Chalais, France
Self Catering Chalais Holiday Homes, Cottages and Gites
Chalais is found in the Charente department of the Poitou Charentes region of South West France. When you visit Chalais you’ll discover a pretty, petite town, with its own chateau protecting it. When you stay in self catering holiday accommodation in Chalais you’ll note that the Chateau du Talleyrand is built strategically on a hill dominating the town. Originally a medieval fortress – today the draw bridge is still in working order.
Chalais really is the perfect destination if you are a lover of the finest food and wine that France can provide. La Maison de Talleyrand-Périgord is housed within the Chateau du Talleyrand and is known as one of France’s best restaurants, presided over by top chef Albert Verschoor. Albert is not only the chef but also the owner of the restaurant, don’t forget when you stay in a Chalais Holiday Gite to make your reservation in advance at this world acclaimed restaurant.
Monday is market day in Chalais - when all the roads are closed to traffic. Popular places to visit when you stay in a Chalais Holiday Cottage include: Aubeterre-sur-Dronne - a listed 'most beautiful village'. Just 10 km away, it is known primarily for its monolithic church. It is also an important stopping point on the Compostella pilgrim trail. Another place to visit when you rent a holiday home in Chalais is Riberac. At 24 km away, Riberac is actually located in the neighbouring department of the Dordogne (found in the Aquitaine region). There are two main attractions near Riberac - the large forest (the 'Foret de la Double') and numerous Romanesque churches in the surrounding villages. Friday is a busy market day here too.
To get to your Chalais Holiday Home: The closest airport to Chalais is Angouleme Airport (51 km). Other airports with regular flights to and from the UK directly, also worth considering are: Bergerac Airport (62 km), Bordeaux Airport (78 km), or Limoges Airport (109 km). Check for seasonal variations in airline operators into each of the airports. The A10 motorway goes through the Poitou Charentes region and enables access to many towns including Chatellerault, Poitiers, Niort and Saintes, and connecting the region to Bordeaux and Paris.
The Poitou-Charentes region is renowned for having one of the most pleasant climates in France. Winters are really mild and thanks to the oceanic climate, summers are hot but not muggy. Poitou-Charentes benefits from 2,400 sunshine hours a year and is the hottest and sunniest place of the whole Atlantic coast.