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IProperties for Sale in
Charente & Limousin Regions South West France
Properties for sale in South West France
Properties-France.com are a UK based property company offerign
a wide portfolio of properties
for sale in South West France, particularly properties for sale in
the Limousin & Charente region's of south west France.
The Charante region of
South West France
The climate in the Charante
region of South West France is mild and balmy in the summer. The locals
are relaxed, easy to talk to, down to earth and often show that special
Charentais sense of  humour.
The French traditionally consider the Charentais as laid back, and zany.
The Charante region prides itself of its most famous product - Cognac
and its fresh food produce from the woods, fields , rivers and nearby
ocean - organic farming is strong here, so expect to eat well and healthily.
In the Charante - Limousin, nature rules and
the local fetes and traditions thrive against a rich historical backdrop.
The area is ideally placed between the Atlantic coast and the forsted
mountains of Limousin, and within easy reach of some superb and appealing
cities, Poiters, Limoges and Angouleme.
Romanesque art is much in evidence with over 400 churches and ancient baths. Water is everywhere - Vienne and its streams flow along the valley bottoms, giving plenty of opportunities for bathing, angling but also sailing, canoeing and rafting.  You can cycle, ramble or ride along the river banks, a cool and original way to explore the marvellous countryside and villages of the Charente-Limousine. Local architecture uses granite and rounded tiles to give a warm Southern feel to the landscape.
The Charente region charms with its soothing patchwork of landscapes
liberally dotted with little villages and towns where traditional French
life seems to carry on regardless. The region is easily accessible via
rapid train from Paris to Angulated (2hours and 15mins), Ryanair flies
daily from Stansted to Limoges-Bellegrade airport (8kms from the centre).
Limoges is one of the oldest towns in France dating back to 1bc, it is a historical treasure trove. Taking a stroll through the centre can be a lengthy activity with museums, monuments, ancient buildings and bridges awaiting your attention on e very corner. Formerly two towns, which straddled the river Vienne, it is now one large town, with the superb old quarter (the Cite) situated on the higher level overlooking the river. Limoges is famous for its 'white gold' porcelain, which has played an important part of the towns economy since the 17th century.
Whereas when buying property
in France other parts of France have become increasingly expensive
over the years with the influx of people buying property especially Dordogne
and Cote DíAzur - the Charante region in the South West of France
is up and coming property prices reflects this, it is destined to be the
next property hot spot as it caters for all tastes from the mountains
to the sea.
Some see it as 'the real France' - more rural, peaceful and authentic.
A
Day out in the Charente
Angoulême
spans
the River Charente and has many beautiful medieval buildings. 
Cognac
is
the birthplace of the brandy that is enjoyed around the world.
La
Rochelle on
the Bay of
Biscay , is
a fishing port with great tradition and attracts a variety of pleasure
craft to Les Minimes, its harbour. Its coastal location and charm
make it very much a tourist attraction. 14th Century towers - Tour de
la Chaine and Tour St. Nicolas - are to be seen at the harbour entrance.
The streets are cobbled. You can cross the toll bridge, constructed
in 1988, to Isle
de Re and
enjoy the charm of this little island - capital and main port St
Martin .
Other ports on the island are Rivedoux and La Flotte. This island
is as sunny as the South of France but the maritime breeze tempers the
heat. For sandy beaches go over the separate road bridge to the
Isle de Oléron.
Jonzac
is
a wine and brandy producing town.
Marennes
. is
on the Charantais coast and is famous for its oysters. These plump
molluscs develop in profusion in the salt marshes that have been a part
of the region for centuries and have a unique and delicate flavour.
Poitiers
is justifiably proud of Futuroscope. Apar  t
from the many, many futuristic cinemas and interactive entertainment there
is a 2 hectare area specially for children. www.futuroscope.com
Going back to the past, the Romans left many relics in the form of
baths and amphitheatres.
A
Day out in the Haute Vienne
Porcelain
at Limoges
-
for a demonstration on how to produce some of the finest porcelain, head
to the Bernardaud porcelain factory.
History
of Enamel at Limoges
- the Musee National
Adrien-Dubouche charts the history of enamel from early Greek & Chinese
works to the present day.
A
day out to Solignac -
a pretty medieval village with an impressive granite church. From here,
take the Sentier de la Br ian ce
to discover the surrounding forested countryside
WWII
memorial at Oradour-sur-Glane
- a moving memorial where a 1944 massacre took place.
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Hiking:
exploring the legendary Pyrenean routes.
With 17,000 km of paths, 4,500 km of which are long-distance (GR)
and 12,500 walking and hiking (PR) paths, Midi-Pyrénées
is the ideal region for walkers and nature-lovers. We have selected
three legendary routes from amongst the hundreds to choose from
in the region. |
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 The
Pyrenees National Park: all the plant and animal life of the Pyrenees
close to hand
An ideal destination for lovers of unspoilt nature, the Pyrenees
National Park extends over more than 100 km east to west and includes
6 valleys: the Vallée d'Aure, the Vallée de Luz-Gavarnie,
the Vallée de Cauterets, the Val d'Azun, the Vallée
d'Ossau and the Vallée d'Aspe. Each offers around ten hiking
routes, most with changes in height of between 300 and 700 m and
therefore accessible to most walkers.
To guide you through the area's astonishingly abundant biodiversity,
the National Park has designed a discovery programme based on fifty
theme-based walks led by warden-instructors throughout the summer
(NB. a number of routes are accessible to the disabled), giving
you a chance to set off in search of the large birds of prey, spend
time with the marmots or explore the wildlife of the Vallée
d'Aspe in August.
 For
more information : contacts, routes, summer 2006 walking programme
and general information about the Pyrenees National Park:
http://www.parc-pyrenees.com .
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 The
GR-10: a legendary trail that crosses the Pyrenees from the Atlantic
to the Mediterranean
Nearly as well known as the GR-20 in Corsica, the GR-10 is a great
adventure that attracts more and more walkers every year to experience
the treasures to be discovered on each stage and the varying changes
in height. The High Pyrenees are covered in 10 to 12 sections, from
Arrens-Marsous to the Astau barns, passing through areas whose beauty
has made them known worldwide, such as Gavarnie, the Néouvielle
Nature Reserve and the Pont d'Espagne.
For example, depending on your enthusiasm and level of fitness,
you could spend 2 or 3 days walking between Arrens-Marsous and Cauterets
or between Luz St-Sauveur and St-Lary. If you have a bit more time,
try the route between the Pic du Midi and the Néouvielle
Nature Reserve (set aside 4 or 5 days): outstanding!
 For
more information :
- Contacts, detailed routes and discovery of the High Pyrenees :
http://www.hautes-pyrenees-rando.com
, or the Hautes-Pyrénées departmental tourist
authority website, http://www.hautes-pyrenees.com
.
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Theme
Parks in the Midi-Pyrénées:
unforgettable adventures for your family to share.
Do you find yourself lacking ideas about what to do
with the children after a few weeks of the summer holiday
have passed? You've taken them for a mountain walk up
to the Brèche de Roland, been round the Lac de
Pareloup three times on a pedalo, descended the Aveyron
Gorge in a canoe and you're now all experts at parascending…
Don't worry: there's still a whole range of activities
to be enjoyed and youngsters always love theme parks.
With over fifty theme parks, you're bound to find something
to please the children in the Midi-Pyrénées.
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Prehistologia (Lacave- Lot).
5 km from Rocamadour, this prehistoric theme park is
the only one of its kind in Europe. We invite you to
take a journey through time that begins 15 billion years
ago with the Big Bang and ends with the appearance of
Neolithic civilisation 10,000 years ago. On a superb
natural site accessible to all, you follow a specially
laid footpath that winds its way through several hectares
of woodland. Here you'll find the largest collection
of life-size reconstructions of prehistoric creatures
(a total of 150), which tells the story of the appearance
of life in the oceans, then on land with the dinosaurs
and in the air with the first flying reptiles.
On your route you'll see the Diplodocus, Triceratops,
Tyrannausaurus rex, etc., all life-size, along with
the noises and cries of the various animals. An impressive
experience!
 For
more information : access, prices and programme of activities,
see the park's website: http://www.prehistologia.com
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 Micropolis,
Insect City (St-Léons – Aveyron)
If you're scared by the idea of large animals, then
come to Micropolis, where you'll find many a surprise
in the world of tiny creatures. Just 10 minutes from
Millau, Micropolis, Insect City, invites you to come
and discover the extraordinary world of grassland insects.
Covering an area of 2400 m2, there are 15 theme-based
scenes literally crawling with wonders, immersing you
completely in the world of insects. Here you'll learn
what an insect is, how they live together in communities,
how they interact with man and plants and even how they
perceive the world around them.
Don't miss the “Sensations” room, where you can put
yourself inside an insect's skin via a particularly
inventive sound and vision system. Another excellent
attraction is the Insect Carnival”, in which your adventure
continues outside in the company of giant insects. Thrills
and laughter for everyone…
 For
more information : access, prices and programme of activities,
see the park's website: http://www.micropolis.biz/Default.htm
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 Pyrénées
Hô (Cierp-Gaud – Haute-Garonne)
Just 1 hour and 30 minutes from Toulouse and 30 minutes
from St-Gaudens, this multi-theme park is situated on
a 13-hectare natural site with trees, cliffs and rocks.
There are five elements to challenge you. Air: giant
250m Tyrolean traverse, trampolines, “accrobranche”…
Water : natural water slides, abseiling through waterfalls…Earth
: you have to crawl or climb through 140m of intersecting
wooden tunnels or test your endurance and balance on
a BMX. Stone : defy the laws of gravity on a “via ferrata”
and climbing wall. And finally, Pyrénées
Hô's speciality, wood, where around a hundred
games have been set out in the trees, suitable for children
aged 3 and over.
 For
more information : access, prices and programme of activities,
see the park's website: http://www.pyrenees-ho.com/le-bois-parc-acrobranche.html
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 Cap
Découverte (Blaye les Mines – Tarn)
A former opencast coal mine converted into a multi-leisure
park with a spectacular amphitheatre 1300 metres wide
and 230metres deep, Cap Découverte offers a wide
range of sporting and fun activities for people who
like thrills, on a site covering nearly 650 hectares.
Access to the site is free and, once you're inside,
you can choose between free or paid activities based
on four themes: rides, sliding, bathing and water-sports
and team sports. In the riding section, there's absolutely
everything from a skateboard park, over 35km of bike
and roller-skate slopes and a mini go-kart circuit.
Sliders will find just as many thrills, with skiing
and snowboarding on synthetic slopes, luge on a rail
(700m long) and a giant 1.2 km Tyrolean traverse. A
400 m2 water play area gives our youngest visitors a
chance to cool down on a sandy beach at the edge of
the lake or they can hurtle down the water slide while
the adults try out the water ski tow (where you're towed
along a 800m cable). Finally, if you're a fan of the
round or oval ball, you can train on the soccer and
rugby pitches – or even, for the keenest players between
7 and 14 years old, take part in a course with a specialist
instructor.
 For
more information : access, prices and programme of activities,
see the park's website: http://www.capdecouverte.com
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Bring
along your swimming costumes and dive into the great
cool lakes of the Midi-Pyrénées!
This is it: Summer is here and promises to be hot and
sunny throughout. Although the Midi-Pyrénées
does not have a coast, it is nonetheless a "water" region,
with nearly 100 stretches of water, hundreds of lakes,
both small and large and nearly 1,550 miles of river.
A veritable land of enclosed water that enables you
to enjoy all sorts of activities: swimming of course
but also windsurfing, dinghy sailing, pedal boating,
rowing, and water skiing… |
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Pareloup lake (in the Aveyron, 19 miles from Rodez).
Located at an altitude of 2,625 ft, this 4.5 sq mile
lake with its 62 miles of shore is the largest and no
doubt one of the loveliest lakes in the Midi-Pyrénées.
Adjoining the village of Arvieu, its beach boasts facilities
and supervision and many sport and tourist facilities
(bicycle and mountain bike rental, beach volley court,
a nautical base with windsurfing boards, sailing dinghies,
canoes and a rowing club...). It's worth noting that
you can also sail round the lake onboard Emmanuel III,
a bateau-promenade that has its own restaurant: ideal
to end the day with a flourish and watch the sun set.
 For
further information: go to the site of the Departmental
Committee for Tourism in the Aveyron at http://www.tourisme-aveyron.com
or http://www.jedecouvrelafrance.com
(available in French)
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 St-Ferréol
lake (in the Haute-Garonne, 50 miles from Toulouse and
12 miles from Castelnaudary).
Located on the outskirts of Revel, this 2,625 ft-long
lake feeds the Canal du Midi. It is bordered with pine
trees and a pathway that takes you all the way round
the lake in just over an hour. The area is well known
by the inhabitants of Toulouse who drive there in less
than an hour for a stroll or a swim. St-Ferréol's
nautical base rents out small catamarans and canoes
and you can also rent a pedal boat: the ideal way to
visit this little lake and enjoy its refreshing tranquillity.
 For
further information: visit Sorèze's town hall
site at http://www.ville-soreze.fr
(available in French)
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 Laouzas
lake (in the Tarn, 46 miles from Albi and 6 miles from
Lacaune).
Located in the heart of the regional Haut-Languedoc
area nature park, close to the village of Nages and
an hour's drive from Millau's new viaduct, this lake
–with those of Saints-Peyres, Raviège and Vesoles-
is one of the largest lakes in the Haut Languedoc area.
Like Pareloup lake, this one is also high up, at an
altitude of 2,625 ft and offers a 1.3 sq mile stretch
of clear water that is ideal for swimming and nautical
leisure activities. With pedal boats, canoes, kayaks,
windsurfing boards and small monohull boats, all you
have to do is choose.
 For
further information: voir http://www.lac-du-laouzas.com
(available in French)
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 Montbel
lake (in the Ariège in the Pyrénées,
25 miles from Foix and 12 miles from Mirepoix).
Located in the Ariège in the Pyrenees and nestled
in greenery, Montbel lake is situated near a little
village that goes by the same name. It covers an area
of 2.3 sq miles and you can walk its 10-mile track in
about 4 hours by following its markings. Birdwatchers,
nature enthusiasts, walkers, fishermen and mountain
bikers will find all they need to satisfy their passion.
As for those who prefer to take it easy, they can make
the most of the superb serviced and supervised beach
to swim or rent a canoe-kayak, catamaran or pedal boat.
 For
further information: go to Mirepoix's Communauté
de Communes site http://www.paysdemirepoix.org
or http://www.montbel.com.fr
(available in French)
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 St-Nicolas
de la Grave lake (in the Tarn-et-Garonne, 19 miles from
Montauban and 6 miles from Moissac)
Located at the confluence of the rivers Tarn and Garonne,
St-Nicolas de la Grave's stretch of water covers an
area of nearly 1.5 sq miles. Famous among birdwatchers
for its sanctuary for migrating birds and its observatory,
this site also has a well equipped leisure base that
offers mountain bike and horse rides, archery, tennis
and an arboretum, etc. On the nautical side, you'll
find the whole range of usual activities: you can rent
a windsurfing board, sailing boat, canoe, kayak, rowing
boat or pedal boat. Worth noting: the presence of an
open-air swimming pool overlooking the lake, particularly
handy for young children.
 For
further information: go to the Tourist Information Office
site at http://www.stnicolasdelag.online.fr
(available in French)
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 Mountain
lakes in the Pyrenees.
And finally, it would be difficult to overlook the fact
that the Hautes-Pyrénées is the all round
champion of water activities, with more than 300 mountain
and leisure lakes. Among the most popular are the lakes
of Oô and its neighbour Espingo, Payol and Arrêt-Darré..
 For
further information: go to the Departmental Tourist
Committee site for the Hautes-Pyrénées
http://www.tourisme-hautes-pyrenees.com
or http://www.lacsdespyrenees.com
(available in French
Properties in Limousin & Charente, South
West France
Properties France specialise in offering property
for sale in Limousin and property
for sale in Charante, both very popular regions
within South West France.
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How to travel!
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