Things to see

In the south of the Charente department, Aubeterre sur Dronne was built in a natural amphitheatre of the chalk cliffs which rise from the banks of the River Dronne. Its charming streets, with their winding passageways and hidden nooks and crannies, and its characteristic houses of white, chalk, stone with wooden balconies, have allowed it to take its natural place as one of the 151 most beautiful villages in France. 

It was known long ago as “Alba Terra”, and its situation in a protected area of natural beauty ensures that its economic life is based on ecotourism. The underground Church of St.Jean, often referred to as the monolithic church, attracts thousands of visitors each year; whilst the chateau, the three monasteries and convents, “Cordeliers, Minimes and Clarisses”, the medieval hospital of St.Francis, and the Church of St.Jacques, all bear witness to a rich history bound up with the Roman church and the 17th century wars of religion.
 

Today the “ville basse”, long the working quarter of the village, is still at the heart of Aubeterre life, full of shops and the work shops of skilled artisans; potters, woodcrafts, a glassblower, dressmaker, leather worker, and painters’ galleries and studios. The Place Trarieux, named after the village’s most famous son, Ludovic Trarieux, founder of the French League of Human Rights, is where locals and visitors alike meet for a chat and a coffee. The population of the village numbers only 430 but during the long summer months its ranks swell with British, Dutch, French and Belgians, holiday home owners and holiday makers, making it a truly European experience.