Places to see nearby
St Sornin
Vineyards that were cultivated in the Middle Ages adorn the slopes of Saint Sornin, dominated by the manor house at the village of La Fenêtre.
The Sornin wine carries the label "vin de pays charentais". There are guided visits and tastings available, but make an appointment first.
Périgord Vert
Piégut-Pluviers is an important local centre ; it is home to a good deal of businesses and holds a very significant local market every Wednesday morning, (the best-known of all the Haut-Périgord area). 15 minutes away by car.
Things to see : a Gallo-Roman road, the vestiges of a 12th century military castle, the church at Pluviers with its 17th century retable, and the menhir at Fixard.
A large portion of the Périgord Limousin Natural Park is to be found in the Périgord vert.
La Rochefoucauld castle
This visit is an absolute must during your stay.
Medieval Charente
During the medieval period, from the 5th to the 15th century, the Charentais countryside was covered in churches, priories, abbeys and castles.
These monuments are still largely intact and are evidence of an era that was both fascinating and unappreciated.
The Charente is one of the richest French departments in terms of Roman art: there is practically one Roman church in every single commune. When you know that there are more than 400 communes then you know that amateur historians are going to really appreciate the area.
Some of these churches possess very beautiful wall paintings from Roman or Gothic times, which tell sacred tales and are evidence of the deep faith of the people of the Middle Ages.
Montbron
The town of Montbron is situated on a hill overlooking a bend of the River Tardoire. It used to be the home of the line of descendants of ‘Robert de Montbron’, between the 10th and 15th centuries. The town subsequently became the property of the mother of François 1st after the Hundred Years’ War and after the Religious wars.
The Castle: This was partly destroyed by order of Charles 7th, converted in the 15th century and is currently being restored; there is a polygonal tower, two frescoes from the Renaissance period and several exhibition rooms.
Nearby: the fountain, the Barbacanne ramp, sculpted stones representing a shell and a chimera, and vestiges of the church of St. Pierre.
Varaignes
This is a medieval village built on a hillside which has kept all of the charm of its rich and prestigious past.
To see: 13th and 16th century castles containing weavers’ and a Charentais slipper-makers’ museum workshops; pigeon lofts, a tithe barn (now an inn), a church with pietà and crucifix (16th and 17th centuries).
Watermills
There are numerous watermills that produce flour or oil with stone wheels, or which are used by smithies, and which are to be found along the 2 main rivers in the area, The Tardoire and The Bandiat.
