Region

About the Region

Welcome to the charming region around Logis de Beaulieu! Here, you'll find all the important information about markets, supermarkets, restaurants, and sports and leisure activities in the area.

Logis de Beaulieu is located in the southern part of the Charente department, about 500 km south of Paris. The nearest major city is Angoulême. The Charente is known for its varied hilly landscape with vineyards, pine, oak, and chestnut forests, as well as grain and sunflower fields. The region is especially famous for its Cognac, and Beaulieu is situated right in the middle of the Cognac production area, surrounded by vineyards from neighboring farms.

The neighboring Dordogne department, just 20 km southeast of Beaulieu, offers many attractions with its old castles, extensive forests, and the famous Lascaux caves.

Wine and Culinary Delights

As a gourmet, you'll love Beaulieu: To the west are the well-known Bordeaux regions like Côtes de Bourg and Médoc, to the southwest are Entre-Deux-Mers, Graves, and St. Emilion, to the south is Bergerac, and right in the vicinity is the world-famous Cognac region. The local markets offer a rich selection of fresh fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and cheese. Particularly recommended are the oysters from Marennes, about 100 km away, as well as regional specialties like artichokes, melons, porcini mushrooms, truffles, foie gras, and escargots.

Climate and Location

The region's climate is strongly influenced by the Atlantic, which is only 80 km to the west. From late autumn to spring, it remains mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below 0°C in January and February. In summer (mid-June to late September), temperatures usually range between 25°C and 35°C, although such temperatures can also occur in May and October.

Sports & Leisure

Jogging and Walking: From Beaulieu, you can enjoy lovely 30-minute or 1-hour routes through the surrounding villages and quiet roads. On the private grounds, there are idyllic forest and field paths for walking.
Swimming: Enjoy the 14x8m infinity pool with a view of the landscape. Alternatively, a large lake in the valley, just 5 minutes away, invites you to swim. The lake has excellent water quality and a sandy beach, ideal for children to play and splash.
Tennis: Beaulieu has a "vintage" hard court. For more serious tennis, there are good courts in Blanzac and Chalais.
Picnicking: Find your personal spot for a picnic in nature – you will definitely be undisturbed here!
Cycling: Ride through sunflower fields and forests on charming roads. Note that the Charente is hilly. Bicycles can be rented at ABCM in Barbezieux.
Boating and Kayaking: Discover the Charente rivers or the waters in Aubeterre by boat or kayak.
Adventure Park: For children, the Poltrot Adventure Park in Nabinaud offers an exciting adventure.
Golf: There is an 18-hole course in Angoulême (40 min. drive) and one in Cognac (45 min. drive).

Markets in the Area

The region offers numerous markets where you can discover local specialties and fresh products:

Angoulême: Visit the market at Place Victor Hugo and the beautiful market hall Les Halles Centrales. It’s great to combine with a visit to the city.
Chalais (17 km – about 15 minutes): Every Monday there is a traditional market and every Thursday a regular market. Chalais is a charming village with an impressive chateau overlooking the town.
Riberac: Towards Dordogne, Riberac is idyllically located and makes for a nice trip for the market on Friday mornings.
Villebois-Lavalette: This charming market takes place on Saturday mornings. Treat yourself to a plate of fresh oysters from the oyster lady and enjoy them with fresh bread from the bakery stand.

Sightseeing

Here are some highlights of the region:

Aubeterre-sur-Dronne: A picturesque village with Western Europe’s largest monolithic rock church from the 7th century.
Angoulême: The capital of Charente with a significant Romanesque cathedral. The Musée de la Bande Dessinée, the comic museum, is worth a visit. The FRAC Poitou Charentes is the contemporary art center of the region.
Saintes: An old Roman provincial town with significant ruins and Romanesque churches.
Lascaux: The world-famous cave paintings of Lascaux open every art history book. An incredibly inspiring place, the 2-hour drive is worth it!

Enjoy your stay and discover the diversity and beauty of the region!

Other Destinations...

Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (21 km): A picturesque village on a hillside and a World Heritage Site. Here you can visit Europe’s largest rock-hewn church, which originated in the 7th/8th centuries and was expanded in the 12th century. There was also a high medieval castle and a richly decorated Romanesque church. During the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), the village and its castle were temporarily occupied by the English (1346).
Angoulême (NE, 38 km): The capital of Charente, originally the center of the county and from 1515 the Duchy of Angoumois; notable Romanesque cathedral with a magnificent facade.
La Rochefoucauld (NE, 65 km): An old town with a monumental Renaissance castle; in the summer, you can watch impressive “Son et Lumière” shows about the history of the castle and the region.
Cognac (NW, 45 km): Birthplace of Francis I; center of Cognac production.
Segonzac (NW, 35 km): Center of the best Cognac vineyards; the route Barbezieux-Segonzac-Cognac can be called the “Cognac Road.”
Aulnay (NW, 80 km): The richest Romanesque church in the entire region with magnificent portals; one of the most important stops on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.
Dampierre (NW, 85 km): Notable Renaissance castle.
Marennes (NW, 100 km): The largest oyster farming area in France.
Talmont (WNW, 80 km): Romanesque church from the 12th century. "At the edge of the village on a cliff steeply descending to the water, it defies the forces of nature like a fortress of God" (Dumont Art Travel Guide The Poitou).
Pons (NW, 50 km): Former capital of the county with a monumental tower (Donjon), the remains of a vast fortress.
Saintes (NW, 55 km): Old Roman provincial town with significant Roman ruins (amphitheater and well-preserved triumphal arch); notable Romanesque churches from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Royan (NW, 80 km): Seaside resort and port on the Atlantic with a modern cathedral by architects Gillet and Hebrard in the spirit of Le Corbusier.
St. Palais sur Mer (NW, 85 km): Beautiful, expansive sandy beaches with dunes (5 km north of Royan).
Pauillac (W, 65 km): Center of the famous Bordeaux wine region Haut-Médoc (Rothschild).
Bordeaux (SW, 70 km): World metropolis of red wine, “Little Paris,” with excellent shopping opportunities.
St. Emilion (S, 65 km): Enchanting medieval town in the middle of the Bordeaux wine region of the same name.
Bergerac (SE, 75 km): Town in the Dordogne Valley; wine region of the same name.
Monbazillac (SE, 80 km): A very small but highly renowned wine region, named after the Chateau Monbazillac built in 1550.
Perigueux (SE, 70 km): Capital of the Dordogne department and the former county of Périgord. With a Romanesque cathedral and abbey church, Roman ruins, it is the center of foie gras production and truffle trade.
Brantôme and Bourdeilles (E, 50 km): Very charming and worth visiting.
Villebois-Lavalette (NE, 30 km): Small town with a castle and a highly interesting medieval market hall; nearby is La Mercerie, a castle built almost entirely as a facade in the 20th century, but never completed. Also nearby is Chateau Mareuil.
The area around Les Eyzies (SE, 90 km): Impressive and famous caves.

For day trips, the region of southeastern Périgord is also highly recommended. Monpazier (SE, 100 km): Beautiful old town; Biron: Impressive castle of the region; Sarlat (SE, 110 km): The most beautiful town in all of Périgord.