POITOU-CHARENTES P A Y de Charente Limousine S
www.charente-limousine.fr In the Charente An Atlantic adventure ... This 370-kilometre stretch of the Atlantic coast boasts Limousine some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in France with long beaches of white sand alternating with rugged cliffs, pine woods and marshes. Step back into history as you gaze at all the coastal military fortifications that marked the gateway to the New World, over a distance stretching CONTENTS from La Rochelle to Fort Boyard and Brouage. Take your time, go for a stroll or a sail and let yourself be gently rocked by the sea-scented winds from a wonderful oceanic adventure. Inland, there is an abundance of expertise. Admire the skills of the salt pan workers. Take a look at our > Heritage square dip-nets and watch our fishermen at work. See our mussel and oyster farmers. All these talents make our coas - • Of clay, granite... and moon-stone 4 tal food among the most varied and bestknown in France. Adventure nestles • In living memory 16 in the depths of the valleys ... The valleys of Poitou-Charentes form an area of waterways, history and legend, where a succession of contrasting land - scapes unfurl along the banks of the rivers flowing through them – the Boutonne, Thouet, Gartempe, Vienne, Charente, > Out and about Tardoire, and Seugne, not to mention the waterways known as the Marais Poitevin. Go with the flow along our rivers dot - • Around the water 18 ted with fords, wash-houses, hamlets and villages steeped in character. A thousand and one surprises await you. For mil - lions of years, Man has shaped our valleys. Poitou-Charentes is • In the countryside 21 an area that knows how to extend a warm welcome. A Romanesque adventure on the roads to Santiago de Compostela ... > The Land Along the 820 kilometres of road leading to Santiago de Compostela, you will cross the most beautiful bridges and see • Cows and sheep 26 the most beautiful of all the Romanesque churches. There are 800 churches in all here and their porches, capitals and plethora of modillions are sure to fire your imagination. You will be able to combine history with our amazingly diverse landscapes, flora and fauna on a trip that has all the quiet serenity of a time > Arts and crafts you thought had gone for ever. On the way, enjoy some of our local fare and stop over in some unusual accommodation. • Know-how 28
“ADVENTURE”: Instructions for Use Adventure is never far away here and it is first and foremost linked to Nature. Travel along our waterways, our highways > Fêtes and festivals and byways and discover some of our best-kept secrets. Whether you prefer walking, riding or cycling, Poitou- • Diary 30 Charentes belongs to those who take the time to discover its true essence. The guide book will help you on your way. > Map 34 Comité Régional du Tourisme 8, rue Riffault - BP 56 - F-86002 POITIERS CEDEX Photo credits : Pays de Charente Limousine - Région Poitou-Charentes, Inventaire général, C. Rome 2006 - OT du Confolentais - CdC du Confolentais - Tel. (+33)(0)549501050 - Fax: (+33)(0)549413728 OT de Haute-Charente - CdC de Haute-Charente - CDT de la Charente - les Amis de Chassenon - Festival de Confolens/P. Frétault - Aventure Parc ® - T. des Ouches - J.-L. Clavel - Image et couleur/Y. Chagnaud - J.-P. Boulesteix - les Ateliers Martron - P. Bertrand - Synchro-X/J.-D. Guillou. E-mail: [email protected] Printed by Médiaprint (Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure) on PEFC paper bleached without chlorine www.visit-poitou-charentes.com . .
. > Chassenon, Cassinomagus, archaeological park, the piscina e t i n a r g f o , y a l c f o e g a t i r
e Cassinomagus, archaeological park
H (Gallo-Roman site at Chassenon) In order to pacify Gaul after its conquest in the 1 st century, the Romans 4 allowed the Gauls to worship the gods of their choice. Standing on the 5 Agrippan Way which ran from Saintes to Lyon, Cassinomagus (now called Chassenon) was a well-known place of healing, rest and worship. Pilgrims taking the waters (as many Gauls as Romans) broke their jour - ney in this vast thermal centre. The archaeological park at Chassenon offers a wide range of activities associated with culture and heritage. The vast group of buildings constructed in the 1 st century AD stand in 25 landscaped hectares. It includes thermal baths, a theatre, tem - ples and 48 pits whose use remains a mystery and an aqueduct. The Of clay, granite... and moon- thermal baths, listed as Historic Monuments, are among the largest stone and best preserved in the Roman provinces in the West. The disco - very trail and the educational facilities will enable the most inquiring The earth here is red. This is the land of brick makers and tile makers. minds to understand the working of the site in antiquity. I Tel. 05 45 89 32 21 The tiles cover all the roofs in the region and many other roofs all over www.cassinomagus.fr the world. Granite shows through everywhere. It appears in the village walls along with moon-stone, a meteorite which fell from the sky 214 million years ago. The violence of the impact transformed the rock into a sort of lava. This dark porous rock has been used in many houses. Clay, granite, moon-stone, the trio which form the walls, the roof, the history... Activities not to be missed ! Kids and grown-ups are welcome to catch up on the latest news about the digs, attend concerts and shows, take the plunge in plastic arts, learn Greco-Roman wrestling...... e t i n a r g f o , y a l c f o e g a t i r
e Les Gaulois d’Esse The protohistoric reconstitution group Les Gaulois d’Esse is devoted H to recalling the daily life of the Gaulish people of Lémovices at the The Paul Pellas meteorite museum at Rochechouart end of the second Iron Age. st Imagine an earthquake... only worse! That is the effect produced by the meteo - The association is constructing an aristocratic farm from the 1 century 6 rite which fell to earth between Rochechouart (Haute-Vienne) and Chassenon BC, based on archaeological information, in the Issoire valley. 7 (Charente) 214 million years ago. This is all explained during the visit to the Coriobona contains dwellings and agricultural buildings protected by Espace Météorite Paul Pellas. Plunge into the Solar System and explore these a murus gallicus, the Gallic wall, composed of earth, beams and stones. objects called meteorites (displays of samples collected all over the world, a link After passing the guard post, visitors discover the daily life of the pea - between space and the Earth). sants, artisans and warriors at the time of the Gallic War. Les Gaulois Bathed in light, the rocks spring forth, the result of the meeting between heaven d’Esse have specialised in archaeological experimentation : construc - and Earth... These rocks, called impactites, have always been used for building. tion, carpentry, weaving, leatherwork, basket-making, ironwork, cera - I Tel. 05 45 84 13 61 Today they shape in their own way the contours of a structure which has suffered mics, striking coins, sculpture and brewing beer are their favourite lesgauloisdesse.free.fr the passage of time. However, if you know how to listen, you will be enchanted ! activities. A booklet is available at the entrance to help children glean useful information so They are intent on sharing these activities with the ever more enthu - that that they can enjoy themselves while they explore the exhibition. siastic audience. I Tel. 05 55 03 02 70 www.espacemeteorite.com
> The rock fallen from the sky : the impactite Artisans and warriors ! Week of 15 th August : everyday life in the village. Artisan and warrior events inside the surrounding wall : weaving, pottery, basket- making, dying, building work, combats and duels... > Confolens, half-timbered house . .
. > Confolens, e
t the Pont Vieux on the Vienne i n a r g f o , y a l c f
o > St-Germain de Confolens, remains of the castle e
g > St-Germain de Confolens, the village and the castle a > Esse, t
i the Sully lime tree
r The Confolentais, > St-Germain de Confolens. The Vienne, strong and blue, flows at the foot of the village through green dales. Saint-Germain
e a Region of Art and History stands at the confluence of the Vienne and the Issoire. The castle Since 2008, the Confolentais commu -
H towers, standing in a strategic position on the promontory, overlook nauté de communes has held the river and the village.The original fortress was built in the 12 th cen - the label «Pays d’Art et d’Histoire». Cities of character in the heart th th th This label is in recognition of the rich tury and restructured in the 14 , 15 and 16 centuries. of the Confolentais heritage of the Confolens area (archi - Despite the ravages of time the fortress still has its towers which 8 mark out the inner courtyard and in the lower level, the arrow-slits, 9 tecture, scenery, local memory, Confolens, a medieval city. Confolens, which has > contemporary creation...). loopholes and vaulted rooms. appeared in records since 1000 AD, takes its name from the To see : the Tanners’ quarter. term «confluence», a fitting name for several reasons. Firstly > Heritage events : of water (the Vienne and the Goire). Then of culture bet - All through the year, the Pays d’Art ween the Oc and the Oïl, and an ethnic convergence > Esse. This is a village of golden granite overlooking the dales hin - et d’Histoire organises guided visits, around the festival of folk arts and traditions from all over ting of the Limousin. A village which has kept its traditions and beliefs, workshops for children, lectures, the world. Numerous edifices have been preserved from notably the processionary ritual of the ostentions. Every seven years, shows and exhibitions. the faithful venerate the bones and relics of Saint-Hilaire and Sainte- the medieval period and are best explored on foot : the As part of the regional «Nuits romanes» Victoire. In the village square, beside the church, reflect on the pas - keep, the splendid half-timbered houses in the rue Pinaguet, programme, several churches are open sage of time under the Sully lime tree. rue des Portes d’Ansac, rue du Soleil... A visit of the town to the public with events on the theme would not be complete without crossing the two medieval of heritage, live shows and local To see : the museum of the Ostentions, the permanent and tempo - > Esse, the processionary rite of the ostentions bridges : the Pont Vieux, which straddles the Vienne and gastronomy. rary exhibition rooms. leads to the Fontorse quarter with a fine fountain; and the Infos : Confolentais tourist office. I Tel. 05 45 84 11 46 pont du Goire which leads to the old tanners’ quarter. I Curiosities : the Repaire menhir : on the road to Confolens, this is To see : the house of the Duke of Épernon which is a fine a fine rough standing stone over 2.60 m high which welcomes the 15 th century half-timbered building, the chapel of the rising sun. The Celts came here to worship the trees, the springs, the Commandery, the churches of St-Maxime and St-Barthélémy, stones. the Louis Quériaud mill on the Goire where people bring their produce to have them turned into walnut and rape seed oil. The Binot bridge or the Devil’s bridge : this Romanesque bridge spans the Issoire on the road to Brillac. Many travellers were robbed
> Confolens : there and the Devil was said to take part. Who knows ? the Pont Vieux > Rochechouart, the museum of contemporary art > Brigueuil, a fortified village > Vitrac Saint-Vincent . . . e t i n a r g f o , y a l c f o e
g > Rochechouart, the castle a > Rochechouart, the twisted t
i > Rochechouart church steeple r The town
e It dates back to the 10 th century. Much of the town has been built using impactite breccia. The centre contains numerous vestiges from the H medieval and Renaissance periods : the rue Dorée, the charmilles, Other cities of character the maison des Consuls... The Romanesque church of Saint-Sauveur (11 th and 13 th century) has a magnificent twisted steeple covered in slate. > Brigueuil. This fortified village, whose oldest parts date from the 12 th century, Guided visit of the town all year. 10 is perched on a hillock overlooking the surrounding hedged fields. 11 I Tel. 05 55 03 72 73 To see : the east gate, the church of Saint-Martial which contains the recumbent effigy of Marguerite de Chabot, the logis de l’Espérance with its splendid pepper pot tower, the graveyard lantern (12 th century), the steep streets, the pyramidal The castle and the county museum of contemporary art fountain built in the village square with stone from the abbey at Lesterps... The castle stands on a remarkable site at the confluence of the Graine and the Vayres. The buildings date mainly from the 15 th century, inclu - ding the interior courtyard and its elegant Renaissance gallery. Vitrac Saint-Vincent. A tiny village nestling in the valley of the Rivaillon, in > To see : the keep, the entrance cour d’honneur and the 15 th century the heart of a natural area rich in fauna and flora. frescoes... th th To see : the Cluzeau cave, the 12 and 13 century church, the logis and its fountain The castle houses the county museum of contemporary art. Arte of devotion. Povera, Land Art and the Dadaist Raoul Hausmann form one of the major collections of contemporary art in France. I Tel. county museum of contemporary art 05 55 03 77 91 www.musee-rochechouart.com
Not to be missed ! Fountains of devotion, balancing well, wash houses, pigeon lofts... look for them in the villages ! > Cellefrouin, the church of Saint-Nicolas . . . e t i > Roumazières-Loubert, n
a château de Peyras r g f o , y a l c f o
e > Lesterps, a back street > Lesterps, the porch bell-tower in and the abbey church of Saint-Pierre the abbey church of Saint-Pierre g > Étagnac, château de Rochebrune a t i The castles Romanesque architecture r The Christian fervour which developed about the year one thou - e > Château de Peyras, Roumazières-Loubert. Standing on the banks of the Charente, this castle, which was the seat of sand was nomadic, and the Romanesque architecture of the
H the lords of Roumazières, kept watch. It witnessed the ride of the Charente limousine was influenced by the great abbeys nearby Black Prince towards Bourges during the Hundred Years’ War. (Charroux, Poitiers...). The hard granite was not an encourage - To see : the logis (16 th century), the guard room with its Romanesque ment for sculptors. Yet they were able to express the faith of the 12 arcades, in the tower (13 th century), the spiral staircase, the chapel, people of the Middle Ages in a very unadorned style. 13 the exhibition of objects discovered during renovation work. I Tel. 05 45 71 25 25 >Abbey church of Saint-Pierre, Lesterps. Founded in the year one thousand by Jourdain I, lord of Chabanais, all that remains of this ancient > Château de Rochebrune, Étagnac. Standing in the heart > Roumazières-Loubert, abbey is the impressive porch bell-tower followed by the three naves of the château de Peyras of Étagnac forest, the castle is flanked by four round towers and church. The granite bell-tower, which towers over the landscape at 43 m in surrounded by a moat. Formerly the property of the lords of height, is organised in three levels marked out by columns. Very fine capitals Chabanais, it was substantially reworked and embellished in the (on the theme of the Holy Women at the Entombment) and sculpted 16 th century by the Montluc family. In 1803 it was acquired by medallions have been placed inside . general Dupont who had distinguished himself at the battles of Marengo and Pozzolo. The castle contains a wealth of furniture > Church of Saint-Nicolas and the graveyard lantern, from the period of the First Empire and memorabilia from the Cellefrouin. This vast edifice (late 11 th century) seems to be trapped Napoleonic campaigns. > Suaux, the castle by the earth as a result of a rise in soil level which spoiled the beautiful I Tel. 05 45 65 26 69 original elevation. The façade is plain and accentuated with high arcades and column buttresses. Inside, the nave and collaterals are supported by powerful pillars.The capitals are simple as is usual with early Romanesque architecture and depict leaves and familiar animals (horses, sheep...). Also to see in summer... To see : in the village cemetery, a fine graveyard lantern with a conical roof • Exideuil, château de la Chétardie : a 16 th and 17 th century castle of stone scales. with its two pepper pot towers, the logis reconstructed in the 17 th century. Please ring, if the owner is in, he will show you round. I Tel. 05 45 89 02 25 • Suaux, the castle. This massive building of military appearance (16 th and 17 th century) is surrounded by old farm buildings including a magnificent pigeon loft with over 190 holes. > Cellefrouin, graveyard lantern I Tel. 05 45 65 26 69 > Exideuil-sur-Vienne, church of Saint-André .
. > Brigueuil, church of Saint-Martial . e t i n a r g f o , y a l c f o > Confolens, church of Saint-Barthélémy e g > Les Salles Lavauguyon, the priory and a > Church of Saint-Barthélémy, Confolens. It was built th frescoes in the church of Saint-Eutrope t in the 12 century in the quarter of the tanners and butchers. i The severity of its plain granite facade is softened by the sculp - r tures above the portal (the sheep in a halo is flanked by the e figures of the lion and the bull, symbols of the evangelists). > Les Salles Lavauguyon. The frescoes in the church of Saint-Eutrope, which date from the middle of the 12 th century, are among the most beau - H tiful medieval paintings in France and Europe. They were uncovered from > Church of Saint-André, Exideuil-sur-Vienne. It is charac - 1986 onwards and contain a surprising richness of colour. teristic of the Romanesque in the Limousin : all in granite with severe Far removed from the usual palette of Romanesque frescoes are the intense architecture : a rectangle leading to a rectangular apse. 14 greens and blues here. These hues of blue, from lapis lazuli, a very costly 15 To see : the baptismal pool (13 th century) uncovered during reno - gemstone, indicate the rich endowment of the priory at Salles Lavauguyon. vation work and the statue of Saint-Éloi (12 th century). I Info : www.lavauguyon.com Curiosity : Mme de Maintenon made a gift of vestments embroi - dered at Saint-Cyr which can be seen in the sacristy. > The templar chapel at Petit Madieu > Church of Saint-Martial, Brigueuil. Its first foundations date Romanesque architecture from about the year one thousand. At 35 metres long, it dominates by the wayside…
the village. The nave is preceded by a porch bell-tower and the apse o s th is rectangular . l
tomb of Marguérite de Chabot, and the 12 century graveyard lantern s
> Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure, Memorial to the Resistance > Oradour-sur-Glane, the Remembrance Centre y r o m e m g n i v i l n
i > Saint-Claud, the Négret memorial , e
g >The Memorial at Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure. It was built in 1945 on land donated by the Pascaud family and offers a panoramic a view of the forests which sheltered the maquis. The monumental cross t
i of Lorraine (over 20 m high) stands over the crypt where 22 martyrs of
r the Charente Resistance are interred. At the foot of the National Necropolis lie over 2000 resistance fighters, French and foreign soldiers e of the Second World War.
H I Tel. 06 83 53 68 98
>The Memorial at Négret, near Saint-Claud. It is dedicated to the 33 Négret maquisards who were captured in a barn at Andourchapt 16 and shot in Poitiers on 8 th May 1944. 17
>The Remembrance Centre at Oradour-sur-Glane. As you head towards Limoges you will come to Oradour-sur-Glane, a village whose In remembrance inhabitants were massacred by the Das Reich division in June 1944. The memory of Nazi barbarity is kept alive in the remembrance centre. When forced labour (STO) was introduced in 1943, hundreds of people I Tel. 05 55 43 04 30 who refused to be sent to work in Germany joined the ranks of the maquis in Charente Limousine : the Bir’Hacheim maquis around Chasseneuil and >The maison de la Résistance at Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure. > On the Route de It contains a collection of the personal belongings of the maquisards Cherves Chatelars, the Foch maquis around Confolens, the maquis at Brigueuil, la Résistance in Charente (clothing, letters, weapons...) as well as posters and portraits of the the FTP maquis from Chabanais... The rough terrain and the dense forests Resistance leaders. were ideal for installing hiding places. From this year on the Resistance in I Tel. 05 45 39 60 71 > Maison de la Résistance renovated and with a new the Charente became more structured. Claude Bonnier, under the code scenography name «Hypoténuse», was landed by parachute at Angeac-Charente on the banks of the Charente. He was charged by general de Gaulle with the reor - ganisation. He was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944 and committed suicide Paths of remembrance to ensure that he did not talk. The actions of the Resistance were effective. in the footsteps of the Bir’Hacheim maquis The repression was terrible, over 250 were shot and hundreds were depor - If you wish to find out more about the Resistance in the Charente, an itinerary with an explanatory leaflet and map is ted... The men and women of the «army of shadows» are remembered in available from the Upper Charente tourist office. several places which simply must be visited or revisited. The Négret and Lafont memorials at Saint-Laurent de Ceris, gourbis (maquis huts in the woods) at Cherves Châtelars . I Tel. Upper Charente tourist office : 05 45 65 26 69 r e t a w e h t > Lakes at Lavaud and Mas Chaban d n u o r a t u o b a d n a
t The lakes of the Upper Charente u Two great lakes, Lavaud and Mas Chaban form the largest fresh - water site in the Poitou-Charentes.The banks are lined with alder O and golden iris. The waterways wend through the hedged fields in the dales. Herons and cormorants make life hard for the fish. 18 > At the lakes water sports centre : sailing (dinghies, catamarans 19 and optimists for the very young), canoeing, rowing, windsurfing. Water sports are available on both lakes, under the supervision of qualified moni - Around the water... tors for beginners and the adept, on request or for rental. I Tel. 05 45 65 30 62 Handi Cap Holidays
The Charente Limousine is a land of water, trees, grass... The hedged fields, dotted with > On the beach at La Guerlie : the meadows run down to the > The beach at La Guerlie is acces - beach where the sand is fine, white and soft. The trees nearby provide sible to people with reduced mobility. oak and sweet chestnut, stretch over the dales and hillsides. The countryside is forever some welcome shade. The water is mild and just right for swimming. Special facilities are available to make changing, there are bumps, peaks (345 m !!), torrents, rocks, lakes, foxgloves, rivulets Bathing is supervised in July and August. the most of the water (audioplage, tiralo (floating beach chairs on wheels rushing down the lush meadows, the musical names of the streams (the Son, the Boats and bathing... for bathing); pontoon at the water Sonnette...) which announce good luck (the Or, the Argent). Then there are the dense sports centre for boarding boats; > On the Vienne. The fast-flowing waters rush over their bed of pontoon with angling facilities for forests and the wandering paths where the Devil and the mandrake prowl... Welcome granite. The river is wide, magnificent rocks are dotted here and there the disabled). to the great outdoors ! along the way. Tackle the river in a canoe, a kayak or a raft. I Departure : Exideuil-sur-Vienne, the water sports base or Confolens on request : 05 45 84 43 70. Pedals and canoes for hire at the Roches bleues in Confolens. active summer for all > Other lake bathing : at the prés de Peyras (Roumazières- Loubert) and the Féculerie lake (Étagnac). Sports and outdoor activities with qualified instructors, all through the summer > Swimming pools : I Info : tourist information offices > Swimming pool at • outdoor : Brillac, Chabanais, Confolens, Montemboeuf, Saint-Claud, Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure • covered : Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure. e r d e i t s a y r t w n e u h o t
> Lake Lavaud c d e n h u t o n r I a t u o b
a > The Issoire valley > Beaulieu-sur-Sonnette d n
a > The Bonnieure at the logis In the countryside du Chatelars
t A fisherman was fishing... Hiking
u >The crisscross network of theVienne and the Charente. Night fishing for carp : This is a land of hedged fields and steep-sided valleys, forests of tall trees (oak, sweet chestnut, hornbeam...).The paths and tracks are The fast-flowing rivers and brooks weave a network of tributaries > Pradelles, Roumazières- Loubert O legion, resulting from a strong farming tradition.They run through of the Vienne and the Charente. > Lake Lavaud The Goire, Issoire, Or, Argentor, Marchadaine, Bonnieure, Bellonne, > Lake Mas Chaban the villages, the hamlets, the dewy meadows, and slip along the Son, Sonnette, Grêne are all first category rivers where it is a delight > Sérail, Abzac river banks. 20 to indulge in a spot of fishing. The banks of the rivers abound with > River Vienne, Exideuil and 21 the remains of an ancestral rural economy and way of life with its Confolens. > Hikes : Routes not to be missed humpback bridges, mills, wash houses... The valleys of the Son and the Sonnette. On the banks of the Son and Lake fishing : the Sonnette, head off in search of the benefits of spring water. > Fishing in lakes large and small : the Féculerie at Étagnac, > Rod licence : Féculerie at Étagnac, An entertaining circuit dotted with fountains, wash houses and devotion Pradelles at Roumazières-Loubert, Chauffie at Pressignac, Sérail at Pradelles at Roumazières-Loubert, springs. Abzac, Millauds and Chambon at Saint-Maurice-des-Lions, Boischenu Lavaud, Mas Chaban, Boischenu I Tel. 05 45 65 26 69 at Rochechouart, the Mordorée reservoir at Ansac-sur-Vienne, the at Rochechouart, Sérail at Abzac. lakes at Lavaud and Mas Chaban. I Info : Charente angling federation Around the lakes of the Upper Charente. The lanes and «greenways» run 05 45 69 33 91 round the lakes at Lavaud and Mas Chaban and through the surrounding > Night fishing for carp. On signposted trails by the lakes at www.federationpeche.fr/16 countryside. A splendid opportunity to meet the grey heron, the widgeon... > GR 48 at Confolens Lavaud and Mas Chaban, Pradelles at Roumazières-Louvert, on the Vienne. > Permits : Chauffie at Pressignac, On the trail of the mandrake. The GR48 follows the banks of theVienne the Mordorée reservoir at Lalut- as its heads towards the Limousin. The mandrake is keeping watch ! I Tel. 05 45 65 26 69 / 05 45 69 33 91 Ansac, Millauds and Chambon at St-Maurice-des-Lions, the public lake Follow the cows in Upper Charente : explore the countryside (7 km) at Ansac-sur-Vienne. to learn all about the limousin cow (its life, food, calves, mating etc...). I Info : tourist information offices. Start : Maison des Lacs in Massignac where you will be given a quiz (chil - dren/adults). A little present will be waiting for you at the finish ! Info !
g Explore the numerous
Cows’ meadow LandArt, Massignac. A hiking trail «La Fontaine de n
i hiking paths in the area l’âne», an artistic and educational tour on the theme of the limousin cow
k with the guide maps Chéronnac, at the source of the Charente and its environment. Unexpected, poetic, surreal and humorous sculp - i available in the tourist tures and objects await along the 6 km trail. The river Charente rises at Chéronnac in Haute Vienne. It has given its H information offices. name to the village. Come and see where the source bubbles up between stone slabs. e d i s y r t
n > Vayres-les-Roses,
u botanical trail o c
e > Near Épenède h t n i t u o b > Mountain bike near the lakes
a in the Upper Charente
d > Vélo rail
n > By bike...
a Bicycles on rails ! Between Roumazières and Confolens, there is new traffic on the old railway lines. Rather unusual bicycles run on the tracks. A fine outing through the country - t > The Issoire valley On horse back ! side as you travel between pastures, the steep slopes of the Vienne valley, across the high
u viaducts such as at Laplaud (160 m high, 6 arches). Accessible for people with restricted > Jallais riding centre in Confolens mobility.
O (tourism, club pony and club horse). I Tel. 05 45 71 16 64 / www.velorail16.com 05 45 84 13 45 > The discovery trails > Mons riding centre in Brigueuil Cycle routes. Charente county council has developed a network of cycle loops in asso - The discovery trails are educational trails for all the family with infor - 22 (club pony, club horse). ciation with local tourist offices.These are bicycle routes which only use roads where there 23 mation signs on the fauna, flora and history... 05 45 71 23 04 is very little traffic. The loops in Charente Limousine are numbered from 41 to 49. Each local loop has three itineraries with different degrees of difficulty : In the Confolens area : > Lavaud riding centre in Pressignac (tourism). 1. Family route : 4 to 8 km, for children. • Paule Lavergne trail à Esse (4 km). Set in the Issoire valley (zone classi - 05 45 89 04 77 or 06 08 36 41 90 2. Discovery route : 15 to 30 km. fied Natura 2000) on steep granite slopes. Discover the exceptional 3. Exploration route : 30 to 70 km, for experienced cyclists. fauna and flora (digitalis, monkshood...). > Upper Charente Lakes riding Start : Binot bridge, Esse, centre in Pressignac (tourism, club 9 loops in Charente Limousine : pony, club horse). • Chassenon/Chabanais no. 41 • Confolens East no. 42 • Le Frény trail at Saint-Coutant (4 km). Explore the valley of the Or, 06 88 67 80 76 or 06 85 60 36 34 • Confolens West no. 43 • Exideuil/Manot no. 44 > Veloroute signposts its exceptional geology (a karstic area), flora and history. • Massignac no. 45 • Roumazières North/Saint-Claud no. 46 Start : church in Saint-Coutant. > Le Grand Verger riding centre in Roumazières-Loubert (tourism, • Roumazières South/Montemboeuf no. 47 • Champagne-Mouton no. 48 club pony). • Brigueuil/Saint-Maurice des Lions no. 49 In the land of the Meteorite : 05 45 71 57 69 Signposted trails. Information points at start of each trail. • botanical trail at Vayres-les-Roses (2.8 km). Discover the wild flowers > Les Célestines in Beaulieu-sur- and especially the many members of the Rosacea family. A botani - I Info : maps are available in tourist information offices and town halls and can be down - Sonnette (tourism, club horse). cal booklet is available on request at the town hall and in the tou - loaded at www.charente-limousine.fr and www.lacharente.com 05 45 85 75 15 or 06 19 38 19 94 rist information offices. Start : place du Champ de Foire. > Ranch L in Mazerolles (tourism, FFC approved mountain bike trails in Charente club pony, club horse). Limousine 05 45 62 11 40 • Mountain bike trails in the Confolens area : > Châtelars riding centre 9 trails, More hiking info ! in Mazerolles (tourism, club pony, • Mountain bike trails in Upper Charente club horse). Lakes area : 11 trails . Renting bikes and mountain bikes 05 45 63 06 40 I Info : maps available in tourist Bikes : La Cassotte restaurant in Nieuil. information offices Mountain bikes : Upper Charente lakes water sports centre inVerneuil (summer), Cycl’o moto culture services in Confolens. e > Aventure Parc ® at Massignac d i s y r t n u o c e h t n i t u o > The Bramefan oak
b at Rochechouart a > Viaduc at Champagne Mouton
d > The Chêne Vert arboretum at Chabanais
n Climbing
a ® > Aventure Parc at Massignac. On the banks of lake Mas Chaban, climbing > Remarkable trees ! > The Peyressoulat plane tree
t can be tried among the treetops. Over 70 different activities make up obstacle courses The Limousin is famous for its forests of tall trees. at Chéronnac of increasing difficulty (rope bridges...).There is a gravity cableway where you can slide
u There are some fine specimens to be seen around Rochechouart above the lake and, for those who feel like flying, there is bungee jumping. For the very and Chéronnac. young there is a pitchoun’ parc. Catering on site. O Rochechouart forest : I Tel. 05 45 24 07 43 / www.aventure-parc.fr • the chêne de Brafeman (circumference : 4.60 m), • the chêne de la Lune (near the Couffiégas farm. Circumference : 24 >The viaduc at Champagne-Mouton. This former railway viaduct has become 3.05 m), 25 a home for climbing. Several ways corresponding to different levels of difficulty have • the chêne des Dindons (near the grange du Noir. Circumference : been installed. Open all year. Supervised climbing during the «active summer for all». 3.20 m) . Suitable for children aged 8 and over. I Tel. 05 45 84 14 08 Forest in the commune of Chéronnac at Peyrassoulat : • 2 plane trees over 250 years old, • 4 yew trees over 500 years old. Exploring the flora and fauna I Info : Pays de la Météorite tourist information office 05 55 03 72 73 >The ChêneVert arboretum. This is a large garden with neither barriers nor banners, a landscaped arboretum. Over 3000 varieties of indigenous and exotic plants thrive as they will on almost 3 hectares. I Tel. 05 45 65 26 69
> Bird watching. Almost 170 species of birds (nesting species and migratory species) use the lakes of the Upper Charente as a resting place or source of food.The Foucherie hide on the banks of Lake Lavaud makes it possible to get close enough to observe the life and flight of the lake birds. I Tel. 05 45 65 26 69 Domaine de la Mordorée Numerous leisure activities are available on this12-hectare site >The enchanted hill. Bison, llamas, mouflons, deer, the wildlife park at Hiesse has wooded with oaks and set round a lake : angling, 18-hole mini-golf (with springboard, loop, slide), a swingolf (golf on a rustic grass course, animals from here and elsewhere. 10 holes open to all), a vélobyrinthe (labyrinth on a mountain bike I Tel. 05 45 89 65 45 in a maize field). I Tel. 05 45 84 92 26 or 06 76 14 38 64 . . . p e e h s d n a e l t t a c
f Going to the market all year round ! o There are great markets and fairs :
d > Chabanais : everyThursday morning, with a fair on the firstThursday of each month. > Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure : on Wednesday and Saturday mornings with a fair n on the 22 nd of each month (if the 22 nd falls on a Sunday, the fair is brought forward a to Saturday 21 st ).
L > Roumazières-Loubert : every Sunday morning. The fair takes place when the 2nd of the month falls on a Sunday. > Confolens : fair on the 12 th of each month (if the 12 th falls on a Sunday, the fair 26 is brought forward to Saturday 11 th ) and on 23 rd August . 27 th Cows and sheep > Champagne-Mouton : fair on the 7 of each month. ... and small markets : The rolling valleys, hedged fields and lush dewy pastures of the Charente > Alloue : every Thursday. Limousine Have made it a land for livestock since the dawn of time. > Ansac et Brillac : every Tuesday morning. > Champagne-Mouton : every Tuesday and Friday morning. The limousin cow and sheep reign in the fields. > Confolens : market on Wednesday morning and Saturday morning. > Esse : every Wednesday morning. > Rochechouart : every Friday morning. Only to be seen in the summer… > Saint-Claud : every Friday morning. Local producers’ markets You will find the fruit and vegetables of the season, meat, goat’s milk and cow’s milk cheeses, honey, fruit juices, chestnut gateau. All these products are made by our farmers.The markets are also a festive occasion as you can taste what you have just bought seated at large tables. Kroumirs and éphémères, It is an opportunity to meet the producers. sweet delicacies from Confolens I Information : tourist information offices. Jean-Auguste Redon, the son of a confectioner in Confolens, spent five years with the Chasseurs d’Afrique. He took part in theTunisia campaign Farm visits against the Kroumirs. On his return, he recalled some of the oriental confectionery and created the kroumirs.These sweets are made with They throw open their farm doors : Michel Antoine at Saint-Mary (organic dairy products), marzipan, praline, cooked sugar, chocolate... Éphémères are another local Laloi livestock farm, Domaine des Étangs, Javernac farm (production of yoghurts and farm - speciality. The take their name from an insect, the ephemera or mayfly, present on theVienne which lives and dies in an house cheeses), «Charmille» farms. instant. Ephémères are composed of a chocolate cream filling coated with fondant icing... for an instant of pleasure ! I Visits/information : tourist information offices. I Where to find them : Fort confectionery, rue Émile Roux, Confolens. > Art gallery, Luce Bodinaud w o h - w o n k s t f a r > Sculptures by Fabrice Pressigout c
> Bruno Torrès, instrument maker d Antique furniture restorer Art and crafts Mathieu Soupizet Art Image/Atelier Corozo
n < > < > 14, rue du Soleil 16500 Confolens. ZI La Croix Saint-Georges a Restoration workshop and sale of antique 16500 Confolens. Picture framers and furniture. restorers, D. Giraud and C. Pascaud have s Info : 05 45 85 91 12 developed an original process for
t I reproducing antique frescoes. r Art gallery I Info : 05 45 85 43 22 (guided visit,
A
> Confolens festival s l a v i t s e f
d April (contd.) Jun e-July > Festival régional limousin - Chabanais, > Enfant qui rêve - Lessac. 1st weekend in n market square. 2nd weekend. Festival of limousin June. Festival for children.
a livestock farming : livestock competitions, tastings, events. > Jumbo Run - Start at Brillac, a course through rd s I Info : 05 45 65 26 69 the Confolens area . 3 weekend in June. A mee - ting to bring together the world of motorbikes, e > Festival laitier - Chabanais, market square . and sidecars in particular, and the disabled . t 3rd weekend. Dairy producers, local produce I Info : 06 82 94 94 64
ê (butter, cheese), farm produce. Festi’Bois - Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure. 2nd F I Info : 05 45 65 26 69 > week-end in June, next edition in 2011. Wood in the home, wood for energy, wood May for art. Wood is everywhere at the Festi’Bois. 30 > Fête du 1 er mai - Château de Saint-Germain- Events, exhibitions and demonstrations of trades 31 de-Confolens. May Day. Medieval fête, show in in the timber sector. period costumes, exhibition in the castle. I Info : Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure town hall. Diary I Info : 05 45 31 81 22 05 45 39 55 36 > Rue en fête - Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure. > Rencontres d’été - Alloue. First and 8th May.To celebrate the Chasseneuil bypass, the second weekends in July. Theatrical encoun - Numerous events are organised all through the year. They reflect the vitality inhabitants take to the grand’rue, closed to traf - ters at the «maison du comédien». fic for the occasion. Street entertainment and of our region. Our traditions, our art of living, our know-how, our history Other performances all through the year. events organised by «Tout par Terre» . I Info : 05 45 31 81 22 and our heritage are celebrated in style ! In a wider sense, they are open > Artgila - Roumazières-Loubert. Every 2 years, to the world notably with the festival in Confolens, Folk arts and traditions 3rd week-end in May, next edition in 2010. July -Augu st from around the World, which attracts over 200,000 visitors each year. International festival of clay and ceramic sculp - tures. Exhibitions, demonstrations, events, pot - > Festi’band - Pays de la Météorite, Rochechouart Join the party... ters’ market... 7th edition. 1st weekend in July. Musical groups I Info : 05 45 71 20 54 take to the streets before appearing on stage in the castle square. > Musiques Métisses - a town in the Charente I Info : 05 55 03 72 73 March April Limousine. Concerts as part of the Musiques Medieval day «La Péruse, Roumazières- Enduro de l’Argentor - Champagne- Fête de la Rosière - Brigueuil. Metisses festival in Angoulême. Artists in resi - > > > Loubert : if the Charente could talk...» - La Péruse, Mouton. Hundreds of motocross riders Easter Monday, A traditional folk fête, the vil - dence in the Charente Limousine and concerts. Roumazières-Loubert. Early July. confront each other in a day-long competition lage crowns with roses a deserving young girl, I Info : www.musiques-metisses.com on a particularly hilly, winding course around known for her qualities. I Info : centre social culturel et sportif de Champagne-Mouton. > Fête de la Rosière - Saulgond. Ascension Haute-Charente. Tel. 05 45 71 18 59 I Info : Upper Charente tourist office. Day, a traditional folk fête, the village crowns I Info : www.motoclubdesorchidees.com with roses a deserving young girl, known for her qualities. y r a i d > Marie Cherrier s l July -Augu st (contd.) a
st v > Fête du Cheval - Massignac. 1 Sunday > Gaulois d’Esse - Esse «le pont Binot». i th September in July every two years, edition in 2011. One week around the 15 August. Evocation t of the Lémovices, the Gaulish people of the > L’imprévu festival - Montemboeuf - > Les Automnales - Saint-Maurice des Lions. s > Le pré de laVache ® - Upper Charente. Limousin : craftwork (dyeing, spinning and wea - Communauté de communes libre de Pougné- Last Sunday in October. Local producers and ving, woodworking, smithy, manufacture of Hérisson. Week-end around 10 th September. craftsmen but also street entertainment all e Exhibitions, farm visits, an entertaining trail tools and weapons, basket-making, coins, pot - Creations by specialised institutes (circus, through the day. Taste the roasted chestnuts, f on foot, a creative workshop for children, a jeu de la vache* : to learn all about the limou - tery, food); a Gaulish village (presentation of theatre, dance, music) backed by French pancakes and fresh cider on site. Rustic meal at sin cow. daily life, displays of combat...). artists (principally the new French stage) for midday. d *Jeu de la vache (free) : in July and August, 24 I Info : 05 45 84 13 61 lesgauloisdesse.free.fr this festival which addresses the issue of disa - I Info : 05 45 85 55 83 bility. The central point of the village, the bar
n illustrated squares like a game of snakes and > Labyrinthe de la voix - Pays de la Météorite. «Chez Mamie», the headquarters of the Marché de la Saint-Martin - Oradour- ladders, recounting the life of a limousin cow, st >
a 1 week in August. A festival to discover the human rd on the beach at Guerlie. Consulat du Grosland, a satirical TV series Fanais. 3 weekend in October. Art and craft voice in many different guises : from cabaret to lyric Info : Upper Charente tourist office whose cast is present during the festival. market, gourmet produce.
s I singing, polyphonies, world songs, blues and gospel. 05 45 65 26 69 I Info : www.labyrinthedelavoix.com I Info : http://imprevumontemboeuf.free.fr e Tel. 05 45 65 15 28 t > Journée des peigneurs de girafes > Rencontre de potiers - Pays de la November «Le Châtelars», Mazerolles. Salon des peintres - Chasseneuil-sur- ê Météorite, Rochechouart. 14, 15 August. > Salon «la plume et la lettre» - st > 1 Sunday in July every two years, edition in 14 th : evening market from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Bonnieure. Last weekend in September. Exhibition Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure. 3rd weekend in November. F 2011. A celebration of plastic arts. A festive 15 th : market from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and demonstration of painting techniques. Fair for writers and stamp collecting. Book signings, day in the heart of the countryside, devoted I Info : 05 55 03 72 73 workshops, encounters... to ephemeral and more durable creations. rd I Info : 05 45 22 79 74 32 > Harvest festival - Vayres. 3 weekend. October 33 Prelude to the Confolens Festival - Harvest festival over two days with an evening > > Jeux m’amuze - Covered market and Charente Limousine. In a preview, three groups > Journées de la Quintinie - Chabanais. market on Saturday. gymnasium in Roumazières-Loubert. 3rd weekend from the Confolens festival come to perform Info : 05 55 03 72 73 First week-end in October. Festival of vegeta - I bles of yesterday and today, in the birthplace in November. Free admission to events on the in three communes in Charente Limousine. theme of play and toys. Creative workshops, I Info : 05 45 84 01 68 > Saint-Barthélémy - Confolens. 23 August. of La Quintinie, the gardener to the Sun King. Fête for sheep and cattle farmers, competitions, modelling workshops, painting on clay and plas - I Info : 05 45 89 03 99 ter, story-telling, drawing competition... > Festival de Confolens - Arts et tastings. traditions populaires du Monde Fête du pain - Gîtes du Cruzeau, Lésignac- Festival des Lacs - Lakes of the Upper > > Odeurs et saveurs d’automne - Éta - One week around the 15 th August. Dance, > Durand. 2nd Sunday in October. On the shore Charente. August. Concert of classical music. gnac. Each year in November. Gourmet market, music and parades by about fifteen nations of Lake Mas Chaban in the hamlet of Cruzeau local produce. from the five continents. A world reference in > Cassinomagus, archaeological park - at Lésignac-Durand, bread ovens, bakers, crispy its field, the most popular event of the sum - Chassenon. Concerts and shows during the summer. bread... mer in the Limousin Poitou-Charentes region . I Info : 05 45 89 32 21 I Info : 05 45 65 26 69 I Info : 05 45 84 00 77 - www.festivaldeconfolens.org > Domaine de Boisbuchet (design) - Lessac. Visit to the domain on Saturdays and Sundays from July to October .
The Maria Casarès actor’s house J.-B. de la Quintinie : the gardener to Louis XIV Maria Casarès chose Alloue as a place to recharge her batteries. Born in Chabanais in 1626, la Quintinie became the director of all the royal Her property -the domaine de la Vergne- which she left to the fruit gardens and kitchen gardens in 1670. He introduced revolutionary commune after her death (1996) is now a place where actors techniques which enabled the production of early fruit and vegetables. come to stay and work. The Summer Encounters take place there He transformed gardening into a scientific art. Chabanais pays tribute in late June and early July (theatre). to him each year in October. Discover the Charente Limousine with Zaza Luma * p a m e h T 34 35
*for children aged 8 and over
s ! Good idea Ask for your pass book Get reduced admission for sites and activities. It is available in the tourist information offices.
Extract from IGN map no. R 521 - © IGN - 2010 - Authorisation no. 2010002 Confolens regional tourist office CONFOLENS 8, rue Fontaine des Jardins 16500 Tel. 05 45 84 22 22 - Fax : 05 45 85 58 38 [email protected] - www.charente-limousine.fr Upper Charente tourist office MASSIGNAC Maison des Lacs - le Bourg 16310 Tel. 05 45 65 26 69 - Fax : 05 45 67 72 69 [email protected] www.lacshautecharente.com LOCAL OFFICES Chabanais 1, place du Marché 16150 - Tel./Fax : 05 45 89 08 29 Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure 6, rue Bir’Hacheim 16260 - Tel. /Fax : 05 45 39 60 71 Pays de la Météorite Roumazières-Loubert Place du Marché 16270 - Interactive terminal available Tel. 05 45 65 26 69 Pays de la Météorite tourist office ROCHECHOUART 6, rue Victor Hugo 87600 - Tel. 05 55 03 72 73 Brochure produced by the Pays [email protected] de Charente Limousine www.rochechouart.com/ccpaysmeteorite with the regional tourist offices and the Poitou-Charente Region LOCAL OFFICE : Les Salles-Lavauguyon Prieuré 87400 - Interactive terminal available