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Matha - in Cognac country
The town of Matha is a small but bustling market town in the Charente-Maritime area of western France. It lies in the heart of Cognac country, with the vineyards from which the drink is made, all around. In early summer the fields are also full of beautiful golden sunflowers, making this one of France's prettiest regions. It is also one of the sunniest, as the Charente-Maritime boasts a sunshine record second only to that found on the Mediterranean coast!
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Traditional French town
The atmosphere of Matha is traditionally French, especially on Fridays when the market stall holders arrive and market fever hits the town. This is the time to leave your bed early and get down to the town centre to make sure you beat the locals at their own game and find the freshest and best of local produce. It's the place to purchase the delicious oysters which are brought fresh to the market, and also to treat yourself to a bottle or two of locally made Cognac or Pineau... the Charente-Maritime speciality which is a blend of wine and Cognac.
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Shopping and dining in Matha
The traditional French pleasures of shopping and dining are alive and well in Matha, and the little town offers a choice of several restaurants and a good variety of shops including three supermarkets. There are a couple of friendly little bars too, so you can sip your drink and practice your French in the time honoured fashion.
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Places of interest
There's not a lot to see in terms of historical sites here, but there is a little of the old chateau remaining. It doesn't take long to drive to many other places of interest however. St Jean d'Angely is close by, with its ancient streets and extensive tourist facilities.
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Sports and leisure facilities in the area
If you like to lie back and enjoy the beautiful scenery, you will find that this is a very good way of spending the time in Matha! If, however, you prefer to be a little more active, Matha and its surrounding areas can supply you with lots of sports and leisure opportunities to ensure that you will never be bored. There are several golf courses within easy reach of the town, and other sports on offer are swimming (there is a great swimming centre with water slides at St Jean d'Angely), horse-riding, walking and fishing.
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Family days out
Family days out are also popular here, and there are some fantastic places to go. Try visiting the Valley of the Monkeys, where you can see many species of monkeys living in a lovely natural environment, or the educational theme park of Futuroscope at Poitiers. Spend a day at the beach at Royan, with its great beaches and sea sports on offer or take a trip to the busy and exciting port of La Rochelle. Île de Ré is worth visiting too for its luminescent beauty. There are also a variety of events and festivals which take place in the region every year. The Tourist Office is the place to supply up to the minute details.
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How to get there
It is simplicity itself to get to Matha from the UK. The area is served by two airports, La Rochelle and Poitiers, both of which offer direct flights to and from the UK with budget airlines, ensuring that you can reach your destination without spending a fortune or having to drive all day! La Rochelle is served by Ryanair, flybe and easyJet, while Poitiers is served by Ryanair. Rail travel is also possible, with TGV stations at Angoulême and Poitiers. This makes rail travel a good choice as you can easily link to the TGV after disembarking from Eurostar in Paris.
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Property prices and availability in and around Matha
The popularity of the Charente-Maritime has increased considerably in recent years with prices rising accordingly. It is still possible to find a bargain, however, and the region around Matha offers some beautiful traditional properties and farmsteads typical of the Charentes.
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AGENTS WITH PROPERTY IN THIS AREA |
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