Each Friday I highlight some of the events taking place in the Charente over the weekend...
Image: www.lapalene.fr
Friday 26 June
Les Sarabandes – music, art and street theatre festival
Shows, workshops, art, artisans, clowns and lots more
Bignac
More info: www.lapalene.fr
Jazz, rock and blues - Musiques actuelles
Music from the conservatoire de musique de Grand Cognac
Les Abattoirs, Cognac
8.30pm
Admission free but reservations advised
More info: 05 45 32 17 28
Classical music with Ensemble Béania
Accompanied by the Acamac choir and orchestra
With soloist Karen Broughton
Playing Brahms Saint-Saëns, Janequin, Messiaen and Cladera
Saint-Etienne church, Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde
8.30pm
Admission: €10, free for under 12s
More info: 05 45 78 40 32
Visit Moulin des Pierres Blanches windmill
Moulin des Pierres-Blanches, Villefagnan
Guided tours Saturday to Tuesday, 3pm and 3.30pm (until 16 August, then by appointment)
Admission €4 and €1.50
More info: 05 45 31 60 57 or 06 71 41 37 22
Painting exhibition and sale – Fleur d'Isa
On the theme of the poppy
Prieuré de Rauzet (Rauzet Priory), Combiers
9am to 6pm
Saturday 27 June
Les Sarabandes – music, art and street theatre festival
Shows, workshops, art, artisans, clowns and lots more
Bignac
More info: www.lapalene.fr
Summer musical festival - Musical’été
With clowns too
The streets of this lovely town come alive to music
Château, Villebois-Lavalette
4pm to midnight
Admission free
More info: 05 16 09 69 43 or www.lacharente.fr
Music and flowers - Rock'n'flore
Artisans village and botanical walk (6.30pm) followed by music (from 7.30pm)
Mornac
South American songs
With the Chatillon vocal and instrumental ensemble
Abbey church, Marcillac-Lanville
7pm
Tickets: €16, free for under 12s
More info: 05 45 21 80 05
Saint Jean (St John) fête
Place du Port, Bourg-Charente
Includes 'aquavalcade' on River Charente on Sunday at 4pm
Admission free
More info: 05 45 80 89 25
Village fête – Barretoise
With music from Portugal, artisans and lots more
Sports ground, Barret
Birdwatching walk
Office de Tourisme de Haute-Charente, Massignac
From 9am
Reservations necessary
More info: 05 45 65 26 69 or ww.lacshautecharente.com
Saturday walk – on the Meteorite trail
A 5km walk to see a distinctive feature of the area, the rock formed by the impact of the ancient meteor that hit this region. The rocks are known as 'impact breccias' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breccia
Hameau de Valette, Pressignac
2.30pm
More info: 05 45 65 26 69
All about bees - 'Butinons au jardin'
Discover the world of the honeybee
Le Jardin Respectueux, Châteaubernard
2pm to 6pm
Contributions at visitors' discretion
More info: 05 45 80 81 15
Taste local food and delicacies - 'De la Vigne au Pineau'
Place de la Liberté, Châteauneuf-sur-Charente
10am to 1pm
Each dish: €3
More info: 05 45 97 86 97 or 05 45 97 12 42
Music and fire acts
Based on Celtic music
La Combe at Roux, Jauldes
8pm
Admission free
More info: 06 10 88 26 52
Saint Jean (St John) fête
Salle des fêtes, Vouzan
From 9pm
Archaeology discovery day
Explore the ancient Roman villa of Embourie and its garden
Villa des Châteliers, Paizay-Naudouin-Embourie
2.30pm to 6.30pm. Guided visits from 4pm
Admission: Garden: €2.50, full site ad garden: €3.50, free for under 16s
More info: 05 45 31 07 14, 07 80 38 37 89 or www.villa-gallo-romaine-embourie.com
Visit Moulin des Pierres Blanches windmill
Moulin des Pierres-Blanches, Villefagnan
Guided tours Saturday to Tuesday, 3pm and 3.30pm (until 16 August, then by appointment)
Admission €4 and €1.50
More info: 05 45 31 60 57 or 06 71 41 37 22
Painting exhibition and sale – Fleur d'Isa
On the theme of the poppy
Prieuré de Rauzet (Rauzet Priory), Combiers
9am to 6pm
Sunday 28 June
Les Sarabandes – music, art and street theatre festival
Shows, workshops, art, artisans, clowns and lots more
Bignac
More info: www.lapalene.fr
Choral concert – Chorales
With the L’Écho de la Tardoire and Le Tourdion de Montbazillac
Salle culturelle des Carmes, La Rochefoucauld
5pm
Tickets: €8
More info: 05 45 63 07 45 or www.lescarmes.org
Celtic music and musical show
With Joanne McIver and Christophe Saunière then Aline & Compagnie
Saint-Martial church, Brigueuil
9pm
Admission free
More info: 05 49 38 49 38 or www.nuitsromanes.poitou-charentes.fr
Part of the 'Nuits Romanes' series of summer events
Fire act and Eastern music
With Compagnie Attrap’Lune then Finzi Mozaïque Ensemble
Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, Voeuil-et-Giget
9pm
Admission free
More info: 05 49 38 49 38 or www.nuitsromanes.poitou-charentes.fr
Part of the 'Nuits Romanes' series of summer events
Saint Jean (St John) fête
Place du Port, Bourg-Charente
Includes 'aquavalcade' on River Charente on Sunday at 4pm
Admission free
More info: 05 45 80 89 25
Local dialect fête - Festival de patois
Songs, stories, drama and more
Place des patoisants, Poullignac
10am to 7pm
Lunch: €14
More info: 06 88 32 70 41
Pergolese's Stabat Mater
Saint-Antoine church, Cognac
5pm
Concert in aid of village of Boala in Burkina Faso
Contribution at audience's discretion
More info: 05 45 32 09 63
Vintage car and tractor display
Terrain Communal - common land – at Rancogne
8am to 8pm
More info: 06 22 85 05 59
Breakfast at the castle tower: 'Thé ou café'
Breakfast in the round tower of the former château of the counts of Angoulême
Meet Hôtel de Ville courtyard, Angoueleme
10am to 11am
Tickets: €5
Reservations essential – places are limited
More info: 05 45 69 15 26, 06 37 83 29 72 ou viapatrimoine@gmail.com
Guided tour of former château of the counts of Angoulême
Meet in the courtyard at the Hôtel de Ville, Angoulême
3pm to 4.15pm and 4.30pm to 5.45pm
Reservations required
Tickets: €4 and €2.50, free for under 16s
More info and reservations: 05 45 69 15 26, 06 37 83 29 72 or viapatrimoine@gmail.com
Village fête – Barretoise
With music from Portugal, artisans and lots more
Sports ground, Barret
All about bees - 'Butinons au jardin'
Discover the world of the honeybee
Le Jardin Respectueux, Châteaubernard
2pm to 6pm
Contributions at visitors' discretion
More info: 05 45 80 81 15
Choral music
With vocal ensembles Arpège and Amadevs
Notre-Dame church, Ligné
4pm
Tickets: €10, free for under 12s
Proceeds go to church restoration fund
Clown improvisation
With the Compagnie Juste Nez
Salle des fêtes, Aunac
6.30pm
Visit Moulin des Pierres Blanches windmill
Moulin des Pierres-Blanches, Villefagnan
Guided tours Saturday to Tuesday, 3pm and 3.30pm (until 16 August, then by appointment)
Admission €4 and €1.50
More info: 05 45 31 60 57 or 06 71 41 37 22
Painting exhibition and sale – Fleur d'Isa
On the theme of the poppy
Prieuré de Rauzet (Rauzet Priory), Combiers
9am to 6pm
