Page 411 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

d housed in the 15th­ to 16th­ Visiting the ruins of
century château where
Saintes’s open-air
Cognac François I was born. The Roman amphitheater
distillery was established in
! C5 ⌂ Charente £ @ n 16
rue du 14 Juillet; www. 1795 by a Scot named Otard.
tourism-cognac.com Much of the Renaissance 24
architecture can be seen
Wherever you spot the black during the tour, which Saintes
lichen stains from alcohol eva­ includes a cognac tasting. ! C5 ⌂ Charente-Maritime
poration on the exterior of the £ @ n Place Bassompierre;
buildings in this river port, you Château Royal de Cognac www.saintes-tourisme.fr
may be sure that you are look­ "' ⌂ 127 blvd Den fert-
ing at a storehouse of cognac. Rochereau # Hours vary, Saintes has an extra ordinarily
All the great cognac houses check website ¢ Jan, 1 May rich architectural heritage. It
run tours – one of the best is & public hols in winter boasted the only bridge over
at Château Royal de Cognac, ∑ chateauroyaldecognac.com the lower Charente, well used
by pilgrims on their way to
Santiago de Compo stela. The
Roman bridge no longer exists,
EAT & DRINK but you can still admire the Arc
de Germanicus (AD 19), which
used to mark its entrance.
Chez Yvette Captain Houblon On the same side of the river
Local seafood joint since Convivial pub offering is the fine Abbaye aux Dames.
the early 1960s. craft beer and delicious Consecrated in 1047, it was
! B5 ⌂ 59 blvd du General charcuterie plates. modernized in the 12th cen­
Leclerc, Arcachon ∑ ! B4 ⌂ 8 rue de la Ferte, La tury. Be sure to stop to admire
restaurant-chez-yvette- Rochelle the decora ted portal and the
arcachon.fr ∑ captainhoublon.com vigorous 12th­century head
of Christ in the apse.
¡¡¡ ¡¡¡ On the left bank is the 1st­
century Roman amphi theatre.
La Ferme aux Grives Villabordoh Further away lies the Église St­
Classic French restaurant Casual French bistro Eutrope. In the 15th century,
in an old converted barn. at a local inn. this church had the misfortune
! C6 ⌂ 334 rue René ! C5 ⌂ A5 rue de la Halle, to effect a miraculous cure of
Vielle, Eugenie-les-Bains Margaux ¢ Dinner the dropsy on Louis XI. In a par­
∑ michelguerard.com ∑ villabordoh.com oxysm of gratitude, he did his
best to wreck it with ill­judged
¡¡¡ ¡¡¡
Gothic additions. Its rare
Romanesque capitals survive.
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