Lavande à Champ Fort

'Champ Fort' is situated near the small village of Saint Vallier in the south of Charente. close to the Dordogne border.

The property is within 10 minutes drive of Brossac, 15 minutes of the market towns of Chalais and Montguyon..

Less than an hours drive will take you through sunflowers and vineyards to Bordeaux, Cognac, Angouleme, Saint Emillion and Blaye (coast).

Saint Vallier. Local cognac, pineau and wine available for tasting and purchase ( 10 minute walk). Quad biking and jet skiing is nearby.

Bardenac. Superb traditional French restaurant. 7 courses with wine : 13.5 euros (2016}. Lunch only.

Brossac. Spar mini-market, bakery, chemist, butchers, bank, post office and 2 restaurants. One of the restaurants overlooks the leisure lake which has a large man-made beach. During the summer months musical entertainment is provided in the town.

Chalais. Very popular market town overlooked by the 13th century Chateau Talleyrand. You will find most of your requirements including a large supermarket, various shops, restaurants (including a gourmet restaurant at the Chateau Tallyrand) and bars as well as a swimming pool and sports hall. There is a large weekly traditional French market on a Monday morning.

Aubeterre sur Dronne. This is one of the prettiest 100 villages of France reached within a 30 minute drive. Well worth a visit is the monolithic church of St.Jean which is carved entirely out of rock. The village is surrounded by restaurants and shops and is an ideal spot to sit with a drink and soak up the atmosphere. Below the village is the river Dronne with its man-made beach and sporting activities ( canoes/ kayaks / tennis).

Montguyon / Beauvallon Lake. Open from May / September is the beautiful lake of Beauvallon with its clear waters and sandy beach surrounded by pine trees. There is an area for swimming, a larger area for boating and pedelos, and on the beach a play area for children. The bar and restaurant which overlook the lake are open throughout the day.

Cognac. This unspoilt town on the banks of the Charente river is the centre of the cognac producing industry. A visit to the distilleries of household names to sample the history, as well as the cognac itself, is a must. (60 minute drive.)

Angouleme. Around 1 hour away is the ancient walled city overlooking the surrounding countryside from its hill top location. Many events & festivals are hosted here , along with shops, restaurants, bars and a vibrant nightlife.

Bordeaux. Bordeaux is a great city with all modern day amenities blended with the beautiful old architecture, making this a place to cater for all tastes. The rejuvenated quayside, new tramway system, top class restaurants and shops make this a most popular city to visit.

Saint Emillion. Set in the rolling countryside and vineyards this small medieval town is the centre of wine producing area bearing its name. The square and cobbled streets host many restaurants and a number of shops, all selling the locally produced, world renowned fine wines.

Brantome. This is the most picturesque of small towns, situated in the Dordogne and built either side of the river Dronne. You will find a few artisan shops and restaurants overlooking the river or you could try out a canoe / boat trip on the river itself. Well worth a visit for a 75 minute drive.

Golf is available at Angouleme, Cognac, Bordeaux (18 holes - all 60 minute drive) and Aubeterre (9 holes - 30 minute drive).