Visit Charente

Montbron (km 0)

In the heart of a landscape of steep wooded valleys and streams, Montbron is a town set on a bend of the river Tardoire. The castle of "romano-gothic" style is nowadays used as a centre for exhibitions and concerts.

Things to see :

• the church of Saint-Maurice (12th and 13th centuries), its steeple in the shape of a pine cone, the portal decorated with scalloped arches and, inside, the polychrome wooden equestrian statue of Saint-Maurice (12th century).
• the Lepers' chapel (12th and 17th centuries), outside the town on the road to Eymoutiers with its facade of ornamental apertures which enabled the sick to take part in the services from outside.
  

Play golf :

• at the golf de la Prèze, a 9-hole course.
  Info : +33 5 45 23 24 74
  

Waken the miller :

• very close to Monbron, on the road to Limoges, the mills at Menet and Chabrot are still in activity. Production of spelt and wheat flour. Educational workshops (bread-baking for children and adults).
  Info : +33 5 45 70 81 87
  
• as mills depended on castles, discover the neighbouring castles at Chabrot and Ferrière.
  

Souffrignac (km 9)

The vegetable gardens

Ancient varieties of plants and vegetables from all over the world are grown organically at the farm museum in this small village set in rolling green hills criss-crossed with streams.
Info : +33 5 45 23 25 73

Charras (km 27)

The church of Saint-Vivien

The reinforced walls, the path round the battlements and the machicolation make it look more lake a fortress rather than a place of worship. A fine example of a fortified church which illustrates the military and protective role of the churches in troubled times.

Listen to the jay :

• There is nothing more relaxing than a stop in the Mothe Clédou forest among the oaks, sweet chestnut trees, heather and the song of the jays.

Villebois-Lavalette (km 57)

The castle

Set high on the hillside, the fortified walls dotted with towers can be seen from afar. It belonged to the duke of Epernon and has suffered the ups and downs of history. Even so, some splendid vestiges still remain.

To explore :

• the surrounding walls, the machicolated gateway, the 12th century chapel decorated with Romanesque capitals.

The village and the covered market

In the centre of the village, you, must make a halt under the wooden covered market (17th century) which has been magnificently restored. Explore the village on foot, the streets are steep but the houses are beautiful.

Bite into a cornuelle :

• a speciality of Villebois, this triangular-shaped shortbread biscuit sprinkled with gains of aniseed is celebrated on Palm Sunday and eaten all year.

Dignac (km 65)

The medieval garden

The commune has created a medieval garden in the ancient ditches at the foot of the Romanesque church. It has a vegetable garden (cooking and root vegetables, spices), industrial plants (plant dyes, textile fibres), magic plants (toxic), the medicinal plants and Mary's garden (flowers and plants for church services).

Sers (km 72)

The castle at Nanteuil

Overlooking the valley of the Echelle, the castle is surrounded by a fortified wall, the gateway is set between two towers. The castle can only be viewed from the outside.

Also to see :

• the Romanesque church with its square two-storey bell-tower in the village.

Grassac (km 79)

The road passes through the copses of tall trees in the forest of Horte and at Doumérac, one of the hamlets, stands a surprising Orthodox Church in pure Russian Byzantine style decorated with painted icons.

Marthon (km 84)

All that remains of the castle is the keep (11th and 12th centuries), one of the most imposing in the angoumois area.

Return to Montbron (km 93)