You will be surprised by the region of the  Charente Limousine. In our information room you will find lots of ideas and information. Underneath we pick at random from the various possibilities .

A beautiful spot!! U will find yourself back in time.

An old school, an old house with furniture from 1900. A old bakery, cobbler and old bar etc.

Amaze yourself!

The water in the area is reputed to have healing properties, and is often lukewarm and rich in sulphur. The benefits of these waters were discovered by the Romans who built the traditional Roman thermal baths to be found in Chassenon (or Cassinomagus as it was known at the Romans) , some 20 kilometres from Essubras. You can find also a theatr and remains of a temple.  Chassenon is built in 1 AD from rock fragments after the crash of a meteorite.

 The château de Rochefoucauld is on the list of most spectacular castles of France because of its spectacular architecture.

Castles

Close by Essubras, you can visit a number of chateaux. The 11^th/12^th century Chateau de Rochebrun (at 15 km) is a fine example. In the 16^th century, its owner Marchal Blaise de Montluc became infamous for his pitiless pursuit of the protestants. Other chateaux in the area that are worth a visit include Chateau de Montbrun, the Chateau of Châlus, Chateau de Rochefoucauld (53 km) château Peyras at Roumazières Loubert (at 30km)

Many castles were built in the 11th century and then fortified or altered in the name of fashion. It is common to have parts of the same chateau dating from several different periods.

Route Richard Lionheart

In this area you can follow an interesting tourist attraction, the so called Route Richard Coeur de Lion. Richard Lionheart was king of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. But he hardly lived in England he was more away from his country. He was either on crusade or in France, where he was Duke of Aquitaine (an area that included also the modern-day Poitou Charentes ) He fought a lot in this area: rebelled against his father Henry II. He had to face rebellions and invasions from many barons and even his own brothers. He died when he was struck by a crossbow bolt as he and his men laid siege to the Chateau of Châlus.

In the castle of  La Rochefoucauld (at 26 km)  you have the possibility to dress yourself in middle age style clothes (also adults!)

The 15 century chateau is specially intriguing since it is built alongside the 20 km crater of an ancient (200 million years ago) meteorite strike. It is also the home of a collection of 16th century frescoes as well as a collection of contemporary art.

The attractive  town of Rochechouart (at 26 km)features a church with an unusual twisted spire. A number of the buildings in the town also have medieval and renaissance decorations on their facades.

On the edge of the town you can relax on a small beach.

Confolens,

Standing at the confluence of the Vienne and the Goire, Confolens has always been a strategic place. But the town really developed during the Middle Ages. The town has preserved several features from this period including fine half-timbered houses, a rue du Soleil which never sees the sun, a helter-skelter street, a keep, a pont Vieux, squat, slightly humpbacked, across the Vienne

Also to be seen the house of the Duke d'Epernon where the escape of Marie de Médicis, then a prisoner in Blois castle, was prepared.

And the Fontorse quarter (which is reached by the Pont Vieux) and its splendid 18th century fountain

To be tasted the Kroumirs, a local speciality made with grilled almonds and chocolate

It’s a culture centre too and every year, together with the area of Charente-Limousine, it plays host to the international festival of song and dance… Danses et Musiques du Monde.

Very famous are the Charente slippers. 

The Charentaise slippers originated in Angoulême during the reign of Louis XIV. At that time the city specialized in the manufacture of felt for the uniforms of the Royal Navy. Cobbles collected the off-cuts and rejects to make slippers with woollen uppers and felt soles. For the maximum usage the slippers had neither left nor right feet.  At first the Charentaise slipper made its appearance  in the castles (it is said that La Rouchefoucauld introduced them at Versailles). Now it is known all over the world.

stands at the confluence of the Vienne and the Issoire. The medieval castle of the Count de la Marche, of which three imposing towers can still be seen, "holds" the hill overlooking the village. The river Vienne flows past the foot of the village, wide, blue and banked with lush green grass.

Also to be seen :

beside the castle, the small Romanesque church of Saint-Vincent, built in accordance with a rare plan in the shape of a Greek cross.

outside the village, at the Croix de Bellevue, the sumptuous panoramic view of the Blond foothills and the Issoire reservoir.

(Located around 15 kilometres from Essubras),  and its Centre de la Memoire, is a village which remembers its 642 martyrs - men, women and children - who were murdered by the German SS on the 10^th June 1944. Since that date little has been changed in the village, and the Centre which is a strong reminder of this terrifying act of barbarism, is a ‘must visit’. A new town bearing the same name has now been built close by.

Le Dorat

5 minutes away from Bellac is a must-see medieval town with more than 20 towers and evident Moorish influences from the Crusades. Visit also the collegiale, one of the largest, most complete and curious Romanesque edifices in France. A It was originally built in 1100 on the site of an old monastry. Built of grey granite, it is true majestic building.

Located at the foot of the Monts de Blond, another place worth seeing is Mortemart , famous for the remnants of its glorious past. It offers an architecturally imposing group of buildings remarkable for the purity of its lines. To be seen: le château des Ducs, the covered market of the 18th century, the convents: the convent of the Carmelite order, the convent of the Augustinian order, the parish church. This village grew up around the 10th century castle, which was built by then Lord of Mortemart. During the wars of Religion Cardinal le Richelieu ordered its destruction and all that remains today is it's tower an a few rooms.

Lesterps

(Just a few kilometres from Essubras) The village contains an edifice which is unique in the region : a Romanesque (11th century) porch bell tower almost 43 metres high

Stroll through the village streets to see the houses built using the walls of the old abbey

There are also many churches and abbeys of note in this region. Many are very ancient and beautiful with that almost mysterious air of calm one finds in old places of worship.

In Essubras

itself, there is also an impressive and unusual 17^th century stone carving which has been cemented into the wall of a house.

In Esse: a Gaulish villageins built named Coriobona. A presentation of daily life of the Lémovices, the Gaulish people of the  Limousin.

You can visit the village from may to november.

Although the website of the Gaulish is in french, you still can find some beautiful pictures which will give you an idea of their way of life, of their village: http://lesgauloisdesse.free.fr/

There are ongoing exhibitions at the strip cartoon museum CNBDI, the Musée des Beaux Arts (fine arts), Musée du Papier (Angoulême was a center for paper making and printing) and Musée  de la Résistance.(word War II)

Angoulême

An absolute must! You'll love sitting at a table in one of the many small restaurants in the restored old districts in the upper town.

Angoulême is a town of art and history, a town of the Middle Ages and the 19th century.

Its paper-making history has left a distinct taste for the visual arts. On every corner its architectural heritage can be seen, but not just that. The walls of the town are home to a “bubble” of creativity. Famous comic strip authors, like Franquin, Morris, Vance, Zep, Margerin etc., have provided the inspiration for the painted walls admired by visitors as they stroll through the streets.

 The city is dominated by the 12^th century cathedral of Saint-Pierre with its richly decorated façade full of sculptures and carvings. The ramparts of the old city walls offer you walks with spectacular views over the Charente valley.

More info at: angouleme-tourisme.com

within an hour drive you will see a beautiful show of giant birds of prey. Marvel at the eaglesand falcons as they swoon down from a great hight.

You can have the best experience by spending a day among the apes. Many free living different primates can be discovered in the trees and along the paths.  A true  adventure for young and old.

is famous for its glove-making. Tanning and leatherwork were once important local industries. A few ateliers still supply haute couture desings for the Parisian catwalks. Even Jean Paul Gauthier and Yves Saint Laurent shop here for gloves!! You can buy fabulous fashion accessories at warehouse prices. You will find also lovely medieval churches, abbeys and bridges.

A comfortable drive from Essubras, the town of Limoges is worth a visit. To see (and maybe even buy) some of the famous enamelware and porcelain, that has made the town famous since 1771 when the the Porselein manufacture  was founded .

The  Musée National Adrien-Dubouché has the second largest collection of porcelaine in France.  (www.musee-adriendubouche.fr)  The Musée de l'Evêché, which you will find in the former episcopal palace (18th century) is a splendid enamelware museum. The jardin of Evêché holds more than 1500 species of plants!  The town hall(1882) is one of the most beautiful of France, built in 1882 with the legacy bequeathed to the town by one of its porcelain barons, and bearing a striking resemblance to the Hôtel de Ville in Paris.  The Limoges Bénéditins railway station is  dominated by a 60 metre high clock tower. Inside the main hall, you can admire the sculptures and stained-glass windows of Francis Chigot. Limoges is the place of birth of the famous painter Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).

In the district of La Boucherie you will find many half timbered houses. The historic heart of La Cité has many interesting streets.

More info a  tourismelimoges.com

(60 km) When passing over the ancient 14th gothic bridge, on the Gartempe river, make sure you stop to discover an out of time site dedicated to book worms, art lovers, collectors of rare works and families who fancy a change of scene. Set in a picturesque area of le Brouard, the first inhabited town in the Middle Ages, the Cité de l'écrit et de Métiers du Livre had made Montmorillon a centre of excellence in its field, owing to its variety fo new and secondhand booksellers, bookbinders, illustrators etc. Don't forget to visit the muée de l'Amande et du Macaron (almond and macaroon museum)

Pineau des Charentes

An error in the making

Pineau des Charentes was not made by trial and error, utilising various grape forms to produce a magnificent wine. No, legend has it, back in the 16th Century, a winegrower accidently poured grape must into a barrel already containing Cognac eau de vie. A few years later the barrel was needed and the owner was somewhat surprised by the marvellous brew. Pineau des Charente was born. Since then, for the last five centuries, the winegrowers have continued to follow the same tradition, passed down from generation to generation.

Pineau des Charentes is appreciated as an aperitif, cocktail (for example, pineau and schwepps (tonic water)) and is used in gastronomy throughout the meal with the finest foods

If you are interested in wines, pineau de Charentes, why don't visit for exemple the wineyard of Patrick Mallinger and his family. (about 1 1/2 hours drive). At his domaine you can become aquinted with the proces of wine making. And ofcourse there is an opportunity to taste their products. More information on:   www.vignoblefamillemallinger.fr

More visits worth while:

--Saint Leonard de Noblat: the medieval village , on the banks of the Vienne, which was in early days an important halt on the Santiago Pilgrim road. Once protected by an outer wall with fortified gates, the old part boasts many fine houses from the 13th to the 18th century. Saint Leonard de Noblat is also the birth place of Gay Lussac. And on the river the Tarn you find the paper museum: Moulin du Got (www.moulindugot.com). Last remaining vestige of the cosiderable papermaking activity in the Limousin in the 18th century.

-- Safari parkLe Reynou at Le Vigen: A 300 hectare safari park in the grounds of the magnificent estate of the Chateau du Reynou. Animals are grouped by geographical origin, so you can see an African plane, with zebra and giraffe, an Asian area with yaks and snow leopard and many others!

--The Aquarium du Limousin in Limoges has more than 300 species of fish from all over the world and an underground reservoir dating back over 100 years.

-- Feeriland : See Caesar's army apporaching a Gaulois Village, relive the days of the Wild West or watch a colony of mutant ants going about their business... just some of the scenes which come to live with the marvellous animated scale models at Feeriland.

- Aubeterre sur Dronne: stands in corbelled rows up the face of a white chalk cliff. The steep narrow streets, whitewashed houses with red roofs and wooden balconies, give the village the decidedly Mediterrainian atmosphere. Its monolithic St John's Chruch, which was carved into the stone cliff, is one of the largest such churches in France.

-The Villars grotte: (at 109 km) rediscovered in 1953.  The underground network contains more than 13 km!  You find authentic testimony of ancestors' Art. These paintings were made 17.000 years ago. Some of the paintings are covered with a thin layer  of calcite which gives that praticular bluish hue. You will see, as well  one rare human representation in prehistoric art.