What you need to know for owning a barge or for a holiday or trip on French canals, rivers and waterways. How to operate locks, what times can you sail and types of boat licences and permits that may be required.

Launched June 2004, the "Health Card" is for EU residents to use to access medical resourses when travelling outside of their EU country of residence.

Real-time currency conversion between the world's currencies - here at AngloINFO.

The core information on the people and their history, geography, politics, military, economy and statistics everyone needs to know about France, supplied by the CIA.

Taking a holiday in Western France? Going on vacation to Poitou-Charentes? Information on finding the right place to stay: self-catering accommodation, bed and breakfast, rural gite or cottage or budget hotel or backpacker accommodation, find out more.

Information on access to - and activities on - the four islands which lie off the coast of Charente-Maritimes: the Ile de Re, Ile d'Oleron, Ile d'Aix and Ile Madame.

Access to interactive maps of the region that let you get right down to the level of individual street addresses!

A calendar of the national vacation days when businesses, schools and banks close and people get the day off in France. With links to holidays in the UK and US.

Printed guides to the country in the AngloINFO Bookshop - buy online!

Printed guides to the area in the AngloINFO Bookshop - buy online!

The legal points you should now - from visas to consumer rights.

The current local weather conditions, extended local forecasts, and additional weather information for the departements of Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sevres and Vienne.