The Flow Vélo is a magnificent greenway (with some shared tarmacked passages) which starts from Dordogne (at Le-Lardin-Saint-Lazare), follows the course of the Charente from Angoulême and joins Fouras then (by boat, or take the pedal boat option) the Ile d'Aix, over nearly 350 km. I took some liberties with the "official" route, to go through some much narrower and less frequented paths... laflowvelo.com The Charente is a very pretty river, which invites you to take a bucolic stroll, the Flow Vélo is an ideal route for "easy" cycling trips with family or friends, many areas have been developed, particularly in Châteauneuf-sur-Charente au Bain des Dames, some portions are shaded … The Charente is navigated, you have to go through locks to do so, it is very winding, probably due to the low slope of its valley.
The region, and particularly between Cognac and Angoulême, is wealthy, you can see many castles or mansions, this wealth comes mainly from the pineau and cognac trade... It was in the 15th century that this distillation process appeared for better preserve these wines which were sent everywhere in Europe and in particular in the countries of the Hanseatic League where this "burnt wine", brandevin or brandy is very appreciated, most often diluted with water. In Cognac, the Henessy, Rémy Martin, Courvoisier and Martell houses have many buildings. I also passed in a town next to an old building used as a cellar, a very pleasant smell emanated from it.