Perched on a cliff, the Romanesque art church of Sainte-Radegonde dominates the Gironde estuary. What a magnificent picture! The village of Talmont-sur-Gironde with its charming narrow streets decorated with roses is the perfect place for a stroll.

Very present in the département, the carrelets are fishing nets that the fishermen use from their typical huts built on stilts. A true part of Charente-Maritime heritage, these fishermen's huts with suspended carrelets create a picturesque scene.

Situated on the edge of the Gironde estuary, the seaside resort of Meschers is of interest for its Matata and Régulus troglodyte caves, which have been dug out of the limestone cliffs. An unusual place!

Located at the entrance to the Gironde estuary, the seaside resort of the Beauté coast became famous in the 19th century, when the fashion for sea bathing developed. Rebuilt after the bombardments of 1945, the town of Royan today offers many examples of modern architecture, including residential blocks and the Notre-Dame church. It is though still possible to admire charming villas of the Belle Époque period, especially in the prestigious district of Pontaillac. Beautiful fine sand beaches, among which the Grande Conche beach and the beautiful beach of Pontaillac, as well as the numerous activities on offer make Royan a renowned seaside resort.

Founded in the 1st century, Saintes is a City of Art and History with an important architectural and religious heritage. The Gallo-Roman amphitheatre, the Germanicus Romanesque arch, the Abbaye-aux-Dames abbey and its magnificent church of Romanesque style, and the Saint-Pierre cathedral are examples of its rich past. For the art lover, the Présidial museum and the Échevinage museum have collections of paintings on display.

At the north end of Médoc, the Grave headland (Pointe du Grave), between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, offers extensive views of the mouth of Europe's biggest estuary, as well as Royan, a famous seaside resort on the Charente-Maritime coast. In the middle of the sea near the headland stands the famous Cordouan Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse in France, which can only be visited after crossing the sea by boat from Le Verdon-sur-Mer harbour…

For those who don't have great sea legs or would like to find out more about this historic monument, head to the Grave headland lighthouse, which as well as offering lovely views of the Gironde estuary, also has a museum about the history of the famous lighthouse in the sea and the operation of the lighthouses and beacons.

This 14-hectare zoo is situated in a wonderful environment around La Palmyre and brings together more than 1,600 animals coming from the five continents. Sea lion and parrot shows are among the attractions.

In the middle of the sea, at the mouth of the Gironde estuary, off the coast of Royan and the Grave headland, the famous Cordouan Lighthouse, built between 1584 and 1611, is the oldest working lighthouse in France. Known as the Versailles of the sea, this imposing sentinel of white Saintonge stone, a listed Historic Monument, stands 67.5 metres tall and has six storeys in the Renaissance style.

Only accessible after a boat ride of about 45 minutes - be prepared to wade through the sea upon landing! - Cordouan Lighthouse can be visited from April to November, departing from Royan or Le Verdon-sur-Mer. Note that visiting hours may change daily depending on the tides and weather conditions... A climb of this must-see landmark's 301 steps will lead you up to the lantern balcony, from which you can enjoy an exceptional view of the ocean, coastline and the largest estuary in Europe! When visiting this prestigious lighthouse with its unique architecture, you will have the opportunity to admire the King's apartment adorned with pilasters on the first floor, the majestic chapel with stained glass windows on the second floor, and the Girondins room paved with grey and black marble on the third floor.

Still inhabited by guards, the Cordouan Lighthouse has fully automated since 2006, and continues to protect and guide sailors, night after night...

If you have not been able to go to the king of lighthouses or if you simply want to learn more, take a trip to the Museum of the Cordouan Lighthouse and the Lighthouses and Beacons, located at the foot of the Grave headland, which has a collection of plans, models and documents telling the story of the famous monument in the sea, and describing the operation of the lighthouses and beacons.

On the "Treasures of Saintonge" circuit, in Saint-Porchaire, the magnificent castle of La Roche-Courbon built in the 15th century is open to the public (interior and formal gardens).

A family resort on the Atlantic coast, both fun and sporty, Soulac-sur-Mer enchants sunbathers, Belle Époque architecture lovers and water sports enthusiasts alike. Its pleasant waterfront, numerous 19th-century villas, seven kilometres of sandy beaches, shops, restaurants and cafés, as well as the many on-site activities such as surfing, sand yachting, swimming, horseback riding, yoga, cycling, tennis and pétanque are some of the attractions that make this place a destination of choice.

Buried by the sand several times during its history, the Basilica of Our Lady of the End of the Earth (Notre-Dame-de-la-Fin-des-Terres), today listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as part of the Ways of St. James, is a great example of 12th-century Romanesque art!

Every year in early June, Soulac-sur-Mer recreates the early days of sea bathing for a weekend, at the Soulac 1900 festival. This includes an old-style market, shows and activities on the beach and in the streets of the resort, all in a fancy-dress atmosphere!

8,000 hectares in size, the Coubre forest, composed of holm oaks and maritime pines, offers a view of the coastal dunes of the Arvert peninsula. At the Coubre headland stands a two-colour lighthouse of 60 metres in height. From its top, a beautiful panoramic view of the Coubre forest and the wild coast (côte sauvage).

The oyster beds of Marennes-Oléron, including the mouth of the Seudre estuary, the East coast of Oléron island, and the coast situated north of Marennes, are recognised for the quality of their oysters. The oysters are bred in beds 5 km out at sea, then matured in shallow ponds called claires. These salt-water marshes and the very picturesque oyster ports are interesting places to visit. The Cayenne port in Marennes is very typical with its brightly-coloured oystermen's huts.

The Oyster City (Cité de l'Huître) at Marennes, along the Cayenne Canal, has a museum area devoted to oyster-farming, split up into five themed sheds, as well as an educational oyster farm, where a guided tour can help visitors learn more about the work of an oyster farmer. You can also explore, on foot or by bicycle, the Claires Path (Chemin des Claires). This interpretation trail, which has illustrated information boards at intervals along the way, will round your visit off pleasantly.

Renowned for its brandy, the city of Cognac is situated on both sides of the Charente river and benefits from a pleasant setting. Besides its famous speciality, Cognac has preserved a number of historic houses, buildings and monuments, such as the Valois castle, the Saint-Jacques gateway flanked by twin machicolated, round towers, and the Saint-Léger church built in the 12th century, evidence of its rich past.

The Château of Cognac, in which François I was born in 1494, has been home to the company Otard Cognacs since 1795. The Château is open to the public and offers such treasures as a Governor's Lodge, several Renaissance rooms, a Helmet Room and of course cellars full of Cognac.

Dedicated to the popular arts and traditions of the Cognac and the surrounding countryside, the Cognac museum, situated in the Dupuy d'Angeac mansion, also exhibits collections of ceramic, archaeology, decorative arts and fine art, such as paintings and sculptures.

The Arts of Cognac museum, housed in the Perrin de Boussac mansion, recounts the history of Cognac (the brandy) and explains its production process through an exhibition of objects and documents.

Several important Cognac houses are open to the public for brandy cellar visits and tastings.

City of Art and History on the edge of the Charente river, Rochefort has preserved much evidence of its maritime past. Built by Colbert in the 17th century, the naval dockyard comprises the Royal Rope Factory (La Corderie Royale) and dry docks, one of which is where a replica of the 18th-century frigate Hermione is currently being built. La Corderie Royale, a building 374 metres in length, used to supply rope to the French Royal Navy. Today it houses the International Sea Centre.

The town of Rochefort is the birthplace of Pierre Loti. The house where he was born is now a museum exhibiting exotic objects and souvenirs of the famous French travel writer.

Designed in the 17th century by the famous military architect Vauban as a true walled city to protect Bordeaux from sea invasions, the imposing Blaye Citadel stands proudly on a rocky promontory majestically overlooking the Gironde estuary. A listed Historic Monument, this place is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Major Vauban Sites! The ramparts, fortified gates, barracks, prison and gunpowder magazine are evidence of the defensive system that visitors can see on a tour. A trip to see the Blaye fortifications is also a chance to admire magnificent views of the largest estuary in Western Europe! And to learn more about the history and heritage of Blaye, you can choose between the Museum of Art and History of the Pays Blayais, with varied collections, a guided tour of the citadel and its underground passages, or a guided tour on the little tourist train.

To stock up on fresh produce, head to Blaye market, which takes place every Wednesday and Saturday morning on the Allées des Soupirs. A renowned theatre festival is held every year in late August-early September, at the heart of the Vauban citadel.

Known all over the world for its prestigious great wines, such as Saint-Estèphe, Margaux, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and Sauternes, the Bordeaux vineyard, with its 117,200 hectares of vines, 8,000 châteaux and nearly 10,000 wine-growers, is also the biggest AOC vineyard in France! Comprising six main terroirs, the Médoc, Libournais, Sauternais, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers and Blayais-Bourgeais, which are in turn divided into several appellations such as Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Margaux, Moulis-en-Médoc or Pauillac for the Médoc region, the Bordelais vineyard has no fewer than 57 different appellations! Red wines make up around 80% of the production and mainly come from the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grape varieties. The rest of the production consists of dry and sweet white wines made from the Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle grape varieties, as well as rosé wines from the same varieties as the red wines.

Many wine estates open to the public offer cellar tours and tastings. For instance, this is the case with Châteaux Siran, Margaux, Lanessan, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild and Loudenne in Médoc, or the Châteaux of Yquem and Filhot in Sauternes. It's also a chance for gourmet visitors to go from château en château, discovering the scenery and architectural attractions that have made this vast land so famous.

A big mountain biking trek combining wine and sports, La Médocaine takes place at the end of May every year, with thousands of participants in costume travelling along the Médoc roads in a party atmosphere!