Editor's pick

From outdoor activities and culinary delights to historic villages and the world famous Cognac, Charente is an evergreen destination for visitors.
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Whether you are taking your first tentative steps to buying a house here or are a seasoned ex-pat it pays to take professional advice throughout.
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Why use an independent property finder?
Alison Morton explains the advantages

Estate agents are helpful, but trawling websites for properties can take hours. Alison Morton is a Property Finder and explains the advantages of using services such as hers.
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Experienced, qualified and regulated independent Financial Planning Advice for expats. Brian Furzer's experience covers many aspects including investments, pensions, wealth & savings management.
Travelling to Poitou-Charentes from the UK?
Comprehensive guide to travelling by air, road and train

The four regions of Poitou-Charentes are popular destinations for both holidaymakers and people searching for a permanent home. Whether your journey is by aeroplane, by car via the Channel Tunnel or ferry crossing, or train, Beryl Brennan takes a look at the choices open to you.
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Can Local Schooling Influence French Property Prices?

Village schools in France are alive and thriving, and the playground at lunchtime rings to the sound of children's laughter. So does having a local village school influence property prices in France, as it does in the UK? Graham Downie makes an assessment.
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Shopping in Poitou-Charentes
Whether you are just visiting Poitou-Charentes for a holiday, or living here permanently, the cities and towns of the region offer a wonderful choice of shops, as well as shopping on-line for supplies from the UK. Sunday shopping has now arrived too, with many supermarkets open from 10-1pm.
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Major Festivals in Poitou Charentes
Annual Festivals in the Region
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Whether your taste is for motor racing or sailing, music or hot air ballooning, games or films, the annual festivals on offer in Poitou-Charentes take some beating.
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FrenchEntrée reader David Darling and his wife Shirley have decided to have their own home built in the Charente in south west France. Here David describes the process so far – and what made them go down the self-build route
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If you are looking for a day out visiting or appreciating the flora and fauna of Poitou Charentes, especially with children, here’s a comprehensive list of wildlife parks and nature reserves to keep them entertained. Check out the websites for opening hours, ticket prices and disabled facilities.
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Looking for New Members

It’s not always easy making new friends when you move to a new area, or finding out where you can meet people with similar interests. You might need an English-speaking dentist or a good vet for your pet. The answer is Get Together in Deux-Sevres.
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Meet David Hardy

Siddalls advisers in France provide support and up-to-date information on any issues that may affect your finances when becoming a French resident. They are able to explain and identify problems in a language you will understand, identifying any problem areas that need to be addressed and suggesting personalised solutions.
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Beryl Brennan goes along to discover more.

Radio Val d'Or might not be the biggest radio station in Deux-Sevres, but it has the second largest number of listeners. To help it achieve this figure, it had a 35m transmitter installed, the highest allowed. Its broadcasts cover an area south of Saumur down to Parthenay and from Bressuire to Loudin.
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An attractive coastal town for both holidays and days out
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Rochefort, on the coast of Charente Maritime, is a town offering artistic, architectural and historical sites, as well as beautiful beaches and a spa. It was also a naval base and arsenal which is currently the site of the construction of a replica of La Hermione.
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Ask the agent

Property agent Graham Downie discusses the kinds of properties available in the Charente, giving advice and insight into the local property market and beautiful department.
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The story of a Graham Downie and his family who gave up the trials and tribulations of London life and moved to the vineyards of Cognac, France.
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By Chris Luck

I hope that this glimpse into the Wildlife of Poitou-Charentes will encourage readers to wander a little from the beaten track and enjoy some of the living treasures that the ...
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Golf in the Poitou-Charentes region

Graham Downie explains why you should consider the Poitou-Charentes region for playing golf on a golfing holiday and for owning a property in Poitou-Charentes to take advantage of the many excellent courses in the region.
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The attraction of Charente-Maritime as a place to live was once one of France’s best-kept secrets. Not any more says Michael Streeter – the British are having to compete with the French to live in a department that combines a wonderful climate with some fine properties...
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This fine old port town may not have too many sandy beaches but it offers some great restaurants bars and shopping plus plenty of culture, history and maritime atmosphere says Michael Streeter....
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Following my last article on the healthy state of the
French property market I thought it would be useful to highlight the five most common mistakes UK purchasers make when looking for their dream home in Poitou Charentes...
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The drink of the gods, the water of life

The English, Dutch and Scandiavians have been enjoying the wines of Poitou Charente since as early as the 13th Century. In the 16th Century the wines were transformed into ...
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All over the Charente there are hundreds of beautiful villages built in the traditional Charentaise style, centred around a ancient church and village green. Each village has its own character and history ...
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