What`s haPPening in the charente in 2013

Transcription

Press pack
What’s happening in
the Charente in 2013
contact presse
Laure Thomas
Tel: 00 33 (0)5 45 69 48 63 - [email protected]
Summary of contents
Summary
• New for 2013
Cartoon strip character Kirikou becomes Angoulême’s 26th mural design;
The creator of Captain Albator visits the comic strip art festival; new comic
strip on Charente dinosaurs; new cartoons made in Angoulême
• Festivals and fêtes in the Charente – ask for the 2013
programme!
Dance to foot-tapping rhythms, discover the latest talent in Frenchlanguage cinema, get moving to the sound of the Blues, feel the suspense
of crime novel readings or laugh at the funniest comic strips. That’s the
rich programme of events that awaits visitors to the Charente. Right
throughout the year its many fêtes, exhibitions, cultural events and wellknown festivals give a sense of rhythm to the Charente.
• Latest exhibitions
Cartoon strip character Spirou – a dynamic hero (The Comic Strip Art
International Centre, Angoulême),
Dinosaurs – La vie en grand (Paris), Dali as seen by comic strip artist
Edmond Baudouin (Comic Strip Art Museum, Angoulême), It’s incredible
how one grows up (FRAC contemporary arts centre, Angoulême)
• Great places to stay
The Ligaro Hotel at Jarnac, fishing huts at Cognac, Château de Brillac at
Foussignac, Clos du charpentier B&B at Balzac.
• Discovering Cognac the town...
To walk around the town of Cognac is to go on a voyage that mingles history,
the land and the art of good living. The brandy town known throughout the
world for its eponymous drink is the place to be for lovers of beauty and
quality. Here’s a little peek at Cognac to find out what’s new...
• Charente and its gardens
A garden isn’t just a place to walk and spend an idle moment. A landscaped
garden can be much more – a place to live, to take a break, a place to learn
or to dream. The Charente has many keen gardeners who have created
wonderful places that enhance their natural setting.
• Charente and food
From establishments featuring in the Michelin guide, to gourmet
restaurants offering inventive local cooking and friendly local eateries,
there’s plenty to choose from in the Charente. Between high-profile
restaurants and small bistros, there’s something to suit every taste. A look
at the new developments in 2013 that will bring a smile to foodies.
Media contact: Laure Thomas - Tel: 00 33 (0)5 45 69 48 63 - [email protected]
Summary of contents
Summary ...
• The Charente through the eyes of its châteaux
Many of the big names in French history have owned a part of the Charente,
from the Duc de La Rochefoucauld to King François 1st and Talleyrand.
Their châteaux, which are open to the public, stand as monuments to their
presence here.
• The Charente and its writers’ homes
Over the years the Charente has been a rich source of inspiration for
writers, from François de la Rochefoucauld, Alfred de Vigny and Guez de
Balzac to the late president François Mitterrand. A tour of the houses of
these writers who have made their mark on French literature.
• Ideas for visits throughout the year
‘All the flavours of cognac’, ‘Truffle or cognac’, ‘The pleasure of food in
the vineyard’, ‘The secrets of distillation’, ‘The good life by the lake’, ‘Like
a prince in their domain’, ‘Let your troubles ebb away...’, ‘Mystery and
comics trip’, ‘The era of the old cognac river boats’, ‘In search of Verteuil’.
• Charente at a glance
Local Charentais skills and key tourist facts and figures
Photo credits:
Meukow – Magelis – La Cité – Coup de Chauffe – Musiques Métisses – Les Sarabandes
– Blues Passions – Fête du Cognac – Fête médiévale de Dignac – Festival de
Confolens – Ville d’Angoulême – Moonscoop – Tel France – Ouat entertainment
– Hôtel François Ier – FRAC Poitou Charentes – Compagnie La petite fabrique –
Barrobjectif – L’Imprévu Festival – Festival du Film Francophone – Piano en Valois
– Delcourt – Fabien Vehlmann – Littératures Européennes – Festival du Polar de
Cognac – Circuit des remparts – Les Gastronomades – Otard – L’Yeuse – Sébastien
Laval – Stéphane Ouzounoff – Charente Développement – Gérard Martron – Alain
Vergnaud – Les Armateurs – Eidola éditions – Mazan et Dethan – Jean-Claude Denis
– 9ème Art + – DX Communication – Lewis Trondheim – Christophe Brachet – Plus
belle la vie – AMNHD – Mark Selwood – Leiji Matsumoto –2 minutes – Charente
Tourisme
Editing: Sandrine Brandel – Page layout: Agence Androgynes
English version: www.the-media-agency.eu
New for 2013
Kirikou,
Angoulême’s 26th
wall painting
In 2013 Angoulême is adding a new twist to its well-known
wall paintings with the use of fixed panels that will display projected images. LED lighting will give both light and
movement to the drawings of Kirikou, a popular comic strip
character. The work will be carried out by the company
Cité de la Création based in Lyon. Much of ‘Kirikou and
the sorceress’, directed by Michel Ocelot, was made by the Angoulême production company Les Armateurs at the end
of the 1990s. Its success – it won a UNICEF prize – was one of the reasons the town became well-known for animated
production. The wall painting will be inaugurated during the International Comic Strip Art Festival from 31 January to
3 February 2013.
Albator’s creator arrives
in Angoulême
The master of Manga cartoons Leiji
Matsumoto, who created the famous character Albator, will be in
Angoulême for the 40th International
Festival of Comic Strip Art (Festival
international de la Bande Dessinée)
which takes place from 31 January
to 3 February 2013. He is a guest of
great stature who in 2013 will be
celebrating 60 years in the industry.
The festival has laid on several public
meetings involving Leiji Matsumoto.
The arrival of the master of Manga is
seen as such a major event that the
Japanese ambassador to France and
the Japanese cultural centre in Paris
will be involved in organising his stay
in Angoulême.
4
New for 2013
Two new rooms
at the Domaine
du Châtelard
Situated 8km from Angoulême, this wooded estate of 85
hectares is in the protected natural heritage area of the
Anguienne Valley. Its magnificent 18th century Logis or traditional building, whose terrace overlooks a ten-hectare
lake, has eleven bedrooms. The bedrooms vary between
15 and 35 metres square in size, some having great views
over the lake. Two new rooms have been renovated and
provide a contemporary and warm ambiance. One has access for people of reduced mobility. Hosts Ivan and Pascale
Godfretsen continue in their efforts to return Domaine du
Châtelard to its illustrious past, and the hotel has an upmarket restaurant whose cuisine is innovative and based
on local produce.
In 2012 the Michelin red guide gave the restaurant two
forks. The youthful head chef Yvan Godfretsen is a member of the Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe group of up and
coming young chefs across the continent.
www.domaineduchatelard.com
Mimo, on the trail of dinosaurs:
A comic book on the dinosaurs
of the Charente
Mimo, on the trail of dinosaurs (Mimo, sur la trace des dinos)
is an entertaining and educative book on the palaeontological digs at Angeac-Charente, published by Eidola
Editions. Superbly illustrated by the comic strip artist
Mazan, it is in three parts; an illustrated story based on
words by Isabelle Dethan, information about dinosaurs
using text from palaeontologist Ronan Allain and finally a
series of sketches on the digs themselves with explanatory
notes from palaeontologist Jean-François Tournepiche. It’s
a comic strip that is both fun and informative, allowing
readers to learn more about the life of dinosaurs in the
Charente.
Mimo, sur la trace des dinos
66 pages, Eidola éditions, 10 euros.
5
New for 2013
New animation series produced in Angoulême
Season 2 of ‘The mysterious
cities of gold’ ( ‘Les Mystérieuses
Cités d’or’)
Esteban, Zia and Tao, the heroes of the
cult animated cartoon of the 1980s
‘The mysterious cities of gold’ (‘Les
Mystérieuses Cités d’or’) are back
soon on leading French TV channel
TF1. The 26 new episodes of season 2
were produced in the Charente in the
studios of Blue Spirit, a company associated with the centre responsible
for developing the film and animation
industry in Angoulême, the Pôle Image
Magelis. The series has been modernised but remains faithful to the original. Features from the first series such
as the theme song have been retained.
Those who remember this cult series
the first time round will doubtless
be sharing their memoires with their
children.
Code Lyoko Evolution
Code Lyoko Evolution is an updated sequel to the popular
Code Lyoko animation series that ended in 2007 after
a run of 95 episodes. The new version, to be screened
on French TV channel France 3, will feature 3D images.
The new series of this action story of five classmates
battling against an evil foe contains 26 episodes, all
made at production company Moonscoop’s studios in
Angoulême.
Angoulême’s film and animation industry
gets its own YouTube channel
The YouTube Magelis TV channel features a wide variety
of videos, grouped into different playlists, so that viewers
can see the creative talent nurtured by the Pôle Image
Magelis, which oversees the development of the film and
animation industry in Angoulême. There are demo tapes by
companies, trailers for films, interviews, conferences and
more. Magelis TV is a unique channel where talent from the
Charente is on permanent display. It allows the local media
industry to share more, to communicate and collaborate,
and highlight their success story to the wider public.
www.youtube.com/user/MagelisTV
6
New for 2013
Two new games from Angoulême’s production studios
Comic strip hero becomes app
A game called ‘Rosie se la raconte en BD’ (‘Rosie shows
off in a comic strip) is an iPad app that can be downloaded
from the App Store, and which is a game inspired by a wellknown cartoon character Rosie, who appears on the children’s TV channel Gulli. It was created by the Angoulême
studio 2 Minutes and allows users to take the characters
and world of cartoons to create their own comic strips. The
player chooses how many boxes there are in the cartoon
strip, the characters, the background and objects taken
from the series. They also make the speech bubbles and
write the dialogue. They can then share their creation with
friends via Facebook, Twitter or Flickr.
It can be downloaded from the App Store at:
https://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/
rosie-se-la-raconte-en-bd/id517529330?mt=8
Top French TV soap
gets Facebook and Web game
Telfrance Série and Charentebased production company Ouat
Entertainment have launched a
Facebook and Web game ‘Plus belle
la vie’, inspired by France’s most popular TV soap of the same name. The
game, which can be accessed free via
the show’s website or Facebook fan
page, involves hidden objects and is
packed full of surprises. It gives fans
of this popular show – set in Marseille
on the Mediterranean coast – a chance
to enter the world of the soap and
its distinctive backdrops, to find out
what goes on behind the scenes and
the secrets of its filming. The aim
of the game is to find objects hidden in the background, enabling the
player to move on to the next scene.
Smartphone and tablet versions of the
game are also due in 2013.
7
Festivals and fêtes in the Charente
Ask for the 2013 programme!
Dance to foot-tapping rhythms, discover the latest talent in French-language cinema,
get moving to the sound of the Blues, feel the suspense of crime novel readings or
laugh at the funniest comic strips. That’s the rich programme of events that awaits
visitors to the Charente. Right throughout the year its many fêtes, exhibitions,
cultural events and well-known festivals bring a sense of rhythm to the Charente.
International Festival
of Comic Strip Art
January 31 – February 3, 2013
Angoulême
The International Festival of Comic
Strip Art (Le Festival international
de la bande dessinée) celebrates its
40th anniversary this year. And once
again fans of the Ninth Art (as cartoon
art is known in France) will flock to
Angoulême – each year more than
220,000 people throng the town’s
streets to discover what’s new in the
world of the comic strip. But in this
extra special year, the festival promises to be extra special too with
exhibitions, shows, talks, activities
and exclusive events, all under the
festival presidency of Jean-Claude
Denis. Winner of last year’s Grand
Prix d’Angoulême, Denis this year
presides over the jury deciding on the
best creators of comic strip art. Among
the many great events, the exhibition
‘Uderzo in extenso’ - about the cocreator of the Astérix series - is sure
to delight both young and old.
www.bdangouleme.com
8
La Tête dans les Nuages
March 9 to 16, 2013
Angoulême
One is never too young to love the theatre - this was the
idea behind the creation, 16 years ago, of a festival of
theatre performances for children, and their parents, at
the Théâtre d’Angoulême - Scène nationale.
During the course of a week, shows selected from amongst
the best currently around are put on for youngsters aged
18 months to 10 years. For this, the 16th year, the festival
explores worlds that are distant, even secretive, dreamlike, burlesques, technological and poetic with ideas that
will once more surprise and entertain theatre goers young
and old.
www.theatre-angouleme.org
Festival international de
musique de chambre en Charente
May 11 to June 9, 2013
Chalais
Lovers of chamber music should head to Chalais, the beautiful and
historic small town nestled in the hills of the south Charente, for the
fifth International Festival of Chamber Music. The festival was founded
in 2009 by the Shaw String Trio of violinist Nathalie Shaw, her cellist
brother Jacob Shaw and their father violist Julian Shaw. Each year, as
the festival’s artistic directors, they invite their international colleagues to join them, together creating a rich and diverse programme of
chamber music that’s a mix of classic pieces as well as lesser-known
contemporary ones.
www.chalaismusique.com
9
Musiques Métisses
Du 17 au 19 mai 2013
Angoulême
Each year the big names of world music come together
to produce the Musiques Métisses festival in Angoulême.
It is the must-go-to festival for French world music fans.
Full of character, each year it attracts 60,000 people. Last
year’s performers including Amadou & Mariam, Zebda and
Lo’Jo got the crowds on their feet. With its three stages to
perform on, the three-day, three night Musiques Métisses
becomes a showcase for the sounds of world music, where
thousands of festival-goers of all ages and cultures come
together to explore a world without frontiers.
www.musiques-metisses.com
Les Sarabandes
June 28 – 30, 2013
Mareuil
The 15th festival goes to Mareuil where the entire village
will be taken over by the event. There will be street theatre,
concerts and visual arts: as it does every year, the festival
features culture of all kinds, entertaining the entire family
with a diverse programme of events.
www.lapalene.fr
Fête médiévale
de Dignac
July 7, 2013
Dignac
The village of Dignac invites you to leap back in time to the
Middle Ages during this celebrated medieval festival that’s
now in its 17th year. Jousts between knights, falconry, street
theatre, stiltwalkers, craftsmen, troubadours and a barbarian camp... Your eyes and ears will be filled with amazing
sights and sounds. It promises dizzying and awe-inspiring
shows for all the family.
www.fete-medievale.cad-dignac.info
10
Blues Passions
July 2 – 7, 2013
Cognac
Cognac Blues Passions celebrates 20 years of great sounds this year and
once again lovers of Afro-Caribbean music will be spoilt for choice with
a full and varied line-up of performers. Last year Sting, Selah Sue and
Imany were among the stars that delighted the 55, 000 festival fans. This
year again, for six days and six nights, renowned artists – including Sinéad
O’Connor, Beth Hart and Asaf Avidan - and tomorrow’s big names will
perform at a number of scenic locations throughout the town. Blues in all
its different styles: the perfect programme to celebrate a 20th birthday!
www.bluespassions.com
La Fête du Cognac
July 25 – 27, 2013
Cognac
La Fête du Cognac is a major celebration of produce from local vineyards
(cognac, Pineau des Charentes and
Pays Charentais wines) and Charentais
food specialities. The festival takes
place at the picturesque port in
Cognac – over three days visitors can
partake of cognac in many different
ways, as well as dine near the river,
the perfect setting for enjoying more
delicious local produce. Adding to the
pleasure of the occasion will be two
evening concerts given by celebrated
artists. Last year Catherine Ringer and
Ayo entertained festival-goers.
www.lafeteducognac.fr
11
Coupe d’Europe de
Montgolfières
July 31 – August 4, 2013
Mainfonds
Fly up, up and away and take in the fresh air! The European
Hot-air Ballooning Cup (Coupe d’Europe de Montgolfières)
is a bi-annual event which sees the best of the world compete. With more than 60,000 visitors in 2011, and 60 teams
taking part, the European Cup is one of the big events of the
summer. The gathering is also one of the main competitions
in the international ballooning calendar, and sees the best
balloonists test both themselves and each other, watched by
crowds who come to enjoy the spectacle of a multitude of colourful balloons floating through the air above the Charente
countryside. Between the official competitions there are a
number of flying demonstrations, rides in a hot-air balloon
and shows. As usual an aerial gathering of vintage aeroplanes
will bring the event to a colourful conclusion.
www.mainfonds.com
My Story
Laurent Cochon
Hot-air balloon pilot
‘The Charente has wings’
‘This summer I will take part in the European Hot-air
Ballooning Cup – I will pilot a festival balloon, taking
those who wish to discover the beautiful Charentaise
countryside from the air for a ride in a balloon called
‘La Charente a des ailes’ (‘The Charente has wings’
– a department slogan). I have been a pilot since
2003 and it’s always a great pleasure to share my
passion and to discover the Charente from the sky.
The European Cup is an important event for pilots
but also for the public. For us enthusiasts it’s a great
chance to exchange information and swap stories.
And for the public, it’s a chance to see the magnificent spectacle of so many colourful balloons in
the skies over the Charente. The European Cup is
an event that pilots around the world look forward
to – and so does the public.’
12
Festival des arts et
traditions populaires du monde
Du 12 au 18 août 2013
Confolens
It began 55 years ago but this festival
celebrating traditional music, dance
and culture has never once disappointed. What’s more, its continued success encourages organisers to push
the limits of the festival each year.
Dedicated to the arts and traditions
of the world, the festival welcomes
many and varied performing groups,
whose presence ensures an entertaining series of shows to a combined
audience of 200,000 over the six days.
Each summer the town of Confolens
becomes home for all those who love
traditional dance, music and singing.
As well as welcoming the biggest
groups in international folk culture,
the festival has also featured a variety of world artists including Touré
Kunda, Manu Dibango, Johnny Clegg
and Bernard Lavilliers.
www.festivaldeconfolens.com
Festival du Film
Francophone
August 25 – 19, 2013
Angoulême
This festival of French-language film is an influential and
seminal gathering for French cinema, playing host each
year to the big names of French film. Created by actor
Dominique Besnehard and artist Marie-France Brière, the
film programme features movies from around the world,
including the dozen that are competing for the Valois
d’Or awards. A jury made up of film personalities - Denis
Podalydès, Natacha Régnier and Marie-José Croze in 2012
- will hand the awards to the best Francophone films of the
year. In total, there are no fewer than 50 films screened
during the festival, with many being previews. As always,
Angoulême will be awash with stars, making it the city of
French film.
www.filmfrancophone.fr
Coup de Chauffe
Du 6 au 8 septembre 2013
Cognac
The 18th Coup de Chauffe
festival will once again set
the streets of Cognac on
fire! A three-day cultural
extravaganza dedicated
to street theatre, it is completely free. In all corners
of the town, artists transform public spaces into
places where imagination
and fun run free. Theatre,
dance, circus acts, concerts
puppet shows, wandering
acts... Poetic and dreamlike experiences await passers-by who enter a world
where art takes place on the
streets, in the town squares
or even on just a small section of pavement. In short,
art made available everywhere and for everyone.
www.avantscene.com
13
Circuit
international
des remparts
September 20 – 22, 2013
Angoulême
Ever since 1939 the streets of
Angoulême have been transformed into
one enormous racetrack once a year for
the vintage and racing car celebration
that is the Circuit international des remparts. This annual event sees drivers
of cars bearing legendary names such
as Aston Martin, MG, Bugatti, Porsche,
Lotus plus many others revving their
motors to give huge amounts of pleasure to watching spectators who come
Evelyne Filloux
The only Charentaise woman to take part
in the Circuit international des Remparts
‘Being Charente born and bred and a
vintage car enthusiast, I have always
enormously enjoyed the Circuit des
Remparts. I always said that one day
I would compete. In 2012 I was able
to realise my dream, taking part in
my Innocenti de Tomaso. I finished
7th out of 17 – a very good first performance. And it was a great experience! There are only two events of
this kind in France. For enthusiasts,
this circuit in a town is legendary,
in growing numbers each year. The
route of this incredible urban racetrack
is unchanged, taking drivers through
the heart of Angoulême’s old town.
Included in the three-day celebration
is the Concours d’élégance, a beauty
pageant of prestige cars, as well as a
rally through the Charente countryside.
www.circuit-des-remparts.com
MY STORY
historic! It was fantastic to be able
to take part. I particularly liked the
buzz of the paddocks and the direct
contact with the public. This circuit
is truly an exceptional event and I
will do it again in 2013. To my great
delight!’
14
Barrobjectif,
13th festival of photo-reportage
21 – 29 September, 2013
Barro
Each year the small village of Barro
becomes a giant exhibition hall. More
than 10,000 visitors come to admire
the more than 1,000 photographs
displayed in 40 different locations
around the village. They’re displayed
in the most unexpected of places
and in the most unusual of ways in the open air, on walls, in trees, in
the streets and squares, in barns
and garages, on the water... During
the nine days, fans of photographic
art enjoy exhibitions by world-class
amateurs as well as those of the best
professional photo-journalists in the
world today. And after 13 consecutive years, the sense of discovering
something new remains as strong as
ever.
http://barrobjectif.com
Piano en Valois
October 14 - 25, 2013
Charente
Created in 1999, each year this piano festival presents 15
international pianists considered to be among the most
charismatic and talented in the contemporary classical
music scene. The demanding criteria for selecting the
artists has helped maintain the festival’s reputation for
quality, making it renowned the world over.
www.piano-en-valois.fr
Crime Fiction Festival
18-20 October, 2013
Cognac
The 18th edition of the Festival Polar
de Cognac celebrates the crime genre
in all its forms, and as always will focus on the best in fiction, comic strip
art, film, theatre and television. The
festival gives fans a chance to see advance previews of films, attend conferences, exhibitions and screenings
of television shows as well as the
chance to meet crime writers. The
annual awards of the Prix Polar will
once again recognise the best crime
creations of the year. Last year’s winners include the TV series ‘Sherlock’
and ‘Mafiosa’ and the feature film by
Pierre Jolivet, ‘Mains armées’.
www.festival-polar-cognac.fr
15
Littératures Européennes
November 21 – 24, 2013
Cognac
Italian writers are especially honoured at this year’s annual festival celebrating the best of European literature. Started in 1988, the festival has
become a forum where writers meet
their public through a variety of different formats. There are debates, readings, exhibitions, films and an area
Les Gastronomades
November 22-24, 2013
Angoulême
dedicated to young people as well as
generalist bookshops. Several literary
awards will also be announced during
the four-day festival.
www.litteratures-europeennes.com
For three days the town of
Angoulême becomes the
capital of gastronomy and
food. In this the 19th festival,
Gastronomades welcomes
the cream of French and international cuisine to come
and share their secrets with
the food-loving public: cookery workshops, tastings
and culinary jousts between
chefs who are among the
best in France are just some
of the attractions of this
warm and family-friendly
festival. Throughout the
town, foodies can meet
chefs who will divulge their
best recipes, hear the latest
culinary news and enjoy the
best of local produce. A rich
menu that’s sure to delight
the taste buds!
www.gastronomades.fr
16
Exhibitions
Spirou un héros dynamique
From 29 June into 6 October 2013
At the comic strip art centre, the Cité Internationale
de la bande dessinée et de l’image
in Angoulême
The popular Franco-Belgian comic
character Spirou will be 75 years old
in 2013. To mark his three-quarters
of a century the bellboy is featuring
in new adventures, a tour of bookshops...and exhibitions. The comic
strip art centre, the Cité Internationale
de la bande dessinée et de l’image,
in Angoulême is giving this legendary character the recognition he
deserves with an exhibition covering
400m2, with events for old and young,
from 29 June to 6 October 2013. The
centre will make use of its many original prints and rare editions featuring
Spirou as well as posters and toys.
There will be a special zone for children with a reading corner, plus games
and an activities area where youngsters can discover the first episodes
of the animated adaptation of Little
Spirou by Alexis Lavila, whose first
public screening is due in February
2013. Set against a background that
recalls the Château de Champignac the Count of Champignac is a recurring character in the stories - the exhibition will feature the recreation of
the worktable used by André Franquin,
the most outstanding of Spirou’s different artists. There will also be areas
dedicated to the 15 various artists and
designers who have been involved
in the series over the years. Another
background will recreate the editorial centre of the Spirou comic where
visitors can witness the changes in the
weekly magazine.
www.citebd.org
17
Exhibitions
Dinosaure,
la vie en grand
Until 13 May 2013
Grande Galerie de l’Evolution,
Natural History Museum, Paris
The dinosaurs of the Charente are being celebrated in Paris. The Grande Galerie de l’Evolution at
the Jardin des Plants, the botanical garden that is
part of the Natural History Museum, is staging a
major exhibition on dinosaurs until 13 May 2013.
Entitled ‘Dinosaure, la vie en grand’, it focuses
on the biggest beasts of all, the sauropods. And
featuring in the exhibition is the largest femur
bone yet found, a giant 2.2 metre bone unearthed at the Angeac-Charente excavation site last
year. The section of the exhibition devoted to
the Charente was written by the Natural History
Museum in conjunction with Angoulême Museum
and gives visitors insight into one of the most
productive dinosaur excavation sites in France.
The dig at Angeac has surprised palaeontologists by both the quantity and the quality of the
remains found there. This exhibition, based on
the latest research in palaeontology, physiology
and bio-mechanics, is both spectacular and accessible to all. In particular to youngsters aged six
to twelve, thanks to its interactive and practical
activities.
www.jardindesplantes.net/
geants-les-plus-grands-dinosaures
Dali as seen by Baudoin
Until 24 March 2013
Museum of Comic Strip Art, Angoulême
At a time when the Pompidou Centre in Paris is devoting a major retrospective
exhibition to the work of Salvador Dali, the French artist Edmond Baudoin takes
us in the footsteps of this strange and brilliant artist, whose life and work he
charts. Venturing into Dali’s unpredictable and boundary-less universe, Baudoin
gives us his own personal vision. By entering into an intimate dialogue with this
genius Baudoin provides us with an illustrated book of rare quality, as underlined by the perfect coherence between the content and form. This exhibition
contains the most beautiful original drawings from this exceptional book, which
was jointly published by the Pompidou Centre and publishers Dupuis.
wwwcitebd.org
18
Exhibitions
It’s incredible
how one grows up
Until 3 March 2013
Poitou-Charentes regional
contemporary arts fund (FRAC)
Angoulême
France’s regional contemporary arts
funds (FRAC) celebrate 30 years in
2013.
To mark this the Poitou-Charentes
FRAC is staging an original exhibition by devoting itself entirely to
the works of young artists – a selection of newly-graduated artists from
the region’s art school the École
Européenne Supérieure de l’Image
(EESI). The works include multimedia installations, videos, drawings,
painting, sculpture...indeed the
breadth of media used is as large as
the scope of teaching and research
at the school’s two sites in Poitiers
and Angoulême. The exhibition guarantees both quality and originality
www.frac-poitou-charentes.org
Regional
contemporary
art funds
celebrate
th
30 birthday
in 2013
Each regional fund has given free rein to an artist to choose works from their existing collection and come up with an original way of presenting them. The artists’
creations will first of all be shown regionally, then brought together as part of a
collective exhibition. A national exhibition, the first of its kind to bring together
all the 23 FRACs in one place, will be held at Toulouse where the works of all 23
commissioned artists will be presented. This will be followed by an international
exhibition in 2014.
The Poitou-Charentes FRAC has chosen Heidi Wood as its artist.
www.heidiwood.net/
19
Great Places To Stay
From a designer hotel to an unusual hut, from a charming bed and breakfast to a
majestic château, 2013 has its fair share of novelties when it comes to accommodation.
Whether you’re a fan of the designer look or a lover of the traditional, there’s
something for all tastes and budgets. It’s time to get out your diaries and reserve
a weekend place in one of the Charente’s great places to stay.
Hotel Ligaro at Jarnac
Caroline Rooney and Ludovic Merkle,
chef at the nearby gourmet restaurant Le Château, have chosen one of
the oldest houses in Jarnac to open
the Hotel Ligaro. They have managed
to take the luxurious charm of an old
maison de maître or bourgeois house
dating from the 17th century and turn
it into an hotel renovated with great
taste. Helped by a clever combination
of ochre tones – the colours of cognac
– the building combines the purity of
contemporary design with the warmth
of a traditional old house. Behind the
building’s bourgeois façade there are
ten bedrooms, which have access to a
small garden. Guests can ask for the
Tower Bedroom (‘chambre de la Tour’)
which lives up to its name as this
bedroom with its separate entrance
is built on the ancient town walls of
Jarnac, in a sculptured stone turret
with views over the garden. It is absolutely charming.
From
180 € a night
Le Ligaro
74 Grand’Rue 16200 Jarnac, France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 32 71 38
www.hotel-ligaro.com
20
Fishing huts
at Cognac
For anyone who likes the unusual, the
Quai de Pontis at Cognac is sure to
please. In the rural setting of a hundred-year-old park and at the end of
a tiny peninsula jutting out into the river stand two old fishing huts on stilts.
Both magical and surprising, these
huts have been transformed into
accommodation for guests seeking a
green haven. From this quiet, secluded
spot, visitors will be able to savour the
calm and tranquillity of the banks of
the River Charente, leaving them the
impression that they have entered a
little corner of paradise. The hut’s terrace overlooks the river, giving guests
the sensation they are walking on water, and making them wish they had
learnt to fish...the tranquillity is complete, and if afternoon naps are disturbed it will only be by the fish jumping
in the river or the gentle murmur of
gossip coming from your only neighbours in the other hut. The views, too,
are simply sumptuous. There’s not an
speck of concrete to be seen; guests
are surrounded by a green panorama
which has plenty of local flora and
fauna to admire. This charming and
poetic spot is ideal for anyone who’s
had enough of the greyness and bustle
of urban life.
Our favorite
unusual
From
85 € a night
Quai des Pontis
Cabanes sur pilotis
16 rue des Pontis 16100 Cognac,
France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 32 47 40
00 33 (0)6 46 59 45 14
www.quaidespontis.com
21
Château de
Brillac
at Foussignac
From
€60
including breakfast
Ever dreamt about life in a château?
Had the desire to get away from it all
in a place that is both chic and steeped
in history? Or do you need a spa and
to plunge into a huge swimming
pool? Well, the château de Brillac at
Foussignac can meet all those needs.
It was built in the 19th century by a
family of cognac producers on a wooded estate and grounds of several
hectares. It is situated in one of the
prime cognac-making areas, and is
surrounded by green countryside
and woods and valleys, with vineyards
disappearing into the distance. Set
among this dreamy landscape, the
château de Brillac with its striking
white local stone has fully-renovated
bedrooms and suites that ally traditional stylish furniture with contemporary design furnishings. This trad-mod
combination was a successful gamble
by owners Jean-François and Sylvie
Maupas who want to share with their
guests the relaxed rhythm of life of
this seductive region. To complete the
stay, the château opens up its spa and
heated pool and offers consultations
in naturopathy and nutritherapy.
Château de Brillac
50 Route de Jarnac 16200
Foussignac, France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 36 45 19
00 33 (0)6 16 12 97 50
www.chateaudebrillac.com
22
Le Clos du
Charpentier
at Balzac
The Clos du Charpentier at Balzac near
Angoulême offers a great location to
get away from it all for those who love
tradition and simplicity. There are four
guest rooms in the typical Charentais
house, where owners Marie-Claire and
Joël welcome visitors with genuine
warmth and courtesy. The elegance
of the decoration in the guest rooms
and communal areas, the solidity of
the stone structure, the sunny terrace
where breakfast is taken, the interior
swimming pool, the fitness room and
the spa all serve to make this a real haven of tranquillity just a few minutes
outside Angoulême.
Our favorite
small price
€65 a night
for two
breakfast included
Le Clos du Charpentier
4 rue des Courly 16430 Balzac,
France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 68 28 39
00 33 (0)6 74 14 97 01
[email protected]
23
Cognac the town and its history
To walk around the town of Cognac is to go on a voyage that mingles history, the
land and the art of living the good life. The brandy town known throughout the
world for its eponymous drink is the place to be for lovers of beauty and quality.
Here’s a little peek at Cognac to find out what’s new...
Cognac,
town of art and history
to be explored on...foot
What better way to learn about the
richness of a town than to take a gentle
stroll around on foot? It’s a place to
take your time, look up to see the
splendours of the architecture above
you, watch the locals go by and enjoy
the natural beauty of its parks and
gardens. In January 2012 Cognac was
awarded the official title of Ville d’Art
et d’Histoire, or historic and cultural
town. To help visitors make the most
of the town, the authorities have had
the great idea of creating designated
routes. The ‘Parcours du Roy’ route
and the ‘Parcours Belle-Epoque’ route
allow visitors to discover a rich and diverse heritage of architecture whose
origins are in the town’s commercial
past. ‘Totem’ poles or panels which
give information on the town’s history
lead visitors through different parts of
Cognac. These include the banks of
the River Charente, place François 1er,
place d’Armes, the Récollets convent
and the gardens of the town hall. The
Parcours du Roy route takes visitors
back in time to the era of the salt trade
and then the brandy industry, thanks
to its pathway through the beautiful
streets of the old town. The Parcours
Belle-Epoque, meanwhile, invites the
curious to discover the urban growth
that took place in the 19 th century
thanks to the extraordinary economic
development of that dazzling era.
Both routes are a great way to help
people explore the fascinating history
of Cognac.
24
Cognac-maker
Meukow opens its
doors and invites
us to its table
After a morning spent exploring the
history and architecture of Cognac, it’s
time to find out more about the product that took the town’s name and
became famous all over the world cognac. The town itself and surrounding areas have many different cognac
producers, both large and small, all
contributing to the region’s unique
reputation. But for now we are visiting
one particular large cognac producer,
the house of Meukow, who are based
in in the middle of the town. Hidden
behind large Charentaise stone walls,
this producer welcomes visitors to its
historic premises for a visit that promises both information and a chance
to taste cognac. Meukow cognac
traces its history back to 1 August
1862 thanks to Tsar Alexander II, who
was looking to boost stocks of the
drink at the Russian court, and whose
two emissaries to the region decided
to set up their own cognac house. For
its 150th anniversary in 2012 Meukow
chose to open its doors to the public
and reveal some of the secrets of its
production process with the help of
a new and modern style of visitor
tour. The usual explanatory panels
have been replaced by digital tablets
and videos, and a singular emphasis
on information has given way to an
exploration of emotions. Attracted
by the aroma of cognac that suffuses
the entire visit, we are guided by the
famous panther chosen as a symbol
by the house of Meukow for its characteristics that are considered similar
to those of a good cognac; strength,
elegance and subtlety. The mysterious
black panther changes before our
eyes in an image projected between
the cognac barrels in the cognac storeroom. As we enter deeper into the
building we learn more about the
delicate task of the master blenders
or maîtres de chais whose responsibility it is to make sure that Meukow
cognac maintains a consistency of
colour and flavour, thanks to a skilful blending of different brandies.
Watching the making of bottles and
witnessing a fine display of the dozens
of different cognacs in the Meukow
brand leads inevitably on to a tasting.
Once the tour is over there is no need
to look elsewhere for a good place to
have lunch. For the restaurant ‘Chez
Meukow’, which was opened at the
same time as the tour, gives visitors
a chance to prolong their experience
in one of the homes of cognac. Chef
Sabine Lambert has prepared a menu
that uses local ingredients cooked in a
contemporary style, and which makes
use of the flavours of cognac.
25
A different way to discover
the world of Cognac
An afternoon isn’t enough to explore
all that the town of Cognac has to offer.
So to help us choose and organise our
visits there is a short practical guide
for tourists. The booklet ‘Laissez-vous
conter Cognac’ or ‘Discover the world
of Cognac’ contains a varied programme of visits. And they are a little
different, too! The traditional-style
tours have been replaced by an original approach to visits. For example,
the ‘Les instantanées’ (or ‘Snapshot
tours’) trips involve getting to know
a monument, a particular place or a
district of town during a brief visit
of no more than 30 minutes. The
‘Rendez-vous en terres cognaçaises
inconnues’, meanwhile, take tourists
on a mystery trip to a less well-known
feature of the cognac region. All the
tourist knows in advance is a place
and time to meet – nothing else. The
only certainty is that they can expect
to be taken to an exceptional place,
unusual monuments or a hidden site...
The ‘Savoir-faire et des Hommes’ tour
focuses on local personalities. Artists,
artisans and designers living in the
region open up their workshops to
share their knowledge and passion
for their art or craft. The ‘Laissez-vous
conter Cognac’ booklet has a total of
six different types of visit to choose
from to help people discover the area
in an original way.
26
Enjoy cocktails
chez Louise...
After a hard day of sightseeing and
discovery, it’s time to take a break and
relax. Meet up at Louise, the cocktail
bar at the Hôtel François 1er, located
in the famous square of the same
name in the town centre. The bar was
given its name in honour of Louise de
Savoie, Duchess of Angoulême, who
was the mother of François I of France,
born in Cognac in 1494. It is run by
head barman Alexandre Lambert. The
cocktail bar is open to all, and has a
chic décor with amber and crimson
tones. Its emphasis is naturally on
cognac-based cocktails but the head
barman is also happy to help customers discover other spirits produced
in the Charente. ‘I offer drinks made
around Cognac – cognac, of course,
but also vodka, gin, tequila or fruit
liqueurs,’ explains Alexandre Lambert.
Even if he is in an expert in around
100 classic cocktail recipes, the head
barman likes to create new cocktails
according to his customers’ wishes. ‘I
question them on their tastes, on their
desires at the time to see if they’d like
to try a cocktail that is strong, smooth,
slightly bitter, fruity, sugary...with new
creations you can explore all the flavour ranges of our taste buds. The new
creation relies on listening and discussing,’ he says. Yet though Alexandre
Lambert likes guiding customers towards new taste experiences, he admits his personal favourite is the dry
Martini. ‘It’s at the same time simple
and very difficult to make!’
...and sleep in a four-star
room at the hotel
François 1er
An evening at the Louise cocktail bar gives us a chance to
end the day in one of the most beautiful hotels in town,
the François 1er, where the bar is based. This four-star hotel
was completely renovated last year. Its owners Isabelle and
Marc Peron wanted it to be a determinedly modern hotel, a
perfect compromise between the elegance of 19th century
buildings and the boldness of a contemporary décor that
plays on the colours of the cognac landscape. Making the
most of the exceptional architecture of a building that has
a majestic façade dating from the era of Napoleon III (mid19th century) the owners have created 21 rooms and four
suites, all decorated with taste and refinement. To complete their customers’ stay, Isabelle and Marc Peron have
created a spa in the centre of the hotel with a covered pool,
Turkish bath and massage room. The spa therapist, who is
originally from Asia, offers traditional health massages as
part of a range of exclusive care techniques.
27
n
Practical informatio
Cognac town hall (Mairie)
Ville d’Art et d’Histoire section
00 33 (0)5 45 36 55 36
00 33 (0)6 07 28 22 98
www.ville-cognac.fr
Meukow
26 rue Pascal Combeau
16100 COGNAC, France
00 33 (0)5 45 82 32 10
www.meukowcognac.com
Guided tours from 10am to 5pm (45 minutes
duration)
€10, with tasting of three cognacs
Lunch upon reservation
Three-course meal €26
Louise coctail bar
and Hôtel François 1er
3 Place François 1er
00 33 (0)5 45 80 80 80
www.hotelfrancoispremier.fr
Tourist office
16 rue du 14 juillet
00 33 (0)5 45 82 10 71
www.tourism-cognac.com
28
Charente and its Gardens
A garden isn’t just a place to walk and spend an idle moment. A landscaped garden
can be much more – a place to live, to take a break, a place to learn or to dream.
The Charente has many keen gardeners who have created wonderful places that
enhance the beauty of these natural areas.
Unusual places
to stay: B & B
surrounded by a
stunning garden
The Logis du Chaigne at Touzac is offering visitors the chance to stay amid
the splendour of one of the most
stunning gardens in France. These
four-hectares (nearly ten acres) of
gardens, which are themselves in
the middle of the cognac-producing
vines of the Grande Champagne area
of the Cognac region, were awarded
the label ‘remarkable garden’ by the
Ministry of Culture in 2009. The rooms
themselves are no less delightful,
and the owners are keen for guests
to share the magic of the setting. It is
ideal for anyone who loves greenery
and the natural environment. The
rooms are in the heart of the Logis or
traditional building that dates from
1850 and look out onto views of the
gardens and vines. There are different
moods depending on which direction
you face; the meticulousness of the
French-style gardens, the harmony
of the English flowerbeds, the perfumed path of Mediterranean plants...
the scene is quite simply superb.
Meanwhile the sloping vineyards
provide a gentle backdrop for the
gardens, lending it an air of Tuscany.
Chambres d’Hôtes
au Jardin du Logis du Chaigne
16120 Touzac, France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 62 33 92
http://logisdesjardinsduchaigne.com
29
Profile:
Rémi Marcotte,
nature lover
Landscape architect
Rémi Marcotte runs a
network of ‘respectful
gardens’ in the Charente.
He loves to share his
passion for his work...
What makes Rémi tick? What moves,
inspires and makes him passionate?
Nature! Nature, its richness and its
diversity are at the heart of what this
landscape architect does. It was at the
Château de l’Yeuse at Châteaubernard
that Rémi Marcotte created his first
‘Respectful Garden’ (as in respectful
of nature). Through his own organisation he has since put in place a number of other projects to help make the
young and not-so-young more aware
of nature and the environment. Ever
since his first job as a children’s activities organiser while he was still an architecture student, Rémi has enjoyed
sharing information and putting on
activities, mixing fun and education.
This desire to entertain and inform
was certainly one of the reasons why
he decided to set up a network of
shared gardens. ‘The creation of the
Respectful Garden at the Château de
l’Yeuse immediately attracted lots of
visitors, notably many schoolchildren,’ says Rémi. ‘So that led to the idea
of creating other educational gardens
along the model developed at the
château.’ Today there are eight such
educational gardens in the network
created in schools across the PoitouCharentes region. Each one is unique,
while at the same time all observing
the common themes of respect for the
environment, sustainable development and links with wider society. The
gardens and their biodiversity are very
useful teaching aids for teachers who
can use them to help instruct children
in science, maths and French. As well
as running this network and his work
as a landscaper for organizations and
businesses, Rémi Marcotte also works
each year on the ‘ephemeral gardens’
of Saint-Fraigne (see below) and helps
create cultural and education events,
thus offering local tourists even more
places to visit in the Charente. A plant
exchange, garden open weekends and
a celebration of squashes and marrows are all annual events that Rémi
gets involved with during the course
of the year. For this tireless worker,
nature offers countless possibilities
to create and put on events, for the
benefit and delight of all.
30
The Respectful Garden
at Château de l’Yeuse
The Respectful Garden, which belongs
to the Château de l’Yeuse hotel and
restaurant, was created and developed by Rémi Marcotte between
2003 and 2011. Taking its inspiration
from the old romantic garden dating
from when the building was built in
the 19th century, the respectful garden
was created in terrace form and respecting the biodiversity of the area.
Rémi Marcotte wanted each visitor to
be aware of the simple acts that can
improve our environment and allow
ever-changing nature to be in harmony with humans. A clever mixture
of exotic and artistic creations helps
create a unifying form between the
River Charente and the Château de
l’Yeuse. In this unique place visitors
can enjoy a wide range of flowers,
trees and other plants, but they they
will also discover the typical wildlife
of this area, such as kingfishers,
salamanders and the type of nocturnal carnivorous mammal known
as the genet. Visitors will learn, too,
about the cooking of wild plants in
the vegetable garden and how to read
the landscape, and they will also be
introduced to Land Art thanks to the
presence of many works by artists
inspired by the wonderful setting. The
key theme of the respectful garden is
the search for balance between nature
and humans, between the wild and
cultivated, the native and the exotic.
Atelier-Paysage de l’Yeuse
65 rue de Bellevue
16100 Châteaubernard, France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)6 12 16 44 94
00 33 (0)5 45 35 06 32
www.yeuse.fr/jardin_respectueux.
html
Les jardins éphémères
de Saint-Fraigne
Why ephemeral? These gardens at
Saint-Fraigne are situated in the
middle of marshes on the banks of
the River Aume. Each winter they
are flooded and come to life again
each spring. They then become
works of art thanks to the imagination of designers, of landscape
architects such as Rémi Marcotte,
and artists who take over a corner
of this green area. The vegetation
becomes art, floral compositions
tell a story, and nature becomes a
cultivated object in all senses of
the term. The vegetative artworks
grow during the season to reach
their peak in summer. They are
worked on by professionals, the disabled or by older members of the
community. Thanks to games designed for children, visitor young
and old can enjoy this unique area
which mixes creativity, humour
and environmental issues.
www.islenature.fr
31
Diary of events
Plantes en fête
Touzac
14 April 2013
This second annual celebration
of plants is held at the Logis de
Chaigne’s gardens at Touzac.
The attractions include rare or
unusual plants adapted to the
Charente soil. In all around 30
nurseries and plant collectors
will be present to give visitors
their advice.
Plant swap
Châteaubernard
13 April 2013
The association of Respectful
Gardens is organising a plant
swap at Châteaubernard.
Visitors can exchange plants
and seeds and get advice and
tips from gardeners.
Fête de la nature
Across France
From 22 to 26 May
These five days of celebrating
nature involve free events
where the public can discover or re-discover an aspect
of the natural world around
them. Thousands of events
are programmed across the
country, by conservation
groups, local authorities, schools, businesses and individuals.
the Respectful Garden at the
Château de l’Yeuse.
Rendez-vous aux jardins
Across France
1 and 2 June 2013
More than 2,000 different
g a rd e n s , p r i v a t e , p u b l i c ,
French-style, English-style,
Medieval or contemporary
take part in this national event.
Gardeners and home-owners
put on events such as concerts,
exhibitions, gardening workshops, children’s events and
more.
Heritage open days
Across France
14 and 15 September
Created in 1984 by the Ministry
of Culture these European heritage open days take place each
year on the third weekend of
September. Public buildings,
museums and châteaux but
also parks and gardens are
thrown open to the public.
In particular many private
gardens normally inaccessible
for the public are opened up
for the occasion.
Let our dead wood live...
Châteaubernard
28 June 2013
Laissons vivre nos bois morts
is an event designed to show
the central importance of dead
wood in maintaining a rich
biodiversity. It is the source of
life for many living organisms
and is also home to rare species such as the Rosalia longicorn beetle. Find out more
about the role of dead wood at
Celebration of marrows
and squashes
Châteaubernard
6 October 2013
Visit the Respectful Garden at
the Château de l’Yeuse to find
out more about the flavours
of the famous Cucurbitaceae
family of vegetables, which
includes marrows, squashes,
pumpkins and cucumbers, and
delight in their many different
forms and uses.
Bibliography
Parcs et Jardins de Poitou-Charentes et de Vendée
Parks and gardens of the Poitou-Charentes and the Vendée
By Pamela de Montleau.
Published by éditions Bonneton.
32
Charente and food
From establishments featuring in the Michelin guide, to gourmet restaurants offering
inventive local cooking and friendly local eateries, there is plenty to choose from in
the Charente. Between high-profile restaurants and small bistros, there’s something
to suit every taste. A look at the new developments in 2013 that will put a smile on the
face of foodies.
Pascal Pressac
Leading chef in the PoitouCharentes region
Each year the prestigious restaurant
guide Bottin Gourmand nominates a
‘chef de file’ or leading chef for each
region of France. In 2013 the leading
chef in this region, Poitou-Charentes,
is Pascal Pressac of the La Grange
aux Oies restaurant at Nieuil in the
Charente. In 2012 the honour had
gone to Christopher Coutanceau, a
chef with two Michelin stars in La
Rochelle. This accolade from Bouttin
Gourmand is recognition of many
years of work by Pascal Presac who
is constantly working to highlight the
cuisine of the entire region. Born in
the Charente, Pascal Pressac worked
for some of the best establishments
(he has worked for Michelin-starred
chefs, the Troisgros family, Jean-Pierre
Billoux, Coutanceau) before nine years
ago opening his own restaurant at
Nieuil with Patrice Devaine. He has
always wanted to focus on inventive
cooking based on quality produce
from local producers. ‘It’s a neverending process of searching’ says
Pascal Pressac. ‘I am constantly on
the lookout for people who make new
products, who are driven to achieve
quality and who can support me in
the making of my own creations. For
example, I have asked a goat’s cheese
producer with whom I work to create
a cheese just for me, and which one
can eat only at the Grange aux Oies.’
Pascal Pressac is always on the move
and looking for new culinary experiences, and makes it a point of honour
to renew his menu every month-anda-half. ‘We’re not machines,’ says the
chef. ‘We’re not there simply to reproduce recipes and fall into monotony.’
As well as being in constant dialogue
with his circle of producers, Pascal
Pressac also finds inspiration in his
own vegetable garden. This is no less
than a hectare (about 2.5 acres) of
fruit and vegetables cultivated with
care and which each day inspires him
with fresh ideas. ‘The vegetable garden allows me to cook in line with
nature and its demands. I show my
team that it is essential to learn to
consume differently and thus to cook
differently in line with the seasons
and with what nature gives us,’ says
the chef. ‘I want everyone to be aware
that cooking is not only about a recipe;
it’s about produce, producers, managing the seasons...nature gives me a
boost and spurs me on to create. I have
always had a desire to surprise and to
renew myself.’ This level of personal
commitment and the chef’s involvement in his network of producers from
the region did not go unnoticed by the
Bottin Gourmand’s jury. In giving him
the title ‘chef de file’ for the region, the
famous guide has confirmed that the
cooking philosophy of Pascal Pressac
is indeed the right one.
Restaurant La Grange aux Oies
Château de Nieuil, 16270 Nieuil,
France - 00 33 (0)5 45 71 81 24
www.grange-aux-oies.com
33
Charente and food
New chef at
the Château de l’Yeuse
A new chef is in charge of the kitchens at the Château de l’Yeuse at
Châteaubernard. Julien Lachenaud
Château de l’Yeuse
65 rue de Bellevue
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 36 82 60
www.yeuse.fr
took over the reins of this highlyrenowned Charente restaurant in
June 2012. A cheerful and energetic young man of 28, Julien
Lachenaud wants to take the gourmet restaurant to new heights.
Despite his youth, the chef travelled widely before his arrival at the
Château d l’Yeuse. He was trained
by the two-Michelin starred chef
Richard Coutanceau at La Rochelle
then worked in other top restaurants before opening his own place
in the French Pyrénées. Yet, with
an insatiable urge to improve himself, Julien Lachenaud then closed
his own place to accept an unusual
invitation...to become the chef at
a VIP restaurant in a luxury shop
in Saint Petersburg. It was a lively
experience which came to an end
when he took up his position at the
Restaurant de l’Yeuse. ‘Here I am
following on from Pascal Nebout
who did an extraordinary job,’ says
Julien Lachenaud. ‘My mission is to
provide “change with continuity”.
I want customers to continue to
have access to traditional cooking of great quality made with
produce from our own garden or
chosen from producers from the
Poitou-Charentes. But I also have
a creativity that I want to put to
use with the creation of gourmet
tapas. Because customers want to
have fun, to discover new ways to
enjoy the best produce...’ These
gourmet tapas will introduce new
flavours while also bending a
little the rules of traditional gourmet restaurants. ‘With this new
concept I want our customers to
obtain a sense of sharing. And, so
they don’t get bored, I want them
to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of a
simple morsel.’
34
Charente and food
Local dishes
with the flavour of the Charente
Operation Assiettes de
Pays – meaning local dishes
– has been put in place to
promote the cooking of the
Charente, its produce and
the skill of its restaurateurs.
The idea is simple; a restaurant offers a unique dish
prepared using local products coming from nearby
producers or quality regional food-producing firms.
A strict charter of quality
has to be followed by those
restaurants who take part in
this new approach to highlighting Charente cuisine.
The aim of the Assiettes de
Pays or Local Dishes is to
highlight the importance of
the producer, the reduced
number of food miles and
seasonal produce. Each
dish must be made of at
least three local products
and is always accompanied by a local drink. The
ten restaurants who have
signed up to the charter are
offering dishes of produce
that comes from all four
corners of the Charente.
In the south of the department, for example there
is emphasis on Chalais
veal or duck. While the
Restaurant du Château at La
Rochefoucauld uses trout
from the fish farms on the
River Touvre.
The well-known Charente
snails, cognac and the
popular aperitif pineau
also feature in these local
dishes.
For more information:
www.lacharente.com/Manger/
Assiettes-de-Pays-et-Cafes-de-Pays
35
Charente and food
A unique culinary experience
with the Fleuriets...
It is a charming place, the food is highquality, the hosts are friendly...in short
the table
d’hôtes (an establishment with a fixed
menu and price) run by Françoise and
Philippe Fleuriet is a place that will
delight all lovers of good food. This
lovely couple run a renowned business making top quality and unique
food products at Rouillac, with vinegar
based on the local drink Pineau des
Charentes one of their specialities.
Françoise Fleuriet is a chef and passionate about gardens, and concocts
subtle recipes based on fruit and
vegetables from her own garden or
found at local producers. She invents
and prepares quality condiments,
vinegars, jams, soups and preserves
whose refinement and subtlety have
quickly made this establishment’s
reputation. To boost their profile and
to share their love of their produce
as widely as possible, Françoise and
Philippe have decided to open up a
table d’hôtes in the middle of their superb Charentaise house. ‘We make use
of all our products during the course
of a meal,’ says Philippe Fleuriet.
‘It’s the kind of event that allows us
to show all that we can do with our
produce, condiments, culinary accessories...the other parts of the meal
come exclusively from the PoitouCharentes. We have a strong Charente
identity!’ In the kitchen the couple
cook up seasonal dishes, often inspired by ‘grandmother’, that combine
tradition and modernity. ‘We change
the menu for each reservation, according to people’s tastes and especially
in line with the produce that’s in our
garden,’ says Philippe Fleuriet. In addition to the high quality of the meals
made by Françoise and Philippe, the
distinctiveness of this table d’hôtes
is to be found in the very room that
the diners eat. ‘Our customers make
use of our own dining room, where our
children have done their homework a
few hours before,’ says Philippe with a
smile. The elaborate decoration is inspired by kitchens of the past, with a
large hearth that warms the ambiance,
the checked tablecloth and the lighted
candles. It all exudes a feeling of wellbeing and the good life.
Table d’Hôtes Fleuriet
By reservation only, for groups of 8
to 12 people.
All-in set menu: 40 euros.
47, route d’Angoulême
16170 Rouillac, France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 21 72 75
00 33 (0)6 88 77 29 79
www.conserverie-fleuriet.com
36
Charente and food
Culinary
exchanges
for lovers
of cooking
The Échanges Culinaires or culinary exchanges organised by the
Gourmets-Gourmands association each month at the Mercure
Hotel at Châteaubernard are
aimed at giving lovers of the
art of cooking a chance to swap
and share information and tips.
They also provide the chance for
a renowned chef invited by the
association to share their advice
and secrets with the dozen or
so ‘pupils’ who have come for
the occasion. In the Mercure’s
own kitchens everyone gathers
around the stove to learn from a
chef how to put together a starter, a main course or a dessert.
The pupils can watch the chef’s
skills close at hand, hear their advice on chopping or how to cook
something, imitate their flick of
the wrist or take note of those
little tips that make all the difference...that is in essence what
these culinary exchanges are all
about. But whatever a person’s
ability and knowledge, the key
ingredient of these gatherings is
their simplicity and friendliness,
as they bring together people
united by a love of good food,
well cooked.
More information at:
www.gourmetsgourmands.
com
Gastronomic diary
Truffle market at Jarnac
From December to the end of
February
Each year from December to February
the Truffle Market at Jarnac welcomes
sellers and buyers of the ‘black diamond’. Each year several hundreds
of kilos are sold at this traditional
market which attracts professionals
in search of truffles just as it brings in
people simply curious to discover the
fragrance of mature truffles, to watch
the energy that animates secret transactions or to have a chat with local
truffle producers. It is an unmissable
event.
Gastronomades
food festival at Angoulême
From 22 to 24 November 2013.
The Gastronomades food and cooking
festival is a large and very popular
annual get-together in the Charente
for lovers of the culinary arts. There
are cooking lessons, tastings and
culinary jousts between top chefs,
while produce from across the PoitouCharentes is showcased in the many
stands.
www.gastronomades.fr
Distilleries en fête
Until 24 February 2013
Truffle Market. Salle des Foudres
Quai de l’Orangerie at Jarnac.
On Tuesday mornings at 9.30am the
market is officially opened to both professionals and private individuals with
the blast of a trumpet. On Fridays the
market starts at 6pm and is only open
for private individuals.
Saturday 19 January, Truffle Day.
As its name suggests, this annual
event is a celebration of the distillation process used to make cognac.
The famous double distillation takes
place in the winter, when many distillers open their doors and share (some
of) their secrets with the public. Lots
of activities and events are laid on to
mark this special time of the year in
the Charente and Charente-Maritime,
in distilleries but also at cognac producers’ headquarters, at barrel makers
and in restaurants. Distilleries en fête
is run by the tourist organisation
Étapes du Cognac.
Full programme at:
www.cognacetapes.com
37
MY CHATEAU LIFE IN THE CHARENTE
must-see
Many of the big names in French history have
owned a part of the Charente, from the Duc
de La Rochefoucauld to King François 1st and
Talleyrand. Their châteaux, which are open
to the public, stand as monuments to their
presence here.
38
must-see
Le château de Chalais,
owned by Yves Lecoq
The celebrated French comedian and
impressionist Yves Lecoq became
the owner of the château de Chalais
in 2011. This great fan of old buildings is today undertaking a project
to restore this imposing château that
was once the home of the aristocratic
Talleyrand family.
Le Château de Chalais is one of the most remarkable of
the Charente’s châteaux. Majestically perched on a rocky
outcrop, it appears to float above the town of Chalais.
Visible from miles around, the château – which dates back
to the 11th century – was the birthplace of the TalleyrandPérigord family, also known as the Counts of Périgord. Here
you are walking in the footsteps of one of France’s most
prestigious families and its most famous member, CharlesMaurice de Talleyrand, who made his mark in French
political life as (briefly) the president of the National
Assembly during the French Revolution and again as president of the Council of Ministers during the Restoration.
A child of the Enlightenment, Talleyrand spent many of his
childhood years at the Château de Chalais. ‘The time that I
spent at Chalais made a deep impression,’ he later wrote.
Visit the château today and one can admire the three-sided
courtyard that is accessed via a 16th century drawbridge,
one of the few in France still in working order. The Logis
or residential area is in Renaissance style and flanked by
jutting towers, with a façade that is an excellent example of
17th century architecture. The château’s soaring square 14th
century tower with stone machicolations – a gallery with
holes through which objects could be dropped on attackers
- looks out proudly over the valley below.
For many years the château was used as a hospice, then
a retirement home. Now Yves Lecoq has made it his mission to restore this remarkable architectural and historical
monument and in doing so give it a new lease of life.
39
must-see
Yves Lecoq :
‘I have fallen
under the spell
of the Charente’
What made you decide to buy the
Château de Chalais in 2011?
I already knew the Charente because I own Château de Chambes
near Roumazières. I learned that a
ancestor of mine on my mother’s
side was the king’s steward of the
commune of Loubert, administering
justice from the Château de Chalais.
My friends often spoke to me of the
Château de Chalais but I thought it
was too big and that to restore it
was too ambitious a project for me.
I never imagined myself saving a
national monument; I didn’t feel I
was up to the task!
Finally I decided to take it on, but
with help from the state to help
finance the restoration.
What are your plans for the château?
I would like the château to stay
open for public visits, but equally
I want it to be the venue for a festival. Not yet another comedy festival but one that is multi-faceted
with a variety of cultural shows and
live entertainment. I plan to throw
myself into this project. I would also
like to open an antiques shop but
unfortunately the current economic
climate is not right for this kind of
enterprise.
What do you like about the Charente?
I have fallen under the spell of this
area and its markedly contrasting
landscape. I have discovered this
ancient landscape with its traditional-style fields, bordered by
hedges. I appreciate the traditional side of this department and its
good local produce. But when I live
in the Charente I am not on holiday: I spend my weekends working
on the restoration. The Château de
Chalais does not leave me with a lot
of free time - there is still a lot of the
Charente left for me to discover!
A favourite address?
The Château de Nieuil and its restaurant La Grange aux Oies. I am
there a lot and it is just 10km from
me!
La Grange aux Oies is 10km from
Château de Chambes.
40
must-see
Château de
la Rochefoucauld
dress up for
the tour
The historic home of the
La Rochefoucaulds gives its visitors
the chance to wear period costume – an
experience loved by both young and old
Wander through the bedroom of
Marguerite de Valois wearing the
gown of a princess, take the 108 steps
of the grand Renaissance staircase –
making sure you keep a haughty bearing - walk proudly through the gallery wearing the finery of a knight...
Slip on a period costume for your
visit to the château and step into the
heart of a castle belonging to one of
the oldest families in France: the La
Rochefocaulds. This historic property
belonging to a celebrated family is
one of the most beautiful and spectacular châteaux in France. Its history
is intertwined with the history of the
La Rochefoucauld family who have for
century after century involved themselves in French political life. Visit the
château and see the huge kitchen cut
into the karst bedrock, the gallery, the
guard rooms, the 18th century library,
the galleries that date back to 1520...
Built on the site of an ancient fortress
(1026) the château, called ‘The Pearl
of the Angoumois’, is an anthology of
seven centuries of architecture that
visitors, whether young and old, visit
with great pleasure - and fun!
www.chateau-la-rochefoucauld.com
41
Stay
Sleep
in a chateau
Be a prince or princess for a night – it’s an easy dream
to come true in the Charente. The department is home to
large numbers of châteaux, some of which have chosen
to share their splendour by becoming hotels or bed and breakfasts. Here are a few of
these grand addresses for those who love history.
Le Château de Nieuil
Le château de Nieuil was a favourite hunting lodge of
King François I. It’s not surprising the king, a native of
Cognac, was so attached to this majestic château. Beautiful
Renaissance façades, large circular towers flanking the
main body of the building, a moat, a French garden... the
château de Nieuil is today once more a place of great charm
nestled in the Charentaise countryside. Transformed into a
hotel in 1937 by the grand-parents of the current owners,
the château has kept the unique appeal of a beautiful and
much-loved ancestral home. The château has 11 rooms
and three suites each with their own individual style. For
amateur astronomers or those interested in the unusual,
reserve the Carré d’Etoiles, a cube-shaped wooden cabin with a transparent dome in the roof for star-gazing.
Situated in the château’s grounds, the cabin is equipped
with a telescope and map of the night sky. Starry, starry
nights...
Château de Nieuil
16270 Nieuil, France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 71 36 38
www.chateaunieuilhotel.com
€90 a night
for the Carré
d’Etoiles
Breakfast include
d
42
stay
Le Château
de l’Yeuse at
Châteaubernard
Le Château
de Lavaud
at Montbron
Elegance and refinement are the watchwords of the
Château de l’Yeuse at Châteaubernard. This very beautiful
hotel, dating back to the 19th century, has 24 rooms and
three suites, all with individual style and décor. To get the
most out of your stay at the château, book yourself into
the luxury suite whose port-hole window above a huge
double-bed gives a superb view over the Charente river
valley. A beautiful eco-friendly garden and a gourmet restaurant complete a perfect stay at this exceptional place.
On the border of the Charente and the Dordogne, the
19th century Château de Lavaud is situated in a region
where tradition is strong and life unfolds slowly according to the rhythm of the seasons and the Tardoire river.
The owners of the château have created four spacious
and charming chambres d’hôtes or bed and breakfast
rooms decorated in a style that reflects their passion
for travelling: from the River Thames to the Tardoire,
passing through Pennsylvania and Tunisia, these bed
and breakfast rooms allow you to travel the world as
well as through time.
From
€112
Château de l’Yeuse
65 rue de Bellevue
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 36 82 60
www.yeuse.fr
From
€110
for two people
Breakfast include
d
Château de Lavaud
16220 Montbron, France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 23 93 54
00 33 (0)6 99 25 12 47
www.chateau-de-lavaud.com
43
stay
Le Château
de Maumont
at Magnac-surTouvre
Built in the 16th century, the Château
de Maumont was for centuries the
stronghold of the La RochefoucauldMaumont family. Situated near
Angoulême, this beautiful and unique
home is surrounded by two hectares
of grounds still containing traces of
history, including 100-year-old trees
and a splendid bamboo archway. At
the heart of the château are five bedrooms and two magnificent suites.
The Atelier d’Artistes (artists’ studio),
a superb duplex of 70 m2 decorated
with 20th century artworks, is as charming as it is prestigious.
Le Château
de La
Rochefoucauld
Château de la Rochefoucauld
16 110 La Rochefoucauld , France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 62 07 42
www.chateau-la-rochefoucauld.com
Your stay at the château of the celebrated family of La Rochefoucauld
will take you back in time. Two comfortable and welcoming suites are in
the wing of the château built in 1760
and the rooms are furnished to reflect
this time– for a night or two you may
imagine you have been transformed into the Duke and Duchess of
La Rochefoucauld! From the window
of your room, you can see the inner
courtyard and the Renaissance galleries. Visit and discover the fascinating
story of the La Rochefoucauld château
and its family.
From
€145
for two people
d
Breakfast include
Château de Maumont
16600 Magnac sur Touvre , France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 68 61 38
www.chateaudemaumont.fr
€190
for two people
Breakfast include
d
44
stay
Le Château
de la Couronne
at Marthon
The ultimate destination for those
who like a sense of history (a château
dating back to the 16th century) and
the elegance of contemporary design.
Nicky and Mark, the English owners of
Château de la Couronne, have created
a haven of peace that combines the
traditional and the modern. The château’s five suites are furnished with a
mix of mid-century modern (1960s)
and Louis XV along with contemporary
art. Together they create a look that is
as original as it is stylish. It all makes
a stay at the Château de La Couronne
an unforgettable experience.
à partir de
145 €
pour deux person
nes
Petit déjeuner inc
lus
Château de La Couronne
16380 Marthon , France
Tel.: 00 33 (0)5 45 62 29 96
www.chateaudelacouronne.com
Bibliography
Châteaux, manoirs
et logis : La Charente.
Published by éditions
Patrimoine et Médias.
Châteaux de Charente.
Published by Collectif.
éditions Patrimoines
Medias.
Châteaux romans
en Poitou-Charentes
Xème - XIIème siècles.
By Marie-Pierre Baudry.
Cahiers du patrimoine.
Inventaire général du
patrimoine culturel.
Published by Geste
éditions.
Les châteaux de France,
Volume 2 :
Bretagne, Pays de la
Loire, Poitou-Charente.
By Alain et Josyane
Cassaigne. Published by
éditions Aubanel.
45
The Charente and its writers’ homes
With its undulating hills, flame-red forests in autumn, its distinctive light and the
warm welcome from its inhabitants, the Charente has always been a great source
of inspiration for writers, from François de la Rochefoucauld, Alfred de Vigny and
Guez de Balzac to the late president François Mitterrand. A tour of the houses of
these writers who have made their mark on French literature...
Jean-Louis
Guez de Balzac
We start our visit to
writers’ houses with
the one that belonged
1597-1654 to the oldest of them,
Jean-Louis Guez de
The recluse of the Balzac, who wrote
Charente about the Charente
of his birth: ‘It’s in a
land to celebrate and
Château de Balzac
to paint that I have
Tel. : 00 33 (0)5 45 68 15 16
chosen to attend to
my most important
business and spend
the most pleasant hours of my life.’ It has to be said that
his château, situated at Balzac 8km from Angoulême, is a
haven of peace and a pleasure to visit. Built on the banks
of the River Charente, the château recalls the memory of
the writer who made it his hideaway in the 17th century.
Balzac is credited with helping to develop the modern
French style of prose, was one of the first members of the
Académie
française or French Academy (which is the arbiter of
right and wrong in the French language) and in his will
left money to establish a national writing competition for
‘eloquence’. Marie de’ Medici, second wife of King Henri
IV and regent for her son Louis XIII, was Balzac’s guest at
the château for six months, during which time it became
a veritable crossroads for the great and the good of the
era. Cardinal Richelieu, the Duke of Épernon and Cardinal
La Rochefoucauld figured among its influential guests. In
addition many poets, writers and letter writers came to
stay in the château and later wrote about their visits in
their works. The building today has preserved all its haughtiness of the past. The current owners, who are passionate about Balzac’s writings, wanted to restore the château
faithfully and in great detail, largely by basing the work on
the writings of Guez de Balzac and his many visitors. The
original house, traces of which still remain, was replaced by
the current building by Guillaume Guez in 1600. A number
of objects dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries have
been found and are on display in the château. The building
itself, its grounds, outbuildings and canal are now all listed
as historic monuments. In 2006 the château was awarded
the top national prize by heritage and conservation organisation Vieilles Maisons Françaises and its grounds have
won the Parcs et Jardins de France prize. Indeed the park,
with its sense of poetry, is a must-see. The same is true
of the frescoes painted in the château itself in the 17th
century. One of a kind, and carried out at the request of
Guez de Balzac, they are an architectural trompe-l’œil and
contain mythological characters such as Neptune, Mercury
and Cupid.
46
François VI de
la Rochefoucauld
1613-1680
The pessimistic duke
We continue our tour of the Chaente’s
writers by heading for the Château
de Verteuil, the favourite residence
of François de la Rochefoucauld. The
author of celebrated memoirs, he is
best known for his work Maximes,
a series of short maxims and philosophical musings on human nature
and life. La Rochefoucauld belonged
to one of the French nobility’s most
illustrious families, whose family
château is in the Charente town of
La Rochefoucauld and is open to visitors. François de la Rochefoucauld
was a contemporary of Louis XIV, and
along with the Duchess of Chevreuse
took part in court intrigues against
Cardinal Richelieu, which once cost
him a brief spell in the Bastille prison
and later exile on the family estates
in the Charente. After more involvement in intrigues and plots, François
de La Rochefoucauld eventually
rose up the ranks to become one of
the favourites at the court of Louis
XIV and made powerful friends in
the form of the Marquise de Sévigné
and Madame de La Fayette. His new
status as a member of high society
enabled La Rochefoucauld to share his
thoughts with the court and publish
his unique work Maximes. But while
he appreciated the world of court
society, La Rochefoucauld also liked
to return to the château at Verteuil.
This Renaissance-style building on
the banks of the River Charente is certainly a magical place perfect for quiet
reflection. It is a building that is both
architecturally magnificent and historic, surrounded by no less stunning
grounds, making it one of the most
remarkable châteaux in the Charente.
New for 2013
www.wix.com/verteuil/verteuillaregie
The old château kitchen with its
medieval chimney will be open to the
public and will complete the tour of the
grounds. This year also sees the four
hundredth anniversary of François VI
de la Rochefoucauld’s birthday. To mark
the occasion the Château is organising a
conference on the writer on Saturday 7
September 2013 at Verteuil.
47
Alfred de Vigny
1797-1863
An important figure in the
Romantic movement
François
Mitterrand
1916-1996
The literary president
At the gates to the south Charente we
head to the land once owned by the
Romantic poet and dramatist Alfred
de Vigny. The 15th century manor Le
Maine Giraud was where the poet
wrote his well-known poem La mort
du loup (‘The death of the wolf’).
Looking at the tiny ‘cell’ where Alfred
de Vigby wrote many of his best works
(his poem La Maison du berger or ‘The
Shepherd’s house’ was considered by
Marcel Proust to have been the best
French poem of the 19th century) one
can only imagine that the poet let his
imagine overflow. For there is frankly
little in the two metres by two metres
room that could have inspired him.
Just four walls and a tiny seat made up
what Alfred de Vigny called his ‘ivory
tower’. After a monotonous garrison
life – he was in the army for 15 years
– Alfred de Vigny started to frequent
the Parisian literary scene, notably
the circle of Romantics around Victor
Hugo, with whom the poet became
friends. From 1822 Vigny started to
become famous for his own poems
and writings. But after the death of his
mother and a failed love affair with his
mistress, Alfred de Vigby decided to
turn his back on Paris and withdraw
to his manor at Maine-Giraud. Here
he was both poet and vine grower,
producing some fine brandies used
to make cognac. For 25 years Vigny
lived there in the south Charente as a
recluse, looking after his sick wife – an
Englishwoman called Lydia Bunbury –
and writing the most important of his
works. In memory of this figure from
the Romantic movement, the owners
of Maine-Giraud – themselves winemakers - have dedicated a museum to
Vigny in the estate’s old dining room,
which recounts the different periods
of his life. We learn, for example, that
Vigny contributed greatly to making
the work of Shakespeare better known
in France, translating three of his plays
including Othello. It was, in fact, this
profound interest in Shakespeare that
set Vigny off on his own career as a
dramatist.
Our tour of Charente writers comes
to an end at Jarnac where François
Mitterrand was born in 1916. ‘When
I was a child I was at Jarnac in the
Charente. It’s the land of my family,
my land,’ wrote the man who would
be president of France for 14 years
(1981-1995) and who was also the
author of 20 books on history and politics. His family home, at rue Abel Guy
five minutes from the Grand’Maisons
cemetery where he is buried, is a
simple place, as was Mitterrand’s
childhood. Furniture, objects and documents from four generations have
been brought together in the house
to maintain the memory of François
Mitterrand and enlighten visitors
about his early life before entering
into the public world of politics. The
unpublished personal and family documents and photos – put in place by
the Institut François Mitterrand who
run the site - show, for example, the
great love that François Mitterrand
had for the books he got from his mother Yvonne. Mitterrand adored books
all his life. He attended the Faculté de
lettres at the University of Paris and
wrote his first poems and articles at
an early age. As a graduate in literature, in 1936 Mitterrand took his first
steps in journalism when he became a
reviewer. The family home of this literary president is now classified as an
historic monument.
www.mainegiraud.com
www.jarnac-tourisme.fr
48
Ideas for short breaks visits
Autumn and Winter
All the flavours
of cognac
New for 2013
Price: €118 per person*
Two days, one night half-board
Available throughout 2013
A beautiful 19th century château
surrounded by grounds, a cognac
collection with more than 150 different types, elegant bedrooms, a
fine restaurant with garden views
and a visit to a distillery. A great
setting, all the comforts and good
food: all the essential ingredients
for a great weekend in cognac
country.
Truffle or cognac:
Gastronomic
delights amid
the vineyards
Two days, one night (can be varied according to guests’ wishes)
Available until mid-June 2013
Guests will be welcomed at a vinegrowing estate where they will stay
in in one of its 4-star traditional
Charentaise lodgings. These three
tastefully-decorated gîtes can accommodate up to 16, so guests with a large
extended family or a group of friends
could book all three. Everything is tailor-made to the guests’ wishes to ensure a relaxing stay; they can choose
their workshops and unravel the mysteries of cognac, Pineau des Charentes
or black truffles according to the time
of year. They can taste the estate’s
cognacs and pineau, learn the differences between the different cognac
growing areas, watch a dog trying to
locate truffles and lots more...
Les secrets de
la distillation
Three days, two nights half-board
One lunch
Available until mid-February 2013
The history of Charente and cognac
is the story of a great love affair.
Here the brandy is distilled twice
– it s known as the double chauffe
or double heating. Visitors are
invited to discover this distinctive
technique during winter in the
warmth of the distilleries. There’s
cosy accommodation in a bed and
breakfast, lunch in a local rural inn
or restaurant, visits to distilleries,
to a barrel-maker (during the week
only) and to museums devoted to
what’s known as the Liqueur of
the Gods. And a Hachette guide to
the Cognac vineyards is given to
guests as a present.
Contact presse : Laure Thomas - Tél. 05 45 69 48 63 - [email protected]
49
For Saint Valentine’s...
Easy living on the
edge of a lake
Like a prince in
his castle
Let your troubles
ebb away...
Price: €124.50 per person*
Price: €87.50 per person*
As soon as they arrive guests will
fall under the spell of this entirely
renovated 18th century farm, which
is surrounded by a private lake and
80 hectares of fields and woods.
The Domaine du Chatelard is a genuine haven of peace which offers
relaxing activities in a leafy setting:
swimming pool, tennis, boules and
outings on foot, on a bike or in a
boat. For dinner, the cuisine has
an Italian flavour, and was recently
awarded 2 ‘couverts’ – indicating
standard of comfort, décor and service – in the Michelin Guide. Guests
will also love the refinement and
peace of the rooms in an establishment that is part of the Relais du
Silence network of hotels.
A romantic evening with a candlelit dinner on the banks of the river,
cosy accommodation in a traditional Charentaise building...it’s a
dream for romantics. In the middle
of the Cognac vineyards, guests
are invited to come and relax in
the setting of this beautiful house
and its magnificent garden on the
banks of the river. The murmuring of the waterfall, the beautiful
white stone of the Charente, the
refined cooking all help create an
unforgettable evening.
On the outskirts of Angoulême, the
Château de Maumont is all about
relaxation. It has a majestic façade
which opens on to a large staircase...
which leads to the guests’ rooms. The
hotel offers massage with essential
oils and candlelit dinners...not to be
missed.
50
In Spring and Summer...
Mystery and
comics break
The flat-bottomed
river boats
In search of
Verteuil
Price: €152 per family*
Two days, one night in B&B
Two days, one night full board
Available May to September 2013
A family break on the theme of the
Ninth Art or comic strip art. Guests
are invited to explore the comic
strip art centre (Cité Internationale
de la Bande
Dessinée et de l’Image) and the
nearby comic strip art museum on
the banks of the River Charente in
Angoulême. Accommodation is in
a bed and breakfast close to the
centre of town allowing guests to
stroll around the historic centre
looking at the painted walls...a
whole activity in itself!
Canoe on the River Charente then
discover the charming village of
Verteuil after a bike trip. On the
first day guests will explore the
river up as far as Condac, and the
following day they will take to
their bikes to explore the village
that has been a stronghold of the
aristocratic La Rochefoucauld
family since the 11th century. An
expert local guide will reveal local
secrets and stories.
Price : €86 per person*
Available mid-April to mid-October
2013
Gabarre is the name of the traditional
wooden boats that plied their trade
up and down the River Charente
and the village of Saint-Simon has a
museum dedicated to them and the
people who ran them, the Maison des
Gabarriers. Visitors will climb aboard
La Renaissance, a replica gabarre, for
a trip down the river before visiting a
distillery. The hotel-restaurant is set
amid vines a little further on. It’s a
relaxed weekend...
Weekend breaks can be reserved on
www.lacharente.com or by calling 00 33 (0)5 45 69 06 68
51
The Charente at a glance
The Charente department is part of the region of Poitou-Charentes.
It is bordered by Aquitaine (which includes the Dordogne) and the Limousin.
The Charente
in figures
Population:
The department has 351,563 inhabitants,
of whom 138,632 are economically active,
5,000 are students and 47,139 are school pupils.
The biggest two towns are Angoulême
with 42,242 inhabitants (108,000 if you
include the Greater Angoulême area)
and Cognac with 18,729.
Paris
RUFFEC
CONFOLENS
Chabanais
La Rochelle
Limoges
Chasseneuil
Rouillac
Royan
La Rochefoucauld
COGNAC
JARNAC
Surface area: 5,956 km2
Hiersac
R.
Sub prefectures: Cognac and Confolens
Barbezieux
Villebois
Lavalette
ux
Brossac
ea
Pé
rig
Montbron
ue
ux
Montmoreau
Baignes
La Charente
rd
35 cantons, 404 communes
(three with more than 10,000 inhabitants),
6 pays, 1 urban agglomeration,
25 community of communes
N.
Blanzac
Bo
Administrative sub-divisions:
1
0
Segonzac
Châteauneuf
sur Charente
Its prefecture: Angoulême
. 674
C.D
ANGOULÊME
Chalais
Aubeterre
Libourne
Communications:
219km of main roads (routes nationales)
5,100km of departmental roads
1 mainline SNCF railway station (Angoulême/Paris 2h 10mins)
Sources : Conseil Général de la Charente (Chiffres INSEE 2011 et rentrées scolaires 2012)
Distance by road from Angoulême:
Bordeaux : 115 km/71 miles
Lyon : 450 km/280 miles
Nantes : 250 km/155 miles
La Rochelle : 130 km/80.5 miles
Paris : 450 km/280 miles
Rouen : 490 km/304 miles
Lille : 680 km/422 miles
Périgueux : 80 km/50 miles
Royan : 105 km/65 miles
Limoges : 100 km/62 miles
Poitiers : 115 km/71 miles
The Charente at a glance
Skill-base and
industries
The Charente’s industrial strength:
• Leading exporter of roof tiles in Europe
• Major presence in electronics and electrical equipment sectors (engines made by Leroy Merlin, batteries
and capacitors made by Saft)
Charente – land of cognac
• 141 million bottles sold throughout France and the
rest of the world, exports to more than 155 countries
Charente – design and moving image
industry
• The department has positioned itself at the heart of
the graphic design and moving image/film industry
and has been described as ‘Image Valley’. The area offers high-level teaching in relation to animated films,
cartoon strips and video games, and is home to animation studios and both national and international film
production.
Charente – land of innovation
• Linked to the development of the cognac industry,
the Charente has a strong presence in the packaging
industry. Though initially specialising in spirits, local
firms are now involved in a number of different sectors, from cosmetics to the modernisation of the traditional Charentaise slipper.
Charente tourism in figures
• Nearly 16,000 tourism beds:
• 66 hotels
• 35 campsites including four farm campsites and four
nature campsites
• 587 furnished holiday lets (349 Gîtes de France, 42
Clévacances and 196 with no affiliation)
• 319 bed and breakfasts registered with either Gîtes
de France (274) or Clévacances (45)
• 6 holiday villages
• 7 group lodgings
• 7 designated gîtes for groups
• 2 holiday hamlets
• 1 children’s gîte
• 136 tourist sites with disabled access and facilities
under the ‘Tourisme et Handicap’ scheme
• 162 km of waterway for river tourism on the River
Charente and its tributaries (66km in the department
itself).
• 6,000km of marked footpaths. 3 major rambling paths
(GR) and a secondary path of the pilgrimage route
heading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
• 1,000km of signposted pathway for mountain bikes
• 18 cycle circuits (includes shared routes plus dedicated
cycle routes)
• 400 Romanesque churches
• 92 tourism sites, museums and monuments
• 4 golf courses
(Figures Charente Tourism December 2012)

What`s haPPening in the charente in 2013

Transcription

Similar documents

VS Grande Champagne Cognac Frapin

DOBBÉ Cognac: a family history

Château Elan, Braselton, Georgia - 12 months

LES COGNACS GRANDE CHAMPAGNE… OF TIME AND

Office de Tourisme de La Trimouille

Circuit_Canton_Sud Anglais - Office de Tourisme de La Trimouille

Château de la Messardière presents a new season full of new

château de Ciffre

Press Pack Charente Tourisme

The Magician of aromas.... The product line

UK Brochure Mariage 2015 - Château Villiers Le Mahieu