From Charentes châteaux to the Atlantic Ocean
Travellers come to this region for the spirit. What surprises them is everything around it. This five-day itinerary follows the river Charente from Angoulême to La Rochelle, from a medieval count’s castle to Colbert’s naval arsenal. It contains one spirits tasting and ten other experiences that do not depend on it.
We built it in answer to something our Scandinavian and British guests tell us regularly: that there is not much else to see in the Charentes. There is. It has simply never been advertised, which is also why you will not queue for any of it.
5-day / 4-night stay details
What you will see
- Old Angoulême with a private accredited guide: the counts’ castle, the merchant mansions, the ramparts and Saint-Pierre cathedral
- The Château de La Rochefoucauld, its state rooms, its library and its archives, held by the same family for close to a thousand years
- The Château de Cognac, birthplace of King François I, and the single tasting of the trip
- La Compagnie de Bouteville, in the Grande Champagne cru: gastronomic vinegars and balsamics made from Ugni Blanc must and aged in former cognac barrels, tasted with oysters. Singled out by the Michelin Green Guide
- The Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes, founded in 1047, and the town’s Roman amphitheatre, completed under the emperor Claudius and among the oldest in Gaul
- The Château de La Roche Courbon and its formal gardens, where we allow three hours because it deserves them
- Brouage, a royal fortress marooned in the marshes, a naval port that the sea abandoned
- The Corderie Royale in Rochefort, the rope factory Colbert commissioned in 1666 to rig the King’s fleet
- The towers of La Rochelle, then a guided cruise out to Fort Boyard, ending the journey on the Atlantic that made this region rich
Where you will stay
Four stages, including a signature overnight stay at a five-star hotel. The other three nights are spent at four-star hotels located along the route between Angoulême and Rochefort. The choice of hotels is confirmed based on availability for your dates.
Two ways to travel it
Self-drive. You drive, we handle everything else: bookings, tickets, restaurant reservations, a personalised road book and telephone support throughout the stay.
Private chauffeur-guide. A bilingual driver-guide accompanies you for all five days, drives, and carries the historical thread from one stop to the next. This is not a self-drive tour with a driver attached. It is a different journey.
Starting and ending points
The trip begins in Angoulême, which is directly accessible from Paris by TGV. It ends in La Rochelle, also accessible from Paris by TGV.
The starting and ending points can be reversed, allowing you to travel from Angoulême to Bordeaux by TGV.
Naturally, the duration and itinerary of this trip can be adjusted to suit your needs.
Signature collection
Highlights of the stay
– The discovery of the Charentes region
– The region’s built heritage and art of living
– Two highlights per day, without turning the trip into a cultural marathon
– A single visit that includes an alcoholic drink
– A historical route along the Charente River
Duration
5 days / 4 nghts
Number of guests
2 people
Rates
From € 1,420 per person
The package includes
- Four nights in 4- and 5-star hotels, including breakfast
- Two dinners, drinks not included
- 11 experiences included in the program, including entrance tickets and reservations
- Telephone support throughout your stay
The package does not include
- Transportation to Angoulême and from La Rochelle
- Vehicle rental
- Fuel and parking fees
- Lunches and dinners not listed in the program
- Drinks, including those during the included dinners
- Any service not expressly mentioned in the provided description
Choose your travel package
Self-drive package: €1,420 per person from April to June and September to October; €1,490 per person in July and August.
Private guided tours are priced as a group package, available upon request. 2026 rates are indicative, subject to change, and non-contractual.
The itinerary runs from April to October. The full day-by-day programme is sent on request.
Request the full programme and a quotation, or write to us directly.