Attractions and Places To See around Airvault - Top 20

Whether it's summer or winter, this passage is always great!

The Church of Saint-Généroux is a site well worth a visit during a hike. It dates back to the 10th century and is considered one of the oldest churches in France, as it features pre-Romanesque architecture found nowhere else. The church is located on the banks of the Thouet River. You can also admire the Romanesque bridge (13th century).

The mill ceased all operations in early 1930. Large blocks of sandstone allowed the mill to cross the river without getting wet.

The Château de la Roche-Faton, located in Lhoumois (Deux-Sèvres) in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, is an elegant castle listed as a Historic Monument, dating from the medieval period and enriched during the Renaissance. 🏰 History & Architecture Mentioned as early as 1179, burned down in 1417, it was rebuilt starting in 1544 by Mathurin Pidoux. It comprises three buildings around a courtyard, round towers, a gatehouse with drawbridges (now lost), and outbuildings built in the 17th century. The fortified entrance is flanked by machicolations, while the central building includes a 15th-16th-century main building, crowned by an authentic spiral staircase. 🖼️ Interiors & Decor Several intact fireplaces from the 15th and 18th centuries, as well as a large living room decorated with 18th-century stucco. The Saint-Nicolas Chapel contains the tombstones of Charles-Marie-Auguste de Beaumont, Marquis d'Autichamp, and his wife. 🌳 Gardens & Park An English-style landscaped park and French gardens – designed in the 17th century by the Lords of Vassé – surround the château. A pond from the former moat also remains. 🛡️ Protection & Visits Listed as a Historic Monument: facades and roofs of the main building registered in 1973, wings of the outbuildings in 1993. A private property belonging to the du Dresnay family, the château is open for guided tours of the exterior and for events such as European Heritage Days.

Without the characteristic wings - which used to capture the power of the wind to set the heavy millstones in motion - the once proud windmill, which was certainly impressive at the time, is missing an essential architectural element. From a distance, the observer can see its modern successors: within sight of the former windmill, the slender towers and turbine blades of a modern wind farm, which is used to generate electricity, rise into the sky.

In the proverbial "good old days" of centuries past, this (former) windmill, standing in a very prominent position in the vast landscape, must have made a deep impression on the viewer. However, this changed a long time ago: the no longer intact tower stump is missing the wings, precisely those elements that were once so fundamental to the appearance of those four-armed giants (at least that is what the character "Don Quixote" invented by Miguel Cervantes thinks in one of the famous Spanish author's bizarre stories).

The church of Saint-Généroux is a historical and cultural site which is worth a visit during a walk in Deux-Sèvres. Dating from the 10th century, it is considered one of the oldest churches in France and features remarkable pre-Romanesque architecture. You can admire its sculpted capitals, its three-bay triumphal arch and its cul-de-four apse. The church is located on the banks of the Thouet, a peaceful river which offers a pleasant natural setting for a walk. You can also enjoy the 13th century Romanesque bridge which spans the river and offers a beautiful view of the church and the surrounding landscape.

The Moulin de Montguimier is a 12th century mill that belonged to the monks of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes. You can start your hike from the parking lot of the Saint-Généroux church, a remarkable example of Romanesque art. Cross the bridge over the Thouet and follow the yellow markings. You will pass an old lime kiln and enjoy the view of the valley and hills. You can also picnic by the river and relax in the shade of the walnut trees.