ABOUT THE HAMLET OF
LA BRÉCHOIRE

La Bréchoire is a hamlet near Auge in Charente. It is in the Fins Bois, an important cognac-producing area centred on Rouillac (a market town of about 2,000 inhabitants). Local farmers grow cereals, sunflowers, peas, rape and maize - as well as vines. Even tobacco has been seen growing 2 km away, at Anville.

What's the name of the place: is it La Bréchoire or Labréchoire? Click on the picture above to see what I mean.

Though it's not easy to find, there is some industry here and there. The plywood factory (Joubert) at the neighbouring hamlet of Les Eliots employs over 100 people. The hamlet currently has three other holiday homes belonging to British people. A glance through the phone directory for Charente suggests that 10% or more of the population may be of UK origin.

General information, in French, about Auge and Saint-Médard here.

There are no bars, restaurants or shops at la Bréchoire, Auge or Saint-Médard, although various vans call at the villages. If you can work out where they are stopping and have your running shoes handy, you may be lucky. This is my best guess:

Otherwise for food you'll have to cycle or drive the 4km. to Verdille on the D75/66. You can get most of your key supplies there - except wood for the fire or charcoal for the barbecue.

Verdille boasts a hairdresser (Marot), a Tabac and a cognac-producer (Landreau) - in addition to the food shops listed below. As well as the obvious shops, there are good-quality food producers scattered around the countryside, notably at Le Mortier near Anville. There are a huge number of cognac/pineau producers within a few kilometres, as the maroon roadside signs testify - with four in Sonneville alone. I can recommend Laval-Aubinaud at Mons (in the Aigre direction).

Aigre is a good place to visit for shops (shut Monday) and the PMU bar. Otherwise, the Intermarché or Champion at Jarnac, and SuperU or Netto at Rouillac can supply your everyday needs, including petrol.

You could ask locally about firewood (bois de chauffage), which is sold by the stere (which is, if you didn't know, a cubic metre). That's actually quite a lot, and would do you for two weeks in winter. Alternatively there are a few guest houses within 15-20 minutes' drive! The attached list is compiled from official sources. I can't speak for the quality of any of them.

Unless otherwise indicated, all the following shops are in Verdille.

	Boucherie-Charcuterie Gérard Georget is excellent and, like all the shops, opens on Sunday morning. You may see their van call at the villages. You'll find them at the Aigre market on Thursday mornings. Closed: Mon and Sun pm. T: 05 45 21 00 30
	Two doors along (the Tabac is in between) Pascal and Catherine Menesplier run a beautiful Boulangerie-Patisserie called Aux Délices du Four à Bois. You can buy wine, cheese, coffee and cold drinks here too. Closed: Mon and Sun pm. T: 05 45 21 09 36
	You can buy a surprisingly wide range of stuff from the Tabac, including a small selection of veg. But better to get your vegetables from the nearby farm at Le Mortier (weekends or by appointment). Fish van in the car park on Thursdays, and oysters on Sundays.
	The Cave du Liboreau at Siecq (there are others at Jarnac, Montignac and Aigre) is an excellent place to bring your cubitaire for 'everyday' Bordeaux wine. Don't ignore the good Charentais wine or well-priced cognac (Calisinac). The distillery is behind the shop. T: 05 46 26 61 86

Copyright © 2001-2010 Colin Wight & Anne Young