Things to see around Chalais

Photo above: vineyards in the southern Charente

Sites to see nearby

With a population of just under 2000, Chalais, just 4km away, is the southernmost small town in the Charente department, bordering on the Gironde. Its Monday morning market is the biggest in southern Charente, and offers a wide range of local produce and crafts.
The surrounding countryside provides opportunities for leisurely walks and cycling, as well as kayaking on the river Dronne. The old town is built on a hillside below the imposing chateau, once the home of the Talleyrand family.

Among the many local sites to explore around Chalais is Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, 10 km to the east, officially classed as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in France. Since the Middle Ages, Aubeterre has been a stopping point on the Santiago de Compostella pilgrimage trail, and the village boasts two significant medieval churches. The extraordinary monolithic, underground Church of St Jean is the largest troglodytic church in Europe, and the nearby Church of St Jacques, with its stunning façade, is a jewel of Romanesque architecture.

The Charente and neighbouring areas of Gironde and "Dordogne pourpre" are renowned wine producing areas, and tastings and direct sales are available at many local domains. 

Southwest France is known for its fine local cuisine, which can be enjoyed in simple style in the small bistros and restaurants of Chalais and other towns and villages nearby. 

Further away, but within easy reach, the towns of Angoulême, Périgueux and Saint-Emilion are all very much worth a visit.

Things to do:

•     River and lake 'beaches'
•     Aerial activities
•     Canoeing
•     Regular food markets
•     Fishing
•     Woodland walking, running and cycling