The Charente department is located in the administrative region known as Poitou-Charentes in central western France.
From rolling hills in the east to a flatter landscape in the west the countryside in this area offers a unique and varied environment for everyone from walkers to mountain bikers. The area enjoys its own micro-climate which offers the second highest sunshine hours to be found in France.
Les Adjots is very well situated with good access roads to and from the Channel ports. It also has convenient access to Poitiers, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Bergerac and Limoges airports, all within a two-hour drive. Direct flights also leave Gatwick or Stanstead to the nearby Angouleme Champniers-Brie airport.
Les Adjots is a village 5 km to the north of Ruffec. Ruffec has excellent shopping facilities including three major chain supermarkets and other amenties include a hospital with an A & E department, schools for children of all ages and a variety of sports associations including tennis, gymnasis and an open air swimming pool. A French market is held in the town every Wednesday and Saturday and an English market once a month.
Angouleme (45 km) is a cathedral town which is divided into an upper town known as Le Plateau and a lower town which includes everything outside the historic ramparts. The Cathedrale St-Pierre was built in the 12th Century and has been rebuilt four times since. It is known for its impressive facade which depicts the Last Judgement. The north ramparts offer wonderful views over the Charente Valley.
Angouleme also has a multimedia centre dedicated to comic strip art and cartoons. The centre holds a festival every January. There is also an annual circuits des Ramparts held every September. This is the weekend when classic car enthusiasts descend on the town to enjoy one of only three remaining road races held in Europe, the others being at Pau and Monaco.
Poitiers (50 km) is a town that is very picturesque and one of France's oldest cities. Its streets have much ancient architecture, especially of the Romanesque period, which must hold the memories of great historical figures such as Joan of Arc, Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
On the outskirts of Poitiers can be found the fabulous Futuroscope theme park, one of France's most visited attractions. It provides both entertainment and education for all the family and includes over twenty theme-based attraction areas and is a wonderland of new technology devoted to the moving image.
Cognac (90 km) is the medieval town that bears the name of this region of France. It has attractive narrow medieval cobbled streets and elegant Renaissance facades. It is here that the fabled nectar has been created since the 17th Century by world famous firms such as Hennessy, Otard, Remy-Martin, Courvoisier and Renault-Bisquit. Each distillery has its own unique process for mixing the various blends of its eaux-de-vie. There are guided tours to learn about the unique distilling process and ageing of the famous liquor in oak barrels.
La Rochelle (130 km) is most famous for its old harbour and its three outstanding medieval towers. The third of these towers is La Tour de la Lanterne, in which, in days gone by, a huge candle was lit nightly as a beacon for incoming craft. The vibrant lifestyle in La Rochelle attracts an international set and there are trendy bars and excellent restaurants. The town centre is easily reached and on the bustling arcaded streets there are examples of fine architecture.
La Valle des Singes (Valley of the Monkeys) near Civray (25 km) was built in 1998 to help in the preservation and protection of primates and their habitats and is unique in France. It brings to mankind's attention environmental problems such as the destruction of tropical rain forests and the plight of endangered primates. The park extends over thirty-seven acres and includes fifteen tree-filled lush green islands where the monkeys can move in freedom but also come into contact with visitors.
Zoodyssee near Villiers-en-Bois (63 km) is park set in sixty-two acres of natural landscape where over 600 wild European animals reside amongst their familiar habitats.
