The leading English language magazine. Now covering Poitou-Charentes, Dordogne, Vendée and Haute-Vienne too!

Chris Luck takes a look at an extraordinary area which since 1980 has been the first, and only, State Nature Reserve in Vienne (86)…

As we launch into summer, everything in the garden will soon be starting to look at its best. Roger Moss visits some very special places to give a little timely inspiration... 

David Royer, 37, is Head Chef at Les Orangeries Hotel and Restaurant in Lussac-les-Châteaux. He lives locally with Tiina his Finnish wife, and their three children...

In a big country, where the time-worn phrase ‘freedom of the open road’ still has real meaning, it’s hardly surprising that people manage to find interesting ways of heading off and enjoying it in style... 

To accompany our feature Sky High....

Why not visit one of the many beautiful lakes in Poitou-Charentes? They offer plenty of opportunities to swim, boat, fish and generally enjoy splashing about in water and are a welcoming change to the busy beaches in summer. Ron Cousins shows us the best across the region...

Our beautiful region counts 13 gardens boasting the coveted 'Jardin Remarquable' quality label, an award earned by gardens that have that something special to distinguish them from the wealth of other heavenly gardens open to the public. Stéphanie Bérusseau, garden correspondent for the Rendez-Vous Aux Jardins event within the Poitou-Charentes Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC), tells us what's special about each one...

The 2011 vendange saw the first harvest of Haut-Poitou wines which have been awarded the much-sought after AOC label. We found out what this means to the winegrowers of the region…

Futuroscope celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2012. But what exactly is it? You'll never know until you go as Roger Moss explains...

Without doubt, one of the delights of the region are the Romanesque churches that decorate even the smallest village. The thrill of turning a street corner and seeing artistry that dates back hundreds of years can stop you in your tracks and make you wonder at the history behind these gems. Martin Cole explains how for him and his wife Maggie, this wonder turned into a journey of discovery ...