France Attractions Poitou-Charentes

Poitou-Charentes Main Attraction province

Poitiers is a small city located in west central France. It is a commune and capital (pr?fecture) of the Vienne d?partement. Poitiers is situated on the Clain river. Poitiers was founded before Roman influence by the Pictones tribe. (Photo: Author:FranceMelusin License: GNUfdl)

Angoul?me is a town in southwestern France. Angoul?me is encircled by boulevards known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often dark and narrow. The cathedral of St. Pierre, a church in the Byzantine-Romanesque style, dates from the 11th and 12th centuries, but has undergone frequent restoration, and was partly rebuilt in the latter half of the 18th century by the architect Paul Abadie. The crossing is surmounted by a dome, and the extremity of the north transept by a fine square tower over 160 ft. high. The h?tel de ville is a handsome modern structure, but preserves two towers of the chateau of the counts of Angoul?me, on the site of which it is built. It contains museums of paintings and archaeology.

La Rochelle is a city or commune of western France, and a seaport on the Atlantic Ocean. The city is connected to the ?le de R? (island) by a 2.9 km bridge, completed in 1988. Its harbour opens into a protected strait, the Pertuis d'Antioche. The city has beautifully maintained its past architecture, making it one of the most picturesque and historically rich cities on the Atlantic coast. This helped develop a strong tourism industry. One of the biggest music festivals in France, "FrancoFolies," takes place each summer in La Rochelle. (Photo: Author: Gerhard Piezinger License: GNUFDL)