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Talmont

Visit Talmont, Poitou-Charentes

Note: this article describes Talmont-sur-Gironde in Gironde, not Talmont-Saint-Hilaire in the Vendee department.

Talmont is a village about 15 km south-east of Royan on a promontory on the northern side of the Gironde estuary in Poitou Charentes. The village is officially one of the  'most beautiful villages of France'.

Surprisingly perhaps given its position, Talmont was founded as an English bastide town in the 13th century and the layout of the streets now is more or less the same as it has been for the last 700 years.

Exploring Talmont

The streets are narrow and to be explored on foot - leave your car in the large car park just outside the village.

A small village, Talmont is best known for the lovely 11th century church of St Radegonde, built in the Roman style and surrounded by a small cemetery, that stands at the head of the promontory right on the edge of the cliffs. Apart from its location, the church also has some highlights to discover such as the ornately carved entrance, and some fascinating carvings of animal heads just below roof level. If possible try and see the church at sunset when its colours are most attractive.

The views along the coast from the cemetery are very impressive, with high white cliffs in both directions.

Be sure to also take a stroll through the narrow streets of the village to see the low attractive whitewashed houses, reminiscent perhaps of small villages in Greece. You can also take a stroll around the ramparts that once surrounded the town.

This exploring is especially pleasant from the end of spring to well into the summer, when self-seeded hollyhocks seem to push from every crack and space possible - both in the village and the cemetery - which is a very unusual sight for which Talmont is renowned, and which brings a lovely splash of colour to the town.

Local highlights

Much of the interest nearby follows the coastline, with lovely beaches and small villages and towns to explore.

Tourist classifications for Talmont: One of the most beautiful village in France (plus beau villages);

Suggested places to visit near Talmont, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Soulac-sur-Mer 17km; Mornac-sur-Seudre 22km; Montalivet 23km; Lesparre-Medoc 25km; La Palmyre 28km; Saintes 32km; La Tremblade 32km; Vertheuil 32km; Ronce-les-Bains 35km; Brouage 37km; Jonzac 38km; Pauillac 39km; Hourtin 40km; Rochefort 46km; Cognac 49km; Blaye 49km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Talmont

Talmont tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Parcs et jardins du château de Beaulon - remarkable garden (20km) : Abbaye aux Dames de Saintes (Saintes) - religious monument (32km) : Upper Church et lower Church de Saint Eutrope (Saintes) - religious monument (32km) : La Roche Courbon - remarkable garden (33km) : Eglise de Saint-Germain (Gimeux) - religious monument (43km) : Abbaye de Fontdouce (Saint-Bris-des-Bois) - religious monument (44km) : Eglise de Saint-Savinien (Fenioux) - religious monument (46km) : Parc du château Lanessan - remarkable garden (49km) :