Welcome to the Horte and Tardoire Pays La Rochefoucauld 2 The Bandiat-Tardoire area 4 In the heart of the Bandiat and Tardoire valleys 6 Situated on the borders of You will be amazed at how Perigord and Limousin, our the knowledge of the old tra- Montbron and the surrounding area 8 region takes its name from ditional occupations has been the Horte forest and the preserved. In the Tardoire valley 9 Tardoire river valley. Our countryside will fascinate On the threshold It is a changing region with you, as you make your way of Charente Perigord 10 many faces, hilly and wooded, down the signposted rural In the heart livened by a network of rivers trails popular with hikers and of the Echelle valley 12 which run hither and thither ramblers. It is also a source of Villebois-Lavalette 15 over a rocky limestone base, inspiration for artists and sto- The Horte and Lavalette area 16 peppered with holes. rytellers… Prehistory This guide is an invitation to Why wait any longer - take in Horte and Tardoire 19 discover this region, its history some time out to discover the Nature and leisure and its traditions. treasures of the Horte and in Horte and Tardoire 20 Tardoire Pays. La Rochefoucauld Ancestral seat of the La Rochefoucauld family and of the author of the famous “Maximes”. Inside of the La Rochefoucauld castle The castle For further information : Visits to the town Known as “the pearl of the Angoumois” www.chateau-la-rochefoucauld.com All year round for groups and built on a rocky outcrop, the castle on reservation (fee paying). dominates the town and the banks of The cloisters the Tardoire river. of the Carmelite convent Special group excursions Things to see : Former Carmelite convent founded Go with friends to discover all you th the square tower, the entrance towers, in the 14 century by Gui VII of can see in the area of the “Pearl of the Renaissance galleries, the main La Rochefoucauld. Angoumois”. courtyard, the inner gallery, the monu- To see : Ask for the brochure at the Tourist mental spiral staircase, the boudoir the covered cloister walkway, Office of Pays Horte et Tardoire in said to have been that of Marguerite of the entrance to the medieval La Rochefoucauld Angouleme, the guardroom, the chapel, chapter house, the Roman church Tel : 05 45 63 07 45 - Fax : 05 45 63 08 54 the furnishings, the collections and the 18th century staircase email : [email protected] of books. In the garden, the Italian (entry free). Renaissance style octagonal marble Hospital Museum and its apothecary basin. The gothic collegiate church Old medicinal pots, mortars from the 16th and 17th centuries, The castle is open to visitors from Notre-Dame de l’Assomption th medical implements and 1st April to 1st January daily (except A 13 century church, whose facade is illuminated by a rose window, military articles from Tuesdays) from 10 am through to 7 pm. the Napoleonic era. Out of season, open on Sundays from and whose bell tower is topped by an octagonal spire. Visits by appointment 2 pm. Groups and school visits all only . the year by prior appointment. All year round for groups on For further information : kids corner : reservation at the Tourist Office Tel : 05 45 63 07 45 Horte et Tardoire Tourist come and visit the castle Office in La Rochefoucauld in period costume Tel : 05 45 63 07 45 2 Gardens : Le Verger Chocolate The Saint-Florent garden manufacturer From May 2nd to September 30th This chocolaterie has become from 2 pm to 6 pm (except famous for its exquisitely Mondays). Out of season crafted chocolates. the garden is closed, but The chocolates are made the nursery and shop are open with 100% cocoa butter in on Fridays, and normally the laboratory at Limarceau, on Saturdays and Sundays situated in the commune from 2 pm to 6 pm. of Marillac-le-Franc. You are advised to check in Shop : advance for weekend opening 28 rue des Halles, La Rochefoucauld, (free entrance). Tel : 05 45 23 52 94 For further information : The factory shop in Limarceau Chocolates from the Chocolaterie d’Antan The Saint-Florent garden is open for 2 weeks before Easter Tel : 05 45 23 94 30 and 3 weeks before Christmas. Other places to visit : www.jardinsaintflorent.com The Roman church of Saint-Etienne La Pichotte Chocolate d’Olerat, with its sculptured facade, Flavours : manufacturer the humpback bridge over the Tardoire, The Chocolaterie d’Antan If we call the inhabitants the remains of the church of Saint-Pierre, At the foot of the chateau of La Rochefoucauld - the the Coquille gate (near the Faubourg Saint- on the banks of the Tardoire. Rupificaldiens -, we knickname Florent), the tannery area, the halftimbe- Free guided visits for groups them - the Pichotiers - meaning red houses with their overhanging upper available by appointment. people who eat - Pichottes - stories, the former Hotel Dieu and its chapel. For further information : Local speciality since the 1940’s, Chocolaterie d’Antan la Pichotte is a trade mark, only Tel : 05 45 63 58 05 manufactured in this factory. La Pichotte is a sophisticated Did you know : chocolate with a refined and La Charentaise subtle taste. The Charentaise Shop 33 rue des Halles slipper was created in La Rochefoucauld at the time of Louis XIV Tel : 05 45 63 00 26 to make use of the fabric rejected Mail : [email protected] by the maritime forces and the pieces of scrap felt from the paper mills of the Angoumois region. Known as “mufflers” or “sliders”, people used them to polish their wooden floors. The duke of La Rochefoucauld would have The gothic collegiate church insisted on their use at the Court. Notre-Dame de l’Assomption In La Rochefoucauld, two companies have worked to maintain the reputation of the Charentaise slipper : the Chaignaud company working with the raw materials and specialised fabrics, and the Rondinaud company manufactu- ring the various finished footwear products. In Villebois-Lavalette the Ferrand com- pany also produces Charentaise slippers. In Varaigne, the Thread Museum demons- trates the evolution of fabrication techniques from prehistoric times to the present day. 3 The Bandiat- Tardoire area The manor house of Sigogne Don’t miss : at Coulgens Easter week-end, the wine Former medieval stronghold. and cheese fair in Pranzac ; The Marpen Club is restoring the building, and in summer The 12th century church of organises international Saint-Sebastien at La Rochette volunteer workers who Notice the flat-stoned roofs ; The church of Saint-Sébastien at La Rochette engage in stone-cutting, on the Roman facade, the sculpted masonry work and carpentry. recessed faces of the pediments. the calcifications which have Don’t miss the 14th century These represent to the west, formed stalagmites and stalactites ; tower and the 7-sided turret Virtue - under the features archaeological discoveries from staircase. of Constantine whose the Palaeolithic, bronze and iron ages horse is crushing a crouching exhibited in the Angouleme museum. The church of Saint Jean- gnome holding a money bag ; th Baptiste at Coulgens Fee paying guided visits from April 4 and to the east, a dismounted th An 11th century church, until June 20 and from September horseman, symbol of Vice. th st with simple, almost austere 4 until November 1 , Sundays and architecture. Notice the Kids corner : bank holidays from 2pm till 6pm facade and the square clock Experience the Romanesque (visit at 2.30pm and 4pm) ; and from st rd tower. Inside, notice the adventure with Pierre and Archi : June 21 until July 3 every day from capitals (the heads of the games booklet available at the 2pm till 6pm (visit at 2.30pm and th columns) in the nave, and two Tourist Office. 4pm) ; and from July 4 until rd fragments of a fresco Information on this site September 3 every day from 12pm illustrating a crucifixion www.aventure-romane.fr till 7pm (last visit at 5.45pm). (15th century) and depicting Also to see : Open all year for groups, Sainte Barbe, and the 14th the 16th century manor house, by arrangement . century tower (free access). flanked by four angled corbelled For further information : turrets. Tel : 05 45 70 38 14 Pranzac What to see : The Queroy grottos at Chazelles follow the information panels These grottos were carved out for the documented walk : by the underground waters in th the 12 century lantern of the dead ; the limestone plateau. the church with its Renaissance chapel ; the remains of a feudal What to see : castle, tower and outer walls. the tourist trail created through 800 m of passageways ; The church of Saint Jean-Baptiste at Coulgens 4 The surrounding area : The Braconne forest The 12th century churches A national forest of some of Saint Jean-Baptiste de 4,000 hectares, managed Malleyrand, and the former by the National Forestry Office. chapel of the Templars ; the It is situated over the heart church of Saint-Cybard de of the La Rochefoucauld karst. Rivieres (12th - 15th centuries), The waters of the Tardoire and in the nearby cemetery, and Bandiat rivers crash into the 19th century tombstones ; the underground holes and the church of Saint-Martial caverns before feeding into of Taponnat where you will the river Touvre, the second find a monolithic font ; the largest resurgence in France. churches of Marillac-le–Franc, Among these huge “fosses” or Yvrac and Saint-Adjutory. chasms, the most well known In Marillac, the ancient statue are the “grand fosse”, a huge of the Man of Marillac. crater, 55 m deep and 250 m In Bunzac, the 12th century in diameter, the “fosse mobile” church of Saint-Symphorien, and the “fosse limousine”.