gartempe!
Marais Poitevin
This stunningly beautiful part of the Poitou-Charentes has an ecosystem all of its own, and its marshes and waterways are best seen by boat. The traditional boats in this part of the world are flat-bottomed punt-like craft which can be hired from various places throughout the Marais. Boats and canoes can be hired for just an hour or two, or a half or whole day. Alternatively you can choose to have a guided boat tour, go careful though as these can be pricey.
Poitou-Charentes Coastal Beaches
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The main area of lakes in the Poitou-Charentes is in the Charente-Limousine, and in particular the Lacs de Haute Charente. These are located in the foothills of the Massif Central which reach their peak far to the east in the middle of the country. These lakes are set in stunning countryside and are very popular attractions for the 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 kayak or canoe.
You can also visit the flooded quarry of Saint-Même-les-Carrières which offers water-skiing or at Roullet St Estephe for jet-skiing. There is also a flooded quarry at Lac du Gué du Magne at Moncontour in Vienne (see below).
Lakes of Vienne
The department of Vienne has an excellent aquatic base at Lac du Gué du Magne at Montcontour. There is a ten hectare lake her where you can partake in water-skiing, kayaking, canoeing and wakeboarding. Other facilities on offer her include mini-golf and beach volleyball, restaurant, bar, picnic area and various other activities.
There are also lakeside beaches just North of the department, in the Vendee - not far away and well worth a day out:
Chassenon-le-Bourg. The Lac de Chassenon is just outside of Fontenay-le-Comte and has a private beach which is open to the public during the summer season. This sheltered guarded beach is ideal for children and you can hire boats and canoes. Restaurant and picnic area. There are plans to redevelop this site into one of the biggest water-parks in the Vendee.
Various other lakeside visits for activities in the Vendee
Boating and canoeing on rivers and lakes in the Poitou-Charentes
The departments of Poitou-Charentes are actually named after the rivers Charente, Vienne and Sèvre. offer a variety of opportunities for different type of water sports and pastimes, as do other rivers in the region.
The River Charente, in particular, has lots of activities based in or near it as the waterway winds its way through the department of the Charente, past Angoulême and Cognac, before cutting through the Charente-Maritime via Saintes and Rochefort until it reaches the Atlantic coast.
Hiring river boats
Hiring a boat is one of the best ways to view the River Charente. There are various places along the river where you can hire a boat, the more popular places being at Angoulême, Cognac, Jarnac and Chaniers. You may decide to book boats with accommodation that you can hire by the week or sometimes a weekend, boats that can be hired by the day or half-day, and lunch or dinner cruises offering a meal on board. 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 lakes and rivers of Poitou-Charentes also provide plenty of scope for canoe and kayak enthusiasts. There are 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. If you prefer something a bit more adventurous to get the adrenalin going there is some white water rafting at Lathus on the River Gartempe!
Marais Poitevin
This stunningly beautiful part of the Poitou-Charentes has an ecosystem all of its own, and its marshes and waterways are best seen by boat. The traditional boats in this part of the world are flat-bottomed punt-like craft which can be hired from various places throughout the Marais. Boats and canoes can be hired for just an hour or two, or a half or whole day. Alternatively you can choose to have a guided boat tour, go careful though as these can be pricey.
Poitou-Charentes Coastal Beaches
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Poitou-Charentes
Lakeside Beaches and Activities
Poitou-Charentes has some wonderful Inland Beaches
The French like to create artificial beaches by the lakes and rivers, these can be either natural or man-made, so if you choose accommodation that is inland and a long jaunt to the coast, your needs are still catered for.
These areas are usually well organised being patrolled by life-guards during the main tourist season, having playgrounds for young children, and a cafe or restaurant and picnic areas. Some will also have a watersports centre and offer various water activities, for example pedaloes, canoes, sailing boats. Fishing is also a popular activity at some of these areas.
One of the largest is found in an area called the Lake District of the Charente, Les Lacs de Haute Charente. Here two neighbouring lakes create a water sports paradise and also offer plenty of space for relaxing by the water.
Other lakeside beaches, or étangs as the French call them, can be found at: Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, Bonneuil-Matours, Brossac, La Bussière, Château-Garnier, Condac, near Ruffec, Etagnac, Martin L’Ars, La Puye, Roumazieres, Saint-Cyr, Saint-Macoux Saint-Yriex, Saint-Sauveur, Valdivienne, Vars and Villefagnan.
There are also flooded quarries which have been created into recreational areas and offer various water sports activities.
Poitou-Charentes has some wonderful Inland Beaches
The French like to create artificial beaches by the lakes and rivers, these can be either natural or man-made, so if you choose accommodation that is inland and a long jaunt to the coast, your needs are still catered for.
These areas are usually well organised being patrolled by life-guards during the main tourist season, having playgrounds for young children, and a cafe or restaurant and picnic areas. Some will also have a watersports centre and offer various water activities, for example pedaloes, canoes, sailing boats. Fishing is also a popular activity at some of these areas.
One of the largest is found in an area called the Lake District of the Charente, Les Lacs de Haute Charente. Here two neighbouring lakes create a water sports paradise and also offer plenty of space for relaxing by the water.
Other lakeside beaches, or étangs as the French call them, can be found at: Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, Bonneuil-Matours, Brossac, La Bussière, Château-Garnier, Condac, near Ruffec, Etagnac, Martin L’Ars, La Puye, Roumazieres, Saint-Cyr, Saint-Macoux Saint-Yriex, Saint-Sauveur, Valdivienne, Vars and Villefagnan.
There are also flooded quarries which have been created into recreational areas and offer various water sports activities.
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