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Home , Charente, Charente (river), Fouras, Gironde estuary, La Rochelle, Oleron

Maritime La Charente Maritime Tourism “ma préférence” PRESS PACK 2015

Charente-Maritime Atlantic coast

en-charente-maritime.com Charente-Maritime at a glance Charente-Maritime Press File 2015

Welcome to the second most popular tourist destination in .

Situated on the Atlantic Coast between and , Charente-Maritime is particularly well known thanks to certain destinations: Facts & figures • – Ile de Ré • The Coast (Ile d’Oléron, , and Rochefort) Area: 6,864 square kilometers • country 460 km of coastline • The (Green Venice) 4 islands 42 pleasure ports 10 wellness centres 42,201 hectares of Green Venice (Marais Poitevin) xxxxxxxxx 14 ‘Pôles-Nature’ natural areas

Population: 630,000 inhabitants

Main cities: La Rochelle (77,376 pop.) Saintes (27,795 pop.) Rochefort (26,125 pop.) Royan (18,992 pop.)

Phovoir Main sector of activity: Tourism: accounts for 74% of tourism to the region; employs 9% of the population; accounts for over 1.6million euros; involves 3,500 businesses; has 659,000 beds which have 32.8 million bed nights.

Other economic areas of importance: Industry: nautical, aeronautical and farming Business

Teaching S. Roussillon S. Tourists: 86% of tourists are French Internationally the British are the largest group, then Dutch, Belgian, German and Spanish. Most are in families or couples (75% of the total). How to get here : By air to La Rochelle from London Average stay: is 7.4 nights - Stansted, Gatwick - Southampton, Where they stay: 58% in private accommodation Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands, S. Laval Bristol, Leeds/Bradford and Edinburgh. (17% are in secondary homes of which http://www.larochelle.aeroport.fr/en/ there are over 88,145 in the department); 19% camping; By rail from London via to La Rochelle. (3 hours from Paris to La 15% in B&B and self-catering; Rochelle by TGV). 5% in hostels and similar; http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers 3% in hotels

By road – three hours from St.Malo. J.M. Rieupeyrout A10 Paris: 430 km A10 Bordeaux: 70 km A83 N137: 120 km

Visit our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com Charente-Maritime Press File 2015 Story-angles Charente-Maritime 2015

Main attractions: 1rst department of France for wellness Did you know - La Rochelle? with six thalassotherapy centres and three thermal resorts. Welcoming over 4,000 clients a day in high season, the ice cream parlour of the Babin Brothers has become an institution in La Rochelle. Just a 1rst department of France for disabled couple of steps away from the Old Port, the ice cream really recognise facilities – 332 different places are branded some of the specialities of the region – so there is sea salt, melon and with the ‘Tourism & Handicap’ label. strawberry and pineau flavour! They are famous for their batonnets or little sticks of ice cream either of coconut and white chocolate or mango and dark chocolate! There are five UNESCO Heritage Sites: La Citadelle de Saint-Martin de Ré; xxxxxxxxx , creator of the formidable Inspector Maigret lived in Church of Saint-Pierre d’Aulnay La Rochelle between 1927 and 1936. He eventually moved north due to German activity in the area at the start of the Second World War but he S. Roussillon S. Royal Abbey of Saint-Jean-d’Angély; always remembered in La Rochelle as it is the town he loved the most in the Pilgrimage Hospital at Pons and his life. the church of Saine-Eutrope de Saintes (on the Saint-Jacques de Compostella Route). La Rochelle pioneered the introduction of the self-service urban bike back in 1974 so Boris John son has the Yélo system to thank for coming up with the idea! There are now 350 bikes available in the town and 150 The Aquarium of La Rochelle kilometres of cycle paths. and the Zoo of La Palmyre are two of the top ten provincial tourist attractions in France. La Rochelle Aquarium

Aquarium La Rochelle TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards 2014. • 3 million liters of sea water and 12,000 marine species from fragile jelly fish to mesmerizing sharks. A two-hour visit takes the traveller to discover The Francofolies is the third most important the astonishing colours and beauty of marine life in the waters. music festival in France. • The Aquarium La Rochelle voted the best in France by TripAdvisor reviewers - 1st in France, 4th in , 16th worldwide. Le Grand Pavois – top of the 5th most important nautical show in in the world and • Mobile app – a free app with a quiz, images, a game, news, an most important in France that has been audioguide, pictures and more!

going for 43 years, attracting over http://www.aquarium-larochelle.com/en C. Triballier C. 93,000 people every year and generating NEW : Maritime Museum (opening – 4th and 5th april) over 25 million Euros of economic impact The maritime site is divided into two parts : the floating museum and the since its creation. There are 860 exhibitors and new land museum recounts the maritime history and life of La Rochelle. 700 boats over 100,000 square meters of The floating museum has ships of all sizes from the ketch on which Bernard xxxxxxxxxx exhibition space. Moitissier participated in the first round-the-world solo yacht race in 1967- 68 to the meteorological frigate France I. www.museemaritimelarochelle.fr/ Gastronomy : must taste : Cognac, an « AOP » or PDO brandy Charron mussels, tender, fleshy, golden Three Towers: orange and flavoursome The three famous towers of La Rochelle (Chaine, Saint-Nicholas and Pineau des , a fortified wine made Lanterne) are the remains of what were the mediaeval maritime from a blend of grape juice and Cognac brandy fortifications. The Lantern Tower is the oldest lighthouse on the Atlantic Fleur de sel gourmet sea salt from the île de Ré Coast of France.

E. Cœffe Butter « Charentes » « AOP » www.la-rochelle.monumnets-nationaux.fr le de Ré potatoes « AOP », grown in the salty earth of the Île de Ré. Did you know - Saintes? Saintes is renowned for its Romanesque architecture – the Germanicus

xxxxxxxxx Arch, the thermal baths, the underground aqueduct, and one of the best preserved amphitheatres in France. To this day architecture is important to the town as it has the most respected university departments of architecture outside of Paris. www.saintes-tourisme.org

PRESS CONTACT : Gillian GREEN - Magellan PR - Tel: +44 (0) 7515 283 287 - [email protected] Stéphane Morand - Tel: + 33 (0)5 46 31 71 77 - [email protected] Visit our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com

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Madame ‘the youngest’, less well-known than the other islands of the Did you know - Royan? destination, the Ile Madame is a unique place. Accessible at low tide, Architecture – villas line the shore dating from the Belle-Epoque, via the ‘cow pass’, discover this minuscule piece of land, practically rubbing shoulders with classic 1950’s buildings, all geometry and untouched, located between the of La Charente and the sea. colour, which typified the post war reconstruction period of the There are a large number of carrelets – wooden huts on stilts for fishing at 1950’s. André Malraux, erstwhile Minister of Culture called the Church high tide – on the West coast of the . of Notre Dame here a ‘Concrete ’. http://www.holidays-fortboyard.co.uk/ J.P. Boulesteix Five beaches, all of top quality and graded in the premier category of cleanliness and maintenance, line this part of the Atlantic littoral Spa Secrets known as the Beautiful Coast. The most famous is ‘La Conche’ (The

S. Laval Shell) is typified with blue and white striped beach tents lining the is unusual being built on an area of thermal troglodyte caves. shore. The pleasure port id one of the most important on the Atlantic A new welcome site has been built and some esthetics cabins are now Coast and a promenade to view the boutiques and art galleries is open. Some treatments for the lumbar and cervical areas are also simply a MUST. proposed. The water here has a very high mineral content as it has spent ‘Un Violin sur la Sable’ is unmissable for classic music fans. Taking more than 30,000 years underground! place the 25th, 28th and 31rst July this year. www.chainethermale.fr/jonzac.html Jonzac has one of the largest indoor aquatic parks in Europe spanning

Walk in the footsteps of the famous… Emile Zola discovered Royan over 10.000 square metres. The water is at a constant 29 degrees so one V. Sabadel V. back in 1886 and Sarah Bernhardt was a frequent visitor to the Casino. feels more like in the Caribbean than the Atlantic. Picasso lived here for a year with two of his muses, Marie-Thérèse www.lesantillesdejonzac.com Wlater and Dora Maar. There is an exhibition ‘Royan – Picasso’ taking has added some new wellness services with new hydro

E. Cœffe E. place here this year until 2nd November at the local museum. massage features in the pool, new treatment rooms and a ‘cure’ Family Plus – is a label awarded to places in France that go that especially designed for those with high levels of stress. There is a new one step further to make the holidays even more unforgettable for solarium, hammam and ice cold fountain as well as new sensory shower all the family. They have produced a special brochure listing all the and relaxing showers. www.thermes.net various clubs for kids of all ages, different activities and sports that Rochefort is the sixth most important town in France for thermal

can be found in Royan in the summer months. V. Sabadel treatments, especially for rheumatism. They welcomed more than 16,000 www.royan-tourisme.com guests in 2013, 70% are likely to return this year to repeat the successful NB : Royan is a ‘Ville d’Art et d’Histoire’ as is Rochefort, Saintes and the Ile de Ré. 1rst to receive the label. ‘cures’. www.thermes-rochefort.com

Four exceptional islands lie off the coast Thalassotherapy of Charente-Maritime Le Richelieu - -en-Ré The brown seaweed of the Ile de Ré is known as the face’s best friend If these islands have points in common – a rich, preserved countryside as it is used in treatments at the thalassotherapy centre here in La Flotte S. Roussillon and a favourable climate – each one is very different from the others. to help stimulate the skin to breathe and renew. Therapy leaves the skin Ré ‘the White’ evokes above all the villages of white houses with feeling clear and luminous with a well-nourished epidermis and a great green shutters that abound with small alleys, a paradise of hollyhocks. feeling of regeneration. Le Richelieu specialises in facial treatments There are also cycle paths over all the island, taking in the marshes, generally and in wrinkle therapy (around the eyes) more specifically. All beaches, forests and traditional harbours. treatments are for men and women alike. http://www.holidays-iledere.co.uk/ Relais Thalasso - Sainte-Marie-de-Ré Aix ‘the authentic’ is the last island of the destination that is accessible …is a themed thalassotherapy centre that is as renowned for its ‘Thalavie’

only by boat. Here, there are no cars and peace and tranquillity are programme as for the regular thalassotherapy treatments. The idea is to Le Richelieu Le S. Roussillon S. guaranteed. On foot or by bike, everyone can go right round this little draw a balance between well-being and getting in shape. One may crescent of earth at their own speed, where an exceptional heritage try any of the themed courses such as wine-tasting, walking and hiking, blends with untamed countryside. photography or art, at the same time as experiencing new wellness http://www.holidays-fortboyard.co.uk/ treatments for the body. Oléron ‘the luminous’, is a first-class mixture of wildlife, heritage and Thalacap - Ars-en-Ré regional produce. What with its long beaches – magnificent places Those with very little time to spare can experience something as little for watersports and board sports – a large number of forests of oak as a half-day package at the Thalacap, the ‘Atlantic’, which includes and pine, its marshes and birds, the of the Château d’Oléron, exfoliation with Atlantic sea salts and then sculpting under a pine oil , and the oysters of Marennes-Oléron, the good life has shower or in a bubble bath where one is immersed in pine essence. For

Le Richelieu Maison du tourisme definitely set up home here. http://www.oleron-island.com/ those who prefer the aromas of the Mediterranean, one may choose Mediterranean sea-salt and essence of citrus fruit to choose from.

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Thalasso La Rochelle Sud - Chatelaillon-Plage Hermione -– Voyage 2015 This centre specialises in skin care of face and body alike – anti-ageing in fact. Hydro-baths, hydro-jets, face masks, sculpting, exfoliation…all Work began on the reconstruction of Lafayette’s frigate ‘Hermione’ in the treatments aim to make the guests look and feel younger. There 1997 - the ship that took Lafayette across the Atlantic in 1780 to assist are three different programmes on offer- ‘Parenthèse’, ‘Echapée’ General Washington in the American Civil War. He had convinced the and ‘Evasion’. Each one is individually adapted to every person’s French king to aid Washington with reinforcement and fought alongside requirements and budget. the Americans on the ‘Hermione’ for over eighteen months. Thalassa Ile d’Oléron - Saint-Trojan-les-Bains The ship is 65 metres long, has three masts with over 1,500 square metres

Aimed at maintaining our youthfulness and keeping us feeling as xxxxxxxxxx of sails and a hull built of oak. It was decided to rebuild the ship to young as possible as long as possible, this centre focuses more on commemorate the maritime heritage of France and more locally, the longer -lasting programmes and the durability of the treatments. importance once held by the Arsenal of Rochefort. Focused on making us feel more comfortable in our own skins and 2014 have seen the ‘Hermione’ undergo sea trials in September. The coping better in a busy world so that we can breathe a little more Hermione- La Fayette’s Association recrut personnel to work on board – easily and find it easier to look after ourselves in the long-term. Each about 80 people will be needed. client receives a personalised assessment with subsequent treatments prescribed on an individual basis. Work finishes in February and the ship will set sail once again across the Thalazur - Royan Atlantic the 18th of April. The itinerary is 13 000 km long. S. Laval S. Using techniques imported from the East – India, Indonesia and The journey will start from the mouth of the River Charente, in Port des Japan, the Thalazur Royan optimises these treatments to help one Barques, where Lafayette boarded on March 10th, 1780. The transatlantic attain a deep relaxation and a better understanding of one’s own crossing is expected to take 27 days in total, before making landfall at : body. The massage sessions aid both the body and the spirit. A ‘must • Norfolk, Yorktown, Mont Vernon, Alexandria - 5 to 12th June try’ is the new ‘Somato-Relexology’ programme – a hybrid of Chinese • Annapolis - 16th and 17th June and Californian techniques that has thus created a sculpting process • Baltimore, 19th to 21rst June unique to Royan. This treatment lasts just 52 minutes but the results • Philadelphia, 25th to 28th June (with Tall Ships America) endure a , lot longer. • 1rst to 4th July and Greenoort - 6th and 7th July (with Tall - Ships America) • Newport - 8th and 9th July Cycling itineraries • Boston - 11 and 12th July • Castine - 14 and 15th July, Lunenburg - Canada - 18th July New in 2015 - June • Saint-Pierre and Miquelon - 23rd July

Association Hermione - Lafayette - Hermione Association th La Vélo Francette® • Return to France end of august in Brest - 10 to 17th of August From Ouistreham to La Rochelle, this cycling tour propose 630 km • Island of Aix and return in Rochefort with celebrations in Charente- of tracks from Normandy to the Atlantic coast. 45 km in Charente- Maritime - end of August 2015. Maritime. www.hermione.com Le Canal des 2 mers à vélo From the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean sea. 750 km along the and the ‘’. 70 km in Charente-Maritime.

http://www.canaldes2mersavelo.com/ J. Damase J. Also available… La Vélodyssée® This cycling tour takes place between Roscoff in Brittany and Hendaye in Aquitaine – 1250 km. In Charente-Maritime there will be 150 kilometres of cycle routes right across the department. This is a nationally sponsored event although organised in France by the Charente-Maritime. www.lavelodysee.com Coming soon

J. Damase EuroVelo 3 The Pilgrims route, 30 km in the south of Charente-Maritime. http://www.eurovelo.com/en/eurovelos/eurovelo-3

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Oysters Historic heritage: three Abbeys Green oysters from Marennes-Oléron The Royal Abbey of Saint Jean d’Angely is a UNESCO Heritage Marennes-Oléron is Europe’s leading oyster-producing area. The site mainly due to its position on the Route de Saint-Jacques de oysters infuse their flavour from the small basins in which they are Compostella. placed to mature, taking on the taste specific to oysters from this www.abbaye-royale-angely.com area and their characteristic green colour due to the presence of the The Abbey de Fontdouce between Saintes and Cognac dates back microscopic algae, the blue navicula. to 90 A.D and is now classed as a Historic Monument. The quality production is indicated by red labels and there are various www.fontdouce.com «vintages « («crus») depending on the time the oysters have spent in C. Triballier The Abbey aux Dames de Saintes was built in the eleventh century and the basins: «Fines» spend a month there; «spéciales» two months; the holds an annual classical music festival where the young musicians «pousses» four to eight months. Traditionally, they are eaten raw with use instruments dating from that period. www.abbeyauxdames.org small sausages flavoured with in Oléron, or accompanied by «grillons» (pork sausages) in Charente.

S. Morand Oysters 24/24 from a vending machine The Gillardeau boutique on the Ile d’Oléron are said to be the Rolls An eco-friendly destination Royce of this shellfish. It has now installed a vending machine next to Charente-Maritime has been involved with sustainable tourism for the shop where people can buy fresh oysters at any time of the day the last 41 years or more. The ‘Department and the Conservatoire du or night. The machine is kept at a low temperature and the oysters Littoral’ has been active in preserving the natural heritage of the area, are changed every day. Prices are the same as in the shop. This is one methodology being the creation of ‘Fragile Natural Spaces’. This

unique in France and probably the world. incorporates 2,500 hectares and 40 sites now under protection due to C. Triballier C. NB Charente-Maritime is also highly regarded in the production of sea salt, potatoes from the Ile de an ecotax, 8,000 hectares under protection from development and Ré, snails, butter, mussels, cognac of course and the famous pineau as well as saffron. the creation of 9,500 kilometres of walking and cycling routes through New oysters : La Cybèle des Marais® the area. A unique oyster in the marshes of the island of Ré that has never A good example of a protected area is the Marais Poitevin - second grown in the sea produced by an association of producers of oysters largest wetland in France after the Camargue - which has been in marshes of Ile de Ré. classified as a ‘Grand Site de France’ and a ‘European Destination of Discover : The Oysters “Charente-Maritime” Excellence’ since 2010. The Marais Poitevin Park is labelled Regional www.huitrescharentemaritime.com Nature Park, label awarded because of its remarkable natural heritage. It is also the seventh major natural site of France. It is so ecologically enriched that it must be protected as it is the ‘The Most Beautiful Villages of France’ second most important humid area of France.

X. Léoty There are four of these in the Charente-Maritime: www.parc-marais-poitevin.fr Ars-en-Ré is known for the bell tower of its church that sports a black and white arrow which is used as a point of reference for mariners. La Flotte-en-Ré is an extremely pretty fishing and pleasure port that sways to the rhythm of the boats in the harbour. -sur-Seudre is an old commercial port that now concentrates on oyster and salt production and is an artisan’s paradise! Talmont-sur-Gironde was founded in 1284 by Edward 1st of Aquitaine on a rocky promontory overlooking the , just 15 J.M. Rieupeyrout J.M. kilometres south of Royan. www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france. org Léoty X.

Saintonge- the Historic Route of the Treasures This is an area steeped in history dating back 40,000 years with 22 historic monuments, eleven chateaux, seven religious monuments and four museums. The church of Aulnay-sur- is a UNESCO

X. Léoty Heritage site and the surrounding countryside is known as ‘the golden’ as it is so pretty, places like the Valley which is called the French Tuscany. PRESS CONTACT : www.monuments-saintonge.com Gillian GREEN - Magellan PR - Tel: +44 (0) 7515 283 287 - [email protected] Stéphane Morand - Tel: + 33 (0)5 46 31 71 77 - [email protected] Visit our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com Events in Charente-Maritime 2015

April - May - June International Film Festival – La Rochelle 26th June – 6th July 2015 www.festival-larochelle.org Kite Flying Festival – Châtelaillon-Plage – 4th – 5th April The 41st festival is held in La Rochelle. In 2012, 82,429 spectators An annual event held at Châtelaillon-Plage with more than 250 watched 389 performances of 142 long films and 61 shorts. competitors and 40,000 spectators.

BIG EVENT July- August - September Hermione’s departure The Francofolies - La Rochelle -10th – 14th July 2015 La Rochelle and south of Aix island – 18th April 31srt edition, the “Francos” will welcome the French guest star

xxxxx The 18th you’ll see the frigate of Hermione’s departure for the Johnny Hallyday, but also, Etinenne Daho, Véronique Samson, United States ! Yannick Noah and new French singers like Christine and the

In 1780, the Marquis de La Fayette sailed on the Hermione - Queens. xxxxxxxxxx a frigate built in the Rochefort Arsenal a few months earlier - www.francofolies.fr to help the American rebels in their fight for independence. In 1997, a new adventure began in Rochefort. Work on building Saintes festival – Saintes - 10th – 18th July 2015 a replica of the Hermione was begun at the old maritime This will take place in July 2013 in the Abbaye aux Dames in the Arsenal, on the same site as the original. centre of Saintes. The concerts are all classical with music from Program: the present day back to the . • Departure of the Hermione from the south of the island of Aix www.abbayeauxdames.org

M. Garnier whre the boat will have to sail a few days before going to the A Violin on the Sand - Royan - 25th – 28th and 31srt July 2015 United States, • Itinreary of the boat : 16:15, Port des Barques 17:00, Each year, « Un Violon sur le Sable » festival hosts prestigious entrance in the estuary of Charente, Port Neuf 17:30, Soubise • guests: musicians from the Symphony Orchestra of Violin on the xxxxx 17:45 and return from 18:00 to 20:30 close to Ile d’Aix for mooring. Sand, many coming directly from the Opera of Paris Orchestra • 21:00 : Souind and light show from 8 different places - a unique and other national and international branches, accompanied by show in France. international soloists. http://www.hermione.com www.violonsurlesable.com

Vertical Ocean Camp – La Rochelle – 24th – 26th April 2015 Souchard P. Festival Musique en Ré – Ile de Ré - 18th – 22th – 25th July 2015 New event and unique in France: Contest with the best climbers The only festival in France dedicated to amateur composers of Europe. A camp with lots of entertainments for families and gathered together so the public may appreciate the talent and contest of deep water soloing ans Jumpline. the diversity of French song. www.vertical-ocean-camp.fr www.musique-en-re.com

DEUCH’TOURS – La Rochelle – 13th – 17th May 2015 Return of the Hermione – Rochefort – End of August National meeting of french cars « 2 CV ». First time in La Rochelle. Abbey of Fontdouce festival www.nationale2cv2015-larochelle.org/ Marydor.com Saint Bris-des-Bois - 27th – 31st July 2015 Red Bull Diving – La Rochelle – 17th May 2015 Classic, pianio, jazz music in an astonishing abbey with biggest names such as Roger Muraro, Didier Lockwood, Awa Ly quartet,

xxxxx World’s biggest cliff diving competition - top international divers Rachel RATSIZAFY Septet and others. compete from 27 metres in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series! http://www.fontdouce.com/festival.html www.redbullcliffdiving.com/en_INT/event/la-rochelle-0 Theater in the Abbey Festivals “Sites en Scènes” Saint-Jean d’Angély – 31rst July – 2nd August 2015 all over the department - 15th June – 15th September 2015 http://www.angely.net All sorts of entertainment that takes place all over the destination in the summer. All the events are free. Le Grand Pavois - La Rochelle – 16th – 21th September 2015 www.charente-maritime.fr One of the most important boat shows in the world with more than 750 boats, 89,000 visitors in 2012 and covering an area of 100,000 square metres.

www.grand-pavois.com xxxxxxx Visit our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com Events in Charente-Maritime 2015

Fort Boyard Challenge – Fouras-Les-Bains – 26th – 27th Anniversaries September 2015 10th edition - Fort Boyard Challenge is a long-distance windsur The Paleosite celebrates 10 years after the opening in St ftrek that will bring together 200 participants poised to defy Césaire in Charente-Maritime on 27 May 2005, the Paleosite the mythical Fort Boyard. It is sponsored by Antoine Albeau - wants to its sponsors to celebrate its first decade. This French Wold Champion of windsufing. Other contest of stand interpretation of the prehistoric centre will allow the general up paddle and outrigger canoë. public to meet the greatest specialists of the Neanderthals, but also discover the prehistoric film festival or to participate in xxxxxxxxxx http://www.fortboyardchallenge.fr/ celebrations in prehistory. October - November - December www.paleosite.fr Jazz between Two Towers 20 years for « Pôles Nature » a network of natural sites La Rochelle 7th – 10th October 2015 created in 1995 by the Department of Charente - Maritime. 18th edition. This is one of the best known jazz festivals in This label guarantees the quality of the natural heritage France, directed by Didier Lockwood attracting stars such as and contributes to its protection. 14 natural sites, i.e. 1200 John Scofield, Joe Louis Walker and Michelle Hendricks. The protected ha open to the public, participate in the awareness beautiful setting between the towers of the old port of La of unique spaces located in the marais, in the forest, along Rochelle is exceptional. Jazz café’s, Gipsy music jazz, Jam the largest estuary in Europe, in old quarries of stone... Varied sessions… landscapes to discover through workshops, performances, www.larochelle-jazz-festival.com exhibitions and guided ; a hundred specific animations

will take place from March to October. Marydor.com Adventure film festival http://charente-maritime.fr/CG17/poles-nature La Rochelle – 18th – 22nd November 2015 The « Festival du film d’aventure » is dedicated to all lovers of documentary films of adventure, lovers of the great outdoors, curious travelers, apprentices backpacker, the eternal dreamers and of course, the faithful spectators of this event. http://www.festival-film-aventure.com/ La Rochelle Marathon - La Rochelle - 29th November 2015 The 24rd race will take place towards the end of the month and is the second fastest marathon after that of Paris. Usually about 9,000 participants take part in the marathon or the 10 kilometre race or the vrelay of two people running both 21 km or in a team of 4 people. www.marathondelarochelle.com

Distilleries en fête – Charente-Maritime – Charente 5th December – February 2016 During winter time, beyond the sleeping vineyard, distilleries are activated to change wine into brandy. The warmth of the heater still mingle the scent of future great Cognac. This fundamental moment in the process of manufacture of Cognac, is the one that chose many craftsmen to open the doors of their areas and deliver the secrets of their ancestral know-how. An animation program combining benefits tours on the vineyards of Cognac. Hosters (distillers and winegrowers selling at the cellar door), restaurants and sites of visits are part in the approach to offer a diversified throughout xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx the Cognac Appellation. www.cognacetapes.com PRESS CONTACT : Gillian GREEN - Magellan PR - Tel: +44 (0) 7515 283 287 - [email protected] Stéphane Morand - Tel: + 33 (0)5 46 31 71 77 - [email protected] Visit our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com PRESS CONTACT : Gillian GREEN - Magellan PR - Tel: +44 (0) 7515 283 287 - [email protected] Stéphane Morand - Tel: + 33 (0)5 46 31 71 77 - [email protected] Visit our website for more information: www.france-atlantic.com

Charente-Maritime Tourisme Charente Département de la Charente-Maritime Maritime 85, boulevard de la République - F-17076 LA ROCHELLE Cedex 9 La Charente Maritime ma préférence Tourism Tél. : 33 (0)5 46 31 71 71 • Fax : 33 (0)5 46 31 71 70 “ ” E-mail : [email protected] • www.en-charente-maritime.com