Charente

Charente, river, western France. It rises near Rochechouart and then flows north-west to Civray, where it turns south to Angoulême. From there it flows west past Jarnac and Cognac. Flowing then north-west past Saintes, it empties into the Bay of Biscay below Rochefort, opposite the Île d'Oléron. The river is about 354 km (220 mi) long and is navigable from the mouth to Angoulême (a distance of about 150 km, or 95 mi). The Charente is important as a transport route for the famous French brandies of the Cognac area.