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 Nature
Whether it’s walking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching or relaxing that you are after, there is plenty to do and see on-site or in and around the local area.
‘Gardens In abundance’
Tusson medieval garden : Tusson a small medieval town. Tusson has a medieval monastery garden of the sort which existed in most convents. Reconstructed with the help of documents from the period, it is composed of vegetables which were grown in the 12th and 15th centuries. |
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| Dignac, medieval garden : in the village of Dignac, the Romanesque 12th century church stands on the side of a limestone mote. It overlooks a medieval garden which contains a fine collection of some 150 selected in accordance with the capitulary list de Villis of Charlemagne. It is laid out in raised squares surrounded by plessis (chestnut lattices). |
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Souffrignac, the Bandiat gardens : the Bandiat is a meandering river. Close to the banks, at Souffrignac, a farm has been renovated as part of a back-to-work project. Organically grown ancient or forgotten plants and vegetables are on offer here. Both the produce and the plants are on sale, or just a simple stroll round the gardens.
Each year, the theme of the collection in the gardens is changed. |
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| Chabanais, the Chêne Vert : the Vienne runs through this landscaped arboretum. Over 3,000 species of plant grow side by side. |
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| Saint-Fraigne, ephemeral gardens : the village of Saint-Fraigne straddles the waterways of the Osme in the centre of a zone of water and peat bogs, a natural habitat of freshwater marshes. The ephemeral gardens, created by young landscape gardeners, flourish here from spring to autumn. |
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| La Rochefoucauld, garden of Saint-Florent : at the foot of the castle at La Rochefoucauld, on the banks of the Tardoire, a fine collection of over 700 varieties of roses and perennials can be visited in the peaceful setting of the enclosed gardens. |
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| Mansle, the botanical park of the Bois du Signe : the fuchsias, which were brought back from the West Indies by Charles Plumier, the botanist of Louis XIV, have taken to Mansle in the Ruffec area as a home from home. A unique collection of 500 varieties in all shades of pink, mauve and red. |
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Walking and Hiking
There are many well sign-posted walks in the area. There are circuits ranging from 5 km to 20 km. The region is home to a wide number of hiking trails for all levels of ability. Popular areas for walking include the banks of the River Charente. |
Cycling and Mountain Biking
Poitou Charentes has over a thousand kilometres of cycling routes, mostly for mountain biking. The small lanes are a delight for cyclists, including the stunning green lanes which follow the Charente. The various mountain biking trails can rise from 65 m to 850 m and can be up to 50 km long.
Most tourist offices sell cycling itineraries complied by local cycling clubs. |
Canoeing and Kayaking
The tumbling waters which feed into the River Charente from local streams and rivers are ideal for canoeing and kayaking. Canoes and kayaks are great ways to work off energy in the rivers and waters. They are widely available for hire on a variety of rivers such as the Vienne and the Dronne. All the family can have a go at Montbron on the Tardoire or at Aubeterre on the Dronne, but a type of rafting known as ‘radelage’ practised on the Vienne is probably best left to those previous experience. The clubs at Jarnac and Angouleme hold prominent competitions such as the men’s pairs slalom. |
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Vélo Rail (Bicycle Rail)
The cycle railway is a wonderful way to enjoy the landscapes of northern Charente at you own speed. Follow an old railway line winds its way through the high lands on the Charente Limousine border, past viaducts, rivers and meadows and sail through broom and gorse. |
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Birds
The bird life on-site is very plentiful, a paradise for nature lovers and bird watchers. Below are a few of the birds spotted on-site during the 2008 season: |
Golden Oriole
Hoopoe
Red Kite
Buzzard
Sparrow Hawk
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Heron
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Turtle Dove
Red Legged Partridge
Gold Finch
Red Start
Serin |
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