Charente : SIREUIL

Large and winding, the river Charente quoted by François the 1st as « the most beautiful stream in the Kingdom », runs through the ancient counties of “Langoumois” and “La Saintonge”.
For 171 km, from Angoulême to the Ocean, the Charente is regulated by 21 locks.
The ancient vineyards cover the surrounding hills. Many cellars and distilleries will invite you to taste the famous Cognac or delicious Pineau.
Along your cruise, you will find many villages and towns that are testimonies to a rich past such as Angoulême, Fleurac, St Simeux, Châteauneuf, Saint-Simon, Bassac, Jarnac, Saint-Brice, Cognac, Saintes, Saint-Savinien, and Rochefort.
In the Charente area, the gastronomy based on seafood is waiting for you along the river with many of its restaurants preparing local specialities (“mouclade”, oysters …).
Fishermen will not be forgotten and will find plenty of brown trout, carp, pike, perche, and eels …

The attractions :
Locks operated by yourself, so no restrictions on timings.
Pineau & Cognac
Romanesque art
Fauna and flora, peace and quiet
Jarnac



 

How to get to the base :

Only 10 km from Angoulême

Very easy access via A 10 Saintes exit.

TGV in Angoulême (18km) or train station in Châteauneuf (10km).

Airport : Angoulême-Champniers (25km) or Bordeaux-Mérignac (110km)



A 2 day week-end

Itinerary Km / Locks
Sireuil - Bourg Charente and return 30 km, 11 locks

Tourist places
Distillery of Cognac, Pineau des Charentes tasting

Mini week

Itinerary Km / Locks
Sireuil - Chaniers and return 65 km,14 locks

Tourist places
Distillery in Graves, Jarnac, Cognac.
Architecture : Churches, Bassac abbey, Jarnac cript, old village " Gabarier":old barges in St Simon
Jarnac graveyard

1 week

Itinerary Km / Locks
Sireuil - St Savinien and return 98 km, 15 locks

Tourist places
See above + Saintes : gallo roman remains, the town and its museums

10 days

ItineraryKm / Locks
Sireuil - Rochefort and return140 km, 16 locks

Tourist places
Rochefort : la Corderie Royale, the town.

2 weeks

ItineraryKm / Locks
Sireuil - Rochefort - Sireuil - Angoulême and return157 km, 21 locks

Tourist places
Paper Mill of Fleurac, chocolate factory Letuffe, Angoulême and its museums, its old town and its architecture, its cathedral, its old lanes.