Castles, country houses and abbeys

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Château de La Rochefoucauld

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The Charentais people are proud of this beautiful Renaissance building set on a rock overlooking the Tardoire and have christened the château de La Rochefoucauld the " Pearl of the Angoumois "

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Château de François 1er, Cognac

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François 1st was born there in 1494 and later set up court there.

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Château de Rochebrune, Etagnac

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Formerly the residence of the lords of Chabanais, the château, which was rebuilt in the 17th century by Blaise de Montluc, stands entrenched behind its moat.

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Château de Bayers, Bayers

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This former fortified castle from the 12th and 15th centuries, now fully restored, overlooks the valley of the Charente.

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Château de Balzac, Balzac

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Built in about 1600 close to the Charente, the château recalls the memory of Guez de Balzac who made it his hermitage.

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Château des Talleyrand-Périgord, Chalais

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The château, constructed in the high part of the town, overlooks the valley of the Tude from the 12th century medieval fortress.

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Château de Peyras, Roumazières-Loubert

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Once the seat of the lords of Roumazières in the 13th century, the château de Peyras stands on the banks of the Charente. The Black Prince stopped over there during the Hundred Years' War

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Château du duc d'Epernon, Villebois-Lavalette

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This medieval fortress [13th century] has a crenelated outer wall with seven towers.

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Bassac abbey, Bassac

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At the start of the 11th century Wardrade, lord of Jarnac and his wife decided to found a monastery on a branch of the Charente. The abbey church still has a high facade in the Saintonge style.

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Abbey of Fontaine Vive, Charras

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This ancient Cistercian abbey [12th century] lies hidden away in a valley in the Charente Périgourdine.

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