Confolens – a ‘City with History’

Confolens is an attractive, rural, medieval town in the Charente region of South West France and is situated on the river Vienne, at the confluence with the river Goire (the name coming from the word ‘confluence’). Confolens covers 20 square km with a population of just under 3,000. The current population is mix of predominantly French with a growing influx of English and Dutch. Regular markets, musical events and sports activities keep us all busy.

Confolens is home to the spectacular International Folklore Festival, a week long event in August each year, attracting hundreds of performers and thousands of visitors to the town. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, Oak and Chestnut trees, Pine forests and lakes and wonderful wildlife, Confolens is a delightful rural location and a perfect getaway for a quiet, relaxing, stress free holiday.

History of Confolens

The history of Confolens is a fascinating story of trade, industry and travel. A beautiful medieval market town, built either side of the confluence of the Vienne and Goire rivers, (hence its name). With Romanesque churches, an eleventh century fortress with city walls, thirteenth century courthouse, the bridge across the river, (mentioned as far back as the fourteenth century), half timbered houses from the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries and the nineteenth century administrative buildings, the story of Confolens is told throughout the town.

The town of Confolens grew in importance because the Vienne is the only river that flows north in France. Trades, transport and tanneries used the natural route and the original Roman bridge was the only way to cross to the other side, putting the town firmly on the map. So popular was the route, the volume of traffic (people, animals, carts and merchandise), caused many tail backs and traffic jams!

Trade, tanning and transport may have been important in the development of the town, but are not all that Confolens has excelled at. The courthouse dating from the thirteenth century indicates the importance of the town within the judicial system. In the nineteenth century it was the centre for agriculture for the whole region and Confolens remains an important administrative centre for the Charente region today.