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Poitou-Charentes is a tranquil and largely unspoilt région halfway down the West
coast. Its long Atlantic coastline has fine sandy beaches, pretty marinas and
bustling resorts. There are a number of beautiful islands such as nineteen-mile
long Ile d'Oléron which is popular with naturists and whose main industry is
oyster catching. Another island, Ile de Ré is known for its salt marshes and is
reputed to receive more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in France away from
the Mediterranean. A bridge linking it with the mainland makes it easily
accessible to outsiders, to the chagrin of residents who feel that the island's
previous pleasant seclusion has gone and traffic has hugely increased.
On the mainland Royan, at the southern tip of the région, is a busy tourist
resort with five well-kept but congested beaches, or conches as they're
referred to.
Inland Poitou-Charentes also has plenty to offer. The marshes of Marais
Poitevin are often dubbed France's Venice (tourist guides call it the "Green
Venice"). The serene and lush expanse of fields can be explored by rowing boat
or kayak along the canals which were built by eleventh century monks. The town
of Cognac is a popular place to visit. Here visitors can sample the world
famous brandy and see how the distilling process takes place. Close to
Poitiers is the Futuroscope theme park where cinema and special effects are
pushed to their limit in an attempt to glimpse into the future of visual
technology whilst providing an educational experience. It also claims to have
the biggest screen in Europe.
Farming is important to the economy and wheat, corn melons and sunflowers
are important crops. The dairy industry is also important and there are many
cattle farms. There are also many vineyards. Away from agriculture, there are
many industries producing machinery and chemicals. Niort, in the département of
Deux-Sèvres, is well-known throughout France for being the main centre of the
French insurance industry.
- Regional information for Charente, Poitou-Charentes
Charente is famed for its double-distilled brandy. Its popularity seems to grow -
supporting the local economy and the prosperous town of Cognac.
- Regional information for Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes
From beaches & historical ports to oyster farms, blue lakes & Roman sites, this
department really does have it all. Fought over for many centuries, it has a long
architectural & cultural heritage, - a Roman amphitheatre & arch at Saintes, and the
fabulous Roman church of St-Pierre at Aulnay.
- Regional information for Deux-Sevres, Poitou-Charentes
Les Deux-Sevres is a department of woodland & small fields enclosed by hedges and trees.
The Poitevin marshes to the West are a stretch of fens and swampy marshes.
- Regional information for Vienne, Poitou-Charentes
Most of Vienne is made up of a vast expanse of sunflower, maize and wheat crops. This
was where Eleanor of Aquitaine lived. Her marriage to Kind Henry II brought the
whole of the southwest of France under English rule.
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