Like many départements which boast a shore line, Charente-Maritime is a land of contrasts. It naturally enjoys a multifaceted coast line punctuated with oyster-farming marshes, sun drenched beaches and the prestigious islands of Ré, Aix and Oléron. It would however be wrong to ignore the appeal of its rural, hilly landscapes covered with vines, crossed by a calm river and dotted with a myriad of Romanesque churches. Full of diversity, Charente-Maritime also has a network of towns which have been able to preserve or recreate an exceptional heritage - from La Rochelle to Saintes, Rochefort to Royan without forgetting the towns of Saint-Jean-d'Angély, Pons or Jonzac. All this, together with products as reputable as cognac, pineau or oysters, help make this département one of the main tourist destinations in France. This book, which places great emphasis on photographs, aims to reflect this multiplicity of faces and allow readers to discover or remember the beauty of the land and sea which form the districts of Aunis and Saintonge.