PLACES TO VISIT

The small village of Ronsenac is ideally situated for trips to popular parts of south-west France which include the Dordogne, the Pyrenees, places such as Riberac, Brantome, Chalais, Auberterre, Cognac and Oradour.

Villebois Lavalette

Less than 10 minutes away, is the village of Villebois Lavalette, located on a prominent hill which has a chateau dating back to Roman times. In 1822 a fire destroyed half of the chateau. Only the north wing and a few sections of the outside wall survived. It has been partially restored and work is still going on. The chateau is open for visits from May to September.
In the centre of the town there is an old wooden covered market that dates back to the 16th century. It was restored in the 19th century and is now an historic monument. There is an old well in the market and a 17th century sundial that can be seen on a house that overlooks the market hall.
There is a small but lively market every saturday morning.

Angouleme

Half an hour away is Angouleme a large town with an abundance of exciting shops and restaurants. There are several museums in the town,including a museum of fine arts and a museum of paper. Large boulevards surround the town and stand above the original ramparts that protect it - more than 2km of the ramparts remain intact and an exciting exhibition and race of antique cars is held in the summer. Angouleme old town has some interesting medieval houses (some rather grand) along the pedestrian cobbled streets.There is a International Comic festival held in the town each January. This event explains why you will sometimes come across walls painted in cartoon style as you explore the town.

Brantome

Brantome is an idyllic town located to the north of Perigueux on the banks of the river Dronne. The town is known locally as the Venice of Perigord. The river runs through the village in front of a Benedictine Abbey and there is a small weir and stone bridge that lead to the market place. Market day is Friday. During a walk around the village you can see examples of medieval and renaissance architecture. Canoeing through Brantome is also a popular way to discover the town. There is a selection of good restaurants.

Aubeterre

Visit one of the many beautiful Charantais villages, Auberterre sur Dronne is voted one of the prettiest in France. It has its own beach with a lifeguard, canoeing for all abilities, and even a safari park.
The village square hosts some fine places to eat, inside or under a canopy of trees to provide shade. There are well- presented houses rising out of the chalk hillsides high above a bend in the River Dronne.  At every turn in the steeply sloping cobbled streets and alleys a further vista opens up, offering endless opportunities to capture that one unique photographic angle that every other tourist has missed.

More places to visit:   Cognac    

Cognac is a prosperous town with medieval alleyways that fan out from a delightful riverside. This is the place to find cellars where fine brandy or Cognac is matured.There are many cognac houses to visit including Cognac Otard, Hennessy or Martell which keeps 180,000 barrels in stock. On the tour you will experience the amazing aroma and the world famous walls covered with a fungi that thrives on the alcohol fumes given off during the maturing process. You will also discover the fine art of cognac making and the secret of blending.

Amazing views can be seen from the Chateau at Villebois Lavalette