CHARENTE RIVER

The 'Charente' is a river in western France, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. It is 360 km long.
Its source is in the Haute-Vienne ''département'', near Rochechouart. It flows through Haute-Vienne, Charente, Vienne and Charente-Maritime. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Rochefort.

Contents

Navigation

Navigation

The Charente has been navigable for many years, but navigation has only recently been restored after the river had been virtually abandoned by commercial shipping in the middle of the 20th century. Recreational vessels have now taken possession of the waterway of which the navigability has been completely restored as far upstream as Angoulême. Flowing through cities like Cognac, Jarnac, Saintes and Rochefort, the river has excellent possibilities for tourism.
The river has been canalized upstream from Saintes, and it has locks of a fairly modest size: some 34 by 6 meters. Marinas along the river with boats for hire and good possibilities to moor and disembark make the Charente a perfect leisure area for boat trip lovers. (Source: NoorderSoft Waterways Database)
Tributaries include:

★ Antenne

★ Né

★ Coran

★ Seugne

★ Bramerit

★ Boutonne

★ Arnoult

★ Gère
Cities along the river include:

★ Civray

★ Jarnac

★ Montignac-Charente

★ Angoulême

★ Cognac

★ Saintes

★ Taillebourg

★ Saint-Savinien

★ Tonnay-Charente

★ Rochefort

★ Soubise

★ Vergeroux