Aubeterre-sur-Dronne
Strikingly southern
Journey to the southern Charentes to explore its rolling green hills. You’ll find various different Romanesque churches to visit, both in and out of town. En route south, you’ll see rows of vines and can find out exactly how cognac is made by visiting Maine Giraud, former residence of the poet and winemaker Alfred de Vigny. Step back in time in France’s own “Tuscany” on the edge of Périgord by soaking up the southern ambiance of its Petites Cités de Caractère (Small Towns of Character).
Among the country’s Plus Beaux Villages (Most Beautiful Towns and Villages) is Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, where you can relax in the small central square or take a dip in the Dronne that flows past it. Arranged like an amphitheatre with hanging gardens and galleries, you’ll enjoy wandering along its sloping alleys lined with local art and crafts shops. Aubeterre-sur-Dronne has incredible charm and above all, conceals something very special… a mysterious subterranean church. Unique and substantial, its nave stands almost 20m high!
What to do in and around Aubeterre-sur-Dronne
Hit the road for another town that’s not so far away. Villebois-Lavalette stands on a hill, its chateau surrounded by fortifications. Marked with the cornuelle symbol, a trail around the town allows you to explore its many charms, among them former convents, the church and the eye-catching, wooden-framed indoor market, perfect for sipping fruit juice and snacking on the local speciality. The cornuelle is a small triangular shortbread with a hole in the middle and it’s traditionally eaten on Palm Sunday.
Prepare to be amazed by the unusual 220m façade of the nearby Château de la Mercerie, the little “Versailles of Charente” dreamt up by the Réthoré brothers. Travel south and chateaux are common. The one in Chalais is complete with drawbridge and presents the history of the Talleyrand-Périgords in its entirety. From chateaux to villages, you’ll find something to do in and around Aubeterre-sur-Dronne. Other recommended walks to do? In Guizengeard and Touvérac, the old kaolin quarries have given way to azure blue lakes. Go and see for yourself…
