For wine and Cognac enthusiasts, Cognac and Jarnac, three quarters of an hour away on the River Charente, offer guided tours around such famous wine houses as Hennessey and Courvoisier. Saintes, further west, is another attractive and historic town with a Roman amphitheatre, IIth century abbey and a Musee de Beaux-Arts. La Rochelle, a renowned fortified seaport, is well worth a visit as is the nearby Isle de Re, popular holiday island for Parisians. St. Emilion and its immediate surroundings, one hour south, can best be described as homage to the grape with endless miles of vineyards, many of them household names.
Nearer the cottage is Aubeterre. a noted historic hillside village on the River Dronne, deemed one of the most beautiful villages in France. Here there is canoeing on the river; also an outstanding monolithic church and a second church with a gloriously carved western facade. Angouleme, half an hour away, has a noteable cathedral, ramparts and excellent shopping. Nearby restaurants are in Barbezieux, Blanzac and Nonac but probably the best is at the Chateau in Chalais, 20 minutes south.