Boating and canoeing on rivers and lakes in the Poitou-Charentes
Many of France's departments are named after rivers and those in the Poitou-Charentes are no exception. The rivers Charente, Vienne and Sèvre offer a variety of opportunities for different type of water sports and pastimes, as do other rivers in the region. There are lakes, too, especially in the Charente-Limousine in the Charente and flooded quarries.
The River Charente, in particular, has lots of activities based in or near it as the waterway winds its way through the department of the Charente, past Angoulême and Cognac, before cutting through the Charente-Maritime via Saintes and Rochefort until it reaches the Atlantic coast. The River Charente was famously described as 'the most beautiful river in my kingdom' by a French monarch, though the expression is variously attributed to François I (1494 – 1547) and Henri IV (1553 – 1610). François I probably makes more sense, as he was born at Cognac, and would thus have known it extremely well!
Hiring river boats
One of the best ways of seeing the River Charente is of course to hire a boat. There are a number of places where you can hire a boat on the river, notably at Angoulême, Cognac, Jarnac and Chaniers. The options include boats with accommodation that you can hire by the week or sometimes a weekend, boats that can be hired by the day or half-day, and lunch or dinner cruises offering a meal on board. The (or gabares) that used to take cognac up and down the river.There are also small boats that take visitors on short trips along the Charente to see the wildlife and stunning scenery.
Canoeing and kayaking
The various rivers and lakes of Poitou-Charentes also provide plenty of scope for canoe and kayak enthusiasts. There are for example, places to hire canoes and kayaks on the River Charente and River Vienne, as well as the Gartempe and Tardoire rivers, and canoe trips through the marshes of the River Seudre. For the more courageous there's even some white water rafting at Lathus on the River Gartempe!
Marais Poitevin
This stunningly beautiful part of the Poitou-Charentes has an ecosystem all of its own, and its marshes and waterways are best seen by boat. The traditional boats in this part of the world are flat-bottomed punt-like craft which can be hired from various places throughout the Marais – look out for the word embarcadère, which means wharf. Boats and canoes can be hired for just an hour or two, or a half or whole day. Alternatively you can choose to have a guided boat tour – with commentary in English – or opt for an organised two or three day tour of the marshes.
Lakes of Haute-Charente
The main area of lakes in the Poitou-Charentes is in the Charente-Limousine, and in particular the Lacs de Haute Charente. In terms of geography this part of the region has more in common with the Limousin - which it borders - than the rest of the Poitou-Charentes; these are the foothills of the Massif Central which reach their peak far to the east in the middle of the country. The lakes are set in wonderful countryside and are much-visited by local and tourists alike for their clear, cool waters, fishing, and water sports. At the Lac de Lavaud, which is the main nautical base in the area, you can go sailing, windsurfing or hire a canoe or kayak.
But it's not just the lakes and rivers where you can have fun on the water in the Charente – you can also take to the flooded quarry at Saint-Même-les-Carrières for water-skiing or at Roullet St Estephe for jet-skiing.
Lac du Gué du Magne at Moncontour
Meanwhile in the department of the Vienne there's the excellent aquatic base at Lac du Gué du Magne at Moncontour. Here on the ten hectare lake you can indulge in caneoing, kayaking, wakeboarding and water-skiing (see water skiing video). There's also facilities for beach volleyball and mini-golf.
Venez profiter des joies de l'eau dans un cadre entièrement réaménagé pour votre plaisir. Nombreuses activités autour d'un lac de 10 ha : plage, canoë kayak, mini golf, toboggan aquatique, structures gonflables, Beach Volley, baby foot, hébergements, restaurant, bar, ainsi que beaucoup d’autres activitésPrevious story:
Seaside water sports in the Charente-Maritime and Poitou-Charentes
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Search for boat trips and boat hire in Poitou-Charentes