One of France's most beautiful villages
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne
About 25 minutes by car from Carmagnac
Aubeterre-sur-Dronne is officially listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, and it earns the title the moment you walk in: pale limestone houses tumbling down a wooded slope towards the river Dronne, with flower-hung lanes and shaded terraces at every turn.
Its great curiosity is the Église Saint-Jean, a monolithic church carved directly into the cliff — a cool, cavernous space that feels entirely unexpected beneath such a small village. Above it, the church of Saint-Jacques presents a beautifully carved Romanesque façade.
It makes an easy half-day from Carmagnac: a slow wander, lunch on a terrace on the place Trarieux, and an afternoon by the river.
Worth your time
- Monolithic underground church carved into the cliff
- Riverside beach and walks along the Dronne
- Café terraces and small artisan shops on the main square
Stay nearby
Carmagnac is a five-star adults-only retreat for two in Vaux-Lavalette, with a private hot tub and panoramic views over the Charente countryside — about 25 minutes from Aubeterre-sur-Dronne.