From lazing on the beaches to tasting some world class cognac there's plenty to do in Poitou Charentes. The seaside town of Royan in the Charente Maritime is often voted as one of the safest, cleanest and best resorts in France. It has no less than five beaches as well as a marina and fishing port. A little further north you will find the chic city of La Rochelle which is famous for it's upmarket restaurants, shops and boutiques as well as for the twin harbour towers that guard the old port. La Rochelle is connected to the Ile de Ré by a 2.9km bridge. This beautiful island is home to the most expensive houses in Poitou Charentes and attracts buyers from all over the world, particularly in the summer months when the population swells from 20,000 to around 220,000.

The coast is particularly popular here as the beaches are sandy and gently sloping while the micro climate makes it the second sunniest part of France.

If lazing on the beach is not your thing then why not explore further inland. Take a trip into the region around Cognac and you will be met by gently rolling hills covered in grapevines. In the town centre you can take a tour of the major cognac producers such as Hennessy, Martell and Remy Martin or wander through the cobbled streets down to the river Charente where you can climb aboard one of the flat bottomed "gabarier" boats and see more of this beautiful river.

There are plenty of attractions for children, the most famous of which has to be Futuroscope which is second only to Eurodisney in popularity. Over 1.5 million visitors flock here each year to sample the mix of rides and 4D cinemas. It's a theme park that manages to be both fun and educational at the same time - you won't go hungry either as the park boasts eight full service restaurants as well as ten snack bars!

The Vallee des Singes is a huge (15 hectare) monkey and ape park where many of the 350 primates who live there mix freely with the visitors. The best way to visit is to follow the feeding schedule and you'll find that the park is clean and tidy while the animals are well cared for by the knowledgeable staff. All of the animals were born in captivity and for many it's their first taste of open air "freedom".

Next to the park you will find the Parc de la Belle where you can stay overnight in tree-houses in a 10 hectare forest. The tree-houses are between 4 and 12 metres in height and breakfast is left at the bottom of the tree and has to be hauled up by pulley.

The Aquarium in La Rochelle is one of the best in Europe and has over 10,000 sea creatures to wonder at whilst a little further south on the edge of Royan you will find the La Palymyre zoo which, again, is seen to be one of the best in Europe with animals from polar bears to elephants.

Les Antilles de Jonzac is a water park and swimming pool complex that provides a great day out whether summer or winter. As well as the pools there are slides, water toboggans, indoor beaches, beauty & fitness centres and restaurants.

Sporty types will love Poitou Charentes too. There are 21 golf courses to choose from ranging from a quick 9 holes for a fun holiday game to 18 hole championship courses. Cyclists will be in heaven too - indeed you're positively encouraged to cycle rather than drive on the Ile de Ré. Around Poitiers you will find around 400km of cycle routes. These meander through some wonderful countryside. In the Deux-Sèvres a popular cycling route is between Thouars and Parthenay, a trek that leads past Roman remains, over ancient bridges and along beautiful wooded valleys.

Fishermen, tennis players, ice skaters, canoeists, footballers, rugbymen and gymnasts will all find excellent facilities in Poitou Charentes - just ask at your nearest tourist office and they will point you in the right direction.

The meandering river Charente is one of the most beautiful in France. This wonderful river flows through 381 km's of the most beautiful countryside in Haute Vienne, Vienne, Charente and Charente-Maritime. It was described by Henry IV as "the most beautiful stream in my kingdom" and you will find some of the prettiest towns and villages of the region scattered around its banks.

The river starts life outside Rochechouart in the Haute Vienne and flows into the Atlantic at Rochefort in the Charente Maritime.

The Charente was fully navigable for many years and you can still get as far upstream as Angouleme (capital of the Charente) passing through such scenic towns as Rochefort, Saintes, Jarnac and Cognac. The locks are easy to navigate and some of them are particularly attractive - the perfect spot to stop and have a picnic. You can hire boats at Crown Blue Lines in Jarnac who recommend a one week cruise from Jarnac to Angouleme or a one week cruise from Jarnac to Rochefort.

South West France is famous for the colour and variety of its markets. All of the major towns have at least one daily market and it's worthwhile visiting Poitiers, Parthenay, La Rochelle, St Jean d'Angely, Angouleme, Ruffec and Cognac to name but a few. Make sure you don't miss the regular market at Chauvigny in the Vienne too as it has a huge variety of food, wines and related products. If you are in Poitou Charentes on the 27th of the month then take a trip to Rouillac in the Charente. You'll find one of the largest markets in Europe as the whole town is taken over for the day - from livestock to tractors and from local wines to a pair of shoes you will be amazed by the colour and variety of this bustling "foire".

Of course the region is famous around the world for the production of Cognac. Go into any bar from Caracacas to Shanghai and you will see bottles of Courvoisier, Hennessy and Remy Martin. Tourists flock to the region all year round and you will find that many local dishes have a drop of cognac in the recipe. Whilst most famous as a digestif you'll find that bars now offer a Cognac Schweppes as an aperitif and run competitions to find the best cognac cocktail.

The local wines may not have the caché of the nearby Bordeaux's and St Emilion's but they are eminently drinkable and you'll find them most reasonably priced. There is also a local speciality called Pineau de Charentes which is a delicious fortified wine and one of the best kept secrets of the region. If you are lucky enough to be invited for aperitifs or dinner by one of your French neighbours you will almost certainly be invited to try a "taster".

Seafood is an important part of the local cuisine - go to a market on Christmas Eve and watch the locals staggering away with trays laden with freshly harvested oysters. Indeed if you want a fascinating day out then visit the Marennes-Oleron oyster beds which is by far the largest cultivation area in Europe.

Naturally cheese also plays a big role at meal time and local specialities include the Chabichou du Poitou which has a crinkly skin and a dense, chalky paste that melts in the mouth. Other local cheeses to try include Mothais, Bûche du Poitou and Chabi.

Finally you'll find that the famous Truffle is used in many local recipes. The riverside town of Jarnac has a very famous truffle market where people come from all over the region to taste, buy and argue over the best ways of eating them.

Location, location, location - airports, motorway network and TGV links make Poitou Charentes easily accessible. When looking to buy a house in France the famous saying of "location, location, location" is just as applicable as it is elsewhere in the world.

You will find that Poitou Charentes is brilliantly situated with great links to the rest of France and beyond.

The airports of La Rochelle and Poitiers are open all year round with flights to the UK, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Germany and, of course, France.

To find a full list of destinations and timetables visit the airport websites here - La Rochelle, Poitiers.

You'll find TGV stops with connections to the Eurostar in Lille & Paris and the motorway network is easily accessed from pretty much anywhere in the region.

To find a full list of TGV destinations and timetables visit the website here - SNCF.