Often described as the Gateway to the South-West, the Charente is a department that is full of contrast and beauty. Situated between the coastal Charente-Maritime to the west and the Dordogne and more rural Limousin to the south and east, it shares many of these areas’ best features whilst retaining a character and charm all of its own. The overall feel of the area is traditional, rural and relaxed, features which have made it traditionally popular with UK buyers and holidaymakers alike.

The Charente is a true patchwork of landscapes and is split into five areas. Whether you pass through West Charente with its world-famous Cognac distilleries and vineyards, South Charente with its Dordogne-esque villages and architecture, through the forests and hills of Charente Limousine, the superb chateaux and market towns of Haute et Tardoire or finally the quiet, traditional riverside villages of Ruffecois, you are still never far away from the heartbeat of the region, Angoulême, a vibrant Roman city full of culture, history, festivals, great shopping and great restaurants.

There is always something to do in the Charente. Whether it be boating or canoeing up the beautiful Charente and Vienne rivers, swimming, sailing or wind-surfing in one of the numerous lakes with their sandy beaches, or simply enjoying a meal in one of the fantastic riverside restaurants, water seems to play a large part in the leisure time of both residents and holiday-makers. For those interested in culture, the choice of places to visit is endless, the stunning chateaux of La Rochefoucauld and Verteuil, the world folk festival at Confolens and the famous classic-car ‘tour des remparts’ at Angoulême to name but a few.

The region benefits from great accessibility to the UK both by air and by rail with Paris only 2 hours away by TGV and Poitiers, Limoges and La Rochelle airports all within an hour’s drive. In terms of climate, the Charente benefits from its own micro-climate and enjoys some of the highest hours of sunshine outside the south of France, shown by the fact that eating outside in the many Charente restaurants is common well into late October.

Due to greater accessibility and lower than average property prices, this region is proving very popular with house-hunters from all around the world - last year alone clients from over 15 different countries bought property through our agency. You get more for your money in the north and east of the department where renovation projects are still available at reasonable prices and good-standard stone built properties are still within reach for most buyers. Prices increase as you move further south and west but on average, Charente properties sell for 20-25% less than the national average.

So who should buy in the Charente? Whether it be as a holiday home or a permanent move, if the reasons why you’re looking to buy in France include its relaxed lifestyle, traditional values, affordable properties, great climate and accessibility, then the Charente is somewhere you should definitely consider.