Property Poitou-Charentes - Charente Poitou-Charentes

Charente

The Poitou-Charentes region is made up of four Départements, which are the French equivalents of English counties. Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Vienne (86), Deux-Sevres (79)

The Department of Charente:

The Charente is one of four départments making up the Poitou-Charente region, together with Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vienne. Situated in the south of the region, just one départment away from the Atlantic coast, the climate is mild and temperate, with a countryside that moves from vineyards and fields to rolling hills and forests, with hills and gorges in the east and south together with many rivers and lakes which provide the backbone to the region.

It is named after the Charente River and was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution, formed from the previous province of Angoumois. It is surrounded by the departments of Vienne, Haute-Vienne, Dordogne, Gironde, Charente-Maritime, and Deux-Sèvres. annd contains part of the geographical regions of Poitou and Limousin.

Main Towns of Charente

Angoulême

Angoulême - the department's capital city which has impressive ramparts with panoramic views of the town and the Charente Valley. There are many old houses dating from the 16th and 18th century and the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, an exceptional example of a Romanesque cathedral The 12th century Cathédrale St-Pierre dominates this thriving city. The ramparts offer a long bracing walk with views over the Charente Valley.. There are five museums, one of which is the only one of its kind in France engaged in the promotion of comics.

Cognac

Cognac - One of the most popular tourist destinations in France, and home to the world's best-known type of brandy. It is a fairly small town, entered via a 15th century gateway with towers and has narrow streets lined with 15th century buildings. The landscape surrounding the town is dominated by the vines with follow the contours across the countryside - giving breathtaking scenery all year round.

Confolens

Confolens - the principal town of the Charente-Limousin and of ancient origin but now a bustling market town. It is located a mere 30 minutes from Limoges and an hour from Poitiers. It's name Confolens comes from the word confluence, depicting its situation between the River Vienne and the River Goire. Confolen's narrow streets are lined with high half-timbered houses of the 15th-18th century.

The keep is all that remains of the town's old castle. Sites of interest include the romanesque church of St-Barthélemy, on the left bank of the Vienne, dating from the 11th century and the old bridge over the Vienne, which dates from the 15th. It is famed for its annual folk festival "Danses et Musiques du Monde" which is held each August. The broad River Vienne splits the town in to two and provides numerous opportunities for watersport enthusiasts.

House & Property Prices in Charente

House prices in this area have risen considerably in the last three years but are still below the national average for their categories and much cheaper than those closer to the coast. The average price of a 2 bedroom apartment property is between 100,000 and 120,000 Euros whilst a 4 bedroom house will cost between 200,000 euros and 240,000 euros.

The northern part of the department has cheaper properties in small towns such as Ruffec. A barn to renovate costs around 50,000 euros and a small house to renovate around 65,000 euros. A house with three to four bedrooms renovated to a good standard with some land will cost around 200,000 euros.

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