The Atlantic seaboard of the Poitou-Charente region is protected by four islands, of which the two largest, Oléron and Ré are connected to the continent by bridges. The principal harbor, La Rochelle and its old port, is one of the prettiest towns in the region.

The crown jewel of the region, Marais Poitevin (Poitevin Marsh) known as "Green Venice" is a veritable treasure encased in greenery and dozens of kilometers of canals.

The surrounding countryside is most notable for its wines and vineyards. Touring the vineyards and sampling a few local wines is one of the great pleasures of the Bordeaux region. The wine-producing districts are arranged in a great semicircle around the city starting with the Medoc in the north, then skirting east through St-Emilion, before finishing south of the city at the vineyards of the Sauternes. CONTACT