Poitou Charentes - A great autumn destination

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Autumn is a great time to visit this sunny region on the western coast of France.  The summer crowds have gone, the weather is still fine, the roads are clear, many attractions are still open to visitors, and best of all there are bargains to be had on accommodation.  Whether your preference is for camping, motorhome, bed and breakfast, gite or hotel, the autumn brings huge savings.

Temperatures here remain pleasantly warm during autumn, with September on a par with June for daytime temperatures.  This combined with low rainfall and lots of sunshine means that Poitou Charentes is an ideal destination for holidaymakers at this time of year.  Getting here is simple and affordable, whatever mode of transport you choose.

Poitou Charentes has many interesting events taking place throughout the year, and there is no let-up in September and October, with some flagship events on the agenda.  The Circuit des Remparts classic car racing event hits Angoulême this weekend, at one of the few remaining street racing circuits.  There are also racing events at the superb Val de Vienne racetrack at Le Vigeant, with the Classic Cars Endurance and Sprint weekend on 27 Sept, and the Coup de France des Circuits on 4 Oct, and these events are free to spectators. 

If you'd prefer to take part in sport, why not try the gruelling Fort Boyard Windsurf Challenge on 11 Oct, with a race starting from the beach at Fouras, around the famous Fort Boyard and back.  If music is your thing, then La Rochelle hosts the ‘Jazz between the two towers' festival on 4 Oct, and being autumn, there are Vendanges festivals at both Pamproux (10 Oct) and Blaslay (27 Sep), with music, food and of course wine to celebrate the end of the grape harvest.

All of the major attractions are open in autumn, including the Aquarium at La Rochelle, the Zoo at La Palmyre, and not forgetting the regions number one attraction Futuroscope.  Why not try the Planete des Crocodiles (new for 2008), or other animal parks such as Monkey Valley or L'Isle aux Serpents (snakes island). 

This weekend 20/21 Sept, sees the 25^th Journées européennes du patrimoine, a national event where many public buildings and monuments are opened up to the public for reduced prices or in some cases free.  Poitou Charentes has a huge number of significant heritage sites to explore, such as fortified towns, churches and buildings.  The region has numerous sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, from the famous frescoes at Saint Savin, to the six churches and buildings included within the pilgrimage routes of Santiago de Compostela, and not forgetting the newly listed fortified town of St Martin de Ré, built by Vauban.

Poitou Charentes has long been favoured as an ideal stop-off point for motorhome enthusiasts en-route to southern Spain for the winter, not only because of its location and great roads, but because of the excellent camping sites and facilities on offer in the region.  The off-season pricing makes it an even more attractive option for a short break.

With few people escaping the effects of the credit crunch, now more than ever is a great time to escape the doom and gloom and choose Poitou Charentes for an autumn break at a knockdown price.  Check out GUIDE2 for details of all the attractions, and see our accommodation listings which are being constantly updated.