The best road cycling routes around Les Touches-De-Périgny

The Aulany forest covers approximately 2,000 hectares, shared between Charente-Maritime and Deux-Sèvres. Composed mainly of oaks and beeches, it is home to quite rich flora and fauna. It was also one of the most remarkable beech forests in the region, before the storm of 1999. The massif, under reconstruction, is one of the Natura 2000 sites in Charente-Maritime. You can discover remains from the Neolithic period, particularly around Aulnay.

On the banks of the Charente, the Château de Cognac symbolizes the town's reputation. Today a Cognac House, it welcomes visitors to help them discover its history, but also that of the eaux-de-vie produced there.

Informative museum about the history of Cognac production, plus chocolate and cigars (the owner has some link to cuba), a VR farm machinery simulator (which is awesome) and a small car museum.

Located on a rocky spur overlooking the Charente, Taillebourg has one of the oldest castles in the province of Saintonge. It was also one of the most important in the region in the Middle Ages. This stronghold will allow the city to assert its power and prosper thanks to its port and control of trade throughout the Middle Ages. According to a chronicler, the Château de Taillebourg hosted the wedding night of Louis, future king of France under the name Louis VII, with Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine. Louis IX (future Saint Louis) made the castle his fortress to launch the attack against the King of England, Henry III. This victorious battle of July 21, 1242 became famous and was represented several centuries later by Delacroix, whose painting can be seen in the Battles gallery at the Palace of Versailles. The castle which had endured all the sieges during the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion was taken and destroyed during the Fronde in 1652. During the Revolution, it was sold in lots as national property. Having suffered from lack of maintenance, the building was the victim of a fire in 1822 and was largely destroyed. All that remains now are the ruins with the ramparts and a tower standing like an emaciated being. It now houses a park which is a haven of peace. To access it from the banks of the Charente, you have to take a small detour through the town.

Informative museum primarily about cognac, also including sections on cigars and coffee (the owner has some connection with Cuba), plus an excellent virtual reality farm equipment driving experience, and a small collection of cars!

Cognac is a beautiful, wealthy town where the future François 1st was born (hence the house of the same name). This wealth comes mainly from the pineau and cognac trade… It was in the 15th century that this distillation process appeared to better preserve these wines which were sent throughout Europe and in particular to the countries of the Hanseatic League where this "burnt wine", brandevin or brandy is very appreciated, most often cut off from water. In Cognac, the Henessy, Rémy Martin, Courvoisier and Martell houses have numerous buildings. I also passed in a town next to an old building used as a cellar, a very pleasant smell emanated from it.

Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, this church, listed as a historic monument in 1912, is a spectacular work of art. Well worth the drive past when crossing town!

Very rural and wooded area, Dampierre-sur-Boutonne is a quiet little town to cross. The 15th century castle and the Asinerie du Baudet du Poitou are particularly impressive!