Confolens, France
Self Catering Confolens Holiday Cottages and Gites
Confolens is found in the Charente department of the Poitou Charente region of south west France. When you visit Confolens you’ll note it’s a largely rural and un-spoilt area, which has seen the gentle introduction of tourism in recent years. Confolens is located at the confluence of the Vienne and Goire rivers. It is an attractive riverside town nestled in rolling countryside.
Confolens was originally built around a fortress first mentioned in the eleventh century. It still has picturesque remnants of its medieval past, including city walls and several houses dating from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries. It also features a bridge first mentioned in the fourteenth century.
When you stay in a Confolens Holiday Gite don’t forget to visit the small weekly market, and a larger market on the 12th of each month.Confolens is also the home of the Festival de Folklore, one of France's largest and best known folklore festivals, which takes place every August.
The main 'highlight' of the town is the 'Old Bridge’, a 13th century granite bridge with ten arches. The bridge offers stunning views both along the river-front with its trees and ancient houses and also across the old town to the church.
When you rent self-catering accommodation in Confolens there is plenty to see and do in the town. These include the old donjon (only partially standing and all that remains of the original castle of Confolens); a 13th century stone gateway that originally allowed access to the old town through the fortifications; the 17th century town hall and the church of Saint-Maxime. There is also the Fontaine de la Fontorse, an ancient spring at the end of the ‘Old Bridge’.
When you stay in a holiday home in Confolens be sure to take in the old town itself, centred around the Rue du Soleil, there are numerous stunning 15th and 16th century houses lining the streets up the hill.
When travelling to your Confolens Holiday Cottage: If you arrive by train Confolens is easily accessed via the Ruffec station. If you’re travelling from London Waterloo, catch the Eurostar train to Lille - TGV to Angouleme – and then take a local train.
By Air, the nearest airport is at Limoges. Via Ryanair from London Stansted, Liverpool John Lennon Airport or East Midlands. Via Flybe from Southampton or Manchester. Confolens is an 8 hours drive from Calais, 6 hours drive from Caan / Le Harve.
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.