Cycle Tours of Charente
from La Giraudière
, Brossac, South West France


pineau cognac grapes cycling image

Introducing Cycling in Charente

South West France is an absolute haven for cyclists and cycling holidays, and the region of Charente particularly so. Located in Brossac, La Giraudière offers a fantastic base from which to explore this charming area, with many views, sites, towns and activities to be discovered and enjoyed.
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These cycle routes are designed to cater for different types of interests and capabilities, ranging from easy to quite difficult. Depending on what you want to do - whether it is to simply have a look around Brossac, to see some historic towns and sites in Charente, or to do some hard cycling (and even all of the above) - I have tried my best to offer a variety of circuits, each marked out by a set of attractions diverses. Brossac has many of its own, including a delightful Parc de Loisirs located at the picturesque 'Etang Vallier' lake (left), along with jet skiing, quad biking, an equestrian centre, an aviation school, and even Lama-riding.. The routes are designed with scenery in mind, and you will often be taken past a pineau/cognac distillery -  the chosen wine of the region. Just remember you need to get home!

Brossac actually has its own set of three cycling routes - famille, découverte and expédition - which are also shown on the website, and many of my own routes overlap these designated cycle paths, which are very easy to follow. The region of Charente is certainly hilly, but there are some flatter areas for a more leisurely outing. LG actually sits in one of the highest areas of the region, which inevitably means that whilst going out of Brossac is relatively easy, the ride back can often be somewhat challenging! One resident of LG in October, Nicolas, who was used to cycling around Cambridge, will personally attest to this... So, if you are prepared to get on your bike, be prepared to face some tough hills. Luckily, the breathtaking scenery, the feeling of self-achievement, and possibly a bit of pineau along the way make it all well worth it.



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                 The Routes                  

For a morning/afternoon outing...


Introduction to Brossac (13km)

South of La Giraudiere (26km)



A trip into town (these are longer)...


Chalais (28km)

Montguyon

Aubeterre (53km)



For those interested in History...





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This page was written by Tom Quayle who studied History with French at Birmingham University 2005-2009. He arrived at LG in October, and during his three weeks he toured the Sud-Charente region by bike in order to create these cycle routes for future guests. Tom has done a fair amount of cycling, including numerous cycle holidays in northern France, and is planning to tackle Bordeaux-Barcelona next spring.



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