Attractions and Places To See around Gardes-Le-Pontaroux - Top 17

The building, constructed in the 12th century, was enlarged in the 15th century by the north and south aisles dedicated to the Virgin and Saint John the Baptist. It was restored in 1875-1876. It has a basilica plan with a single nave, on which is grafted to the east a false square surmounted by a dome on pendentives and which ends in a vaulted apse. Side chapels with flat chevet were added, to the north and south, in the 15th century. The facade is pierced by a door with a triple projection and an open window. The building was fortified at the time of the Hundred Years' War. The whole is surmounted, to the east, at the level of the dome, by a square bell tower on two levels. The base is decorated with three blind arcades; The upper floor is decorated, on each side, with three semicircular arches mounted on small columns, highlighted by a circular stringcourse and enclosing twin bay windows. https://www.dignac.fr/histoire-et-patrimoine/ https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00104355/dignac-eglise-saint-cybard

The Romanesque church of Saint-Martin d'Argentineau was built in three different eras. The bell tower and a small choir were built in the 11th century. The choir was enlarged in the 12th century and the church and side aisle to the north were built in the 15th century. The church was listed as a historical monument in 1974. The modern church windows, which bathe the church in a special light, are particularly noteworthy. The neighboring cemetery is also worth seeing.

Cluzeaux are shelters made by man in the rock. They are typical of Périgord. In the village of Argentina, perched on a rocky spur above the Nizonne valley, we find some dating from the Middle Ages. Grain silos, but also a huge necropolis have been built there. The site, free to access and very impressive, can be visited all year round.

The extraordinary history of this grandiose residence began in 1924, in the heart of a small 19th century manor (to the left of the current façade): the troubadour castel of La Mercerie was then acquired by Alphonse and Raymond Réthoré. From then on, the two brothers, dreaming of the great Versailles, devoted all their resources to enlarging and embellishing the building. The work undertaken is commensurate with the ambition that drives it. Outside, colonnades and balusters in white stone soon extend the first building. the cut stone increases the gigantism and the rigor of a facade with a perfect rhythm. Inside, nothing is too beautiful for La Mercerie, Raymond brings back from his travels furniture and paintings, chandeliers and precious woods, marbles from Italy, azulejos from Portugal etc. He returns from Italy with a painter sculptor who will carry out on the spot the most monumental decorations with the assistance of the inhabitants of the country. The treasures are piling up, but 30 years of work will not be enough to complete the colossal project. The collections are dispersed during auctions in June 1987. When the two brothers died, the castle fell into oblivion, until the mobilization of the inhabitants of the town, who decided to found an association to safeguard this unique and prestigious heritage. The Béruges room, the central living room, the Vernet living room, the vestibule, the mahogany gallery and the large Azulejos gallery, each more impressive than the last, now fully conquers the visitor eager for cultural discoveries. A short tour of the belvedere of the castle allows you to admire it from the height. In the park of the castle, the rose garden and the arboretum can be visited by little train. The little train is random due to the health context and will be reserved for people with reduced mobility and children, and mainly on Sundays.

Pretty castle in height after a climb from Angoulême

Its dazzling white stone facade extends over 220 meters in length, in the middle of a 50 Ha green setting. Some rare and remarkable trees adorn the walk through the park.

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Dominating the surrounding countryside at the edge of the village, this beautiful Romanesque-style church built in the 12th century has a very beautiful sculpted decoration on the facade. The part of the building dedicated to Saint Martial predates 1110, but its facade and apse are from the second half of the 12th century. Already modified in the 13th century by the realization of a ribbed vault above the eastern span of the nave, it was enlarged by two side chapels in the 15th century. The facade divided into three levels by bands, is endowed with sculptures of great finesse of execution. On the ground floor, between two blind arcades, the portal has four arches. All the arches rest on small columns with capitals carved with small figures, animals and motifs. Above, five blind arcades, with the exception of the central one pierced by a small bay, rest on small columns with capitals decorated with palmettes. The gable was redone in the 19th century. The nave is barrel vaulted for three of its spans while the fourth is on cross ribs. There is no transept and it is the chapels created in the 15th century that overhang the south and north sides. The bell tower rises above a dome on pendants.