The best gravel rides around Forêt de la Roche Courbon

In summer, after 3 hours of cycling it's the best!

It is an absolutely beautiful village.

He tells us that the chapel of pots was a hub of pottery in other times

Note opening times

Departmental attention next door But it's a great place for a little break

Labeled “Small town of character”, but also “Village of stones and water” (an expression which describes this village very well), Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente is a small picturesque village in the Saintonge Romane nestled in a meander of the Charente, nestled between the river and a limestone cliff. The town is remarkable for its houses built right on the water on the banks of the Charente, its district of troglodyte dwellings in the heights, some of which date back to the Gallo-Roman era, its river port, its old buildings and its churches, including the magnificent Romanesque church dating from the 13th century.

The La Dixmerie estate was once owned by the Brémond d'Ars family. The tradition wants that there would have been then, in this place, a barn with the tithes and a castle. This family seems to have succeeded each other in La Dixmerie for almost two centuries. On the eve of the Revolution, this land would have belonged to Pierre-René-Auguste, knight, lord and baron of Saint-Fort-sur-le-Né, Dompierre and Orlac. Born in 1759, he was the son of Pierre de Brémond d'Ars. Pierre-René-Auguste was deputy of the nobility of Saintonge to the Estates General of 1789. He emigrated in 1792, after having served for some time in the army of the Princes. Defender of the monarchy and religion, he had signed, in 1790 and 1791, the protests against the decrees on the nobility and the clergy and on the forfeiture of the King. Returning to France at the beginning of the 19th century, he would have retired to the Dixmerie where he devoted himself to work in history and numismatics. He had published in 1778, Literary Amusements. Pierre-René-Auguste de Brémond d'Ars married Jeanne-Marie-Élisabeth de La Taste in 1785. In 1809, the La Dixmerie estate belonged to Paul Letors de Larray, former infantry captain, husband of Suzanne Billard. In 1923, La Dixmerie was owned by the Comte de Brémond d'Ars; then it passed to the Comte de Pressac de Lioncel, married in second marriage to Jeanne-Marie-Caroline Goudenoue d'Aldenhove. The latter died there on May 17, 1936. The current castle, dating back to the 1880s, was built near an old mansion. It is a residence of harmonious proportions adopting a rectangular plan and flanked on either side by short slightly projecting wings. Despite a certain architectural unity, it is nonetheless provided with a few decorative fantasies, such as the segmented pediments topped with a ball and surmounting the dormers of each wing, and more particularly the richly worked dormer window which dominates the central bay of the building. Château de la Dixmerie 17100 La Chapelle-des-Pots, private property, cannot be visited.

Crazannes Castle is a castle located in the commune of Crazannes in the Charente-Maritime department of France. It is known for its medieval watchtower, which was built in the 12th century. Crazannes Castle was built in the 12th century and has been owned by several noble families over the centuries. It has been expanded and modified over time, and its architecture is a mix of medieval, Renaissance and classical styles. Crazannes Castle is also home to underground caves dug into the limestone rock, which have been used as wine cellars and to store food supplies over the centuries. Visitors can explore the caves and learn about their history through guided tours. Crazannes Castle is open to the public during the summer season and offers guided tours, contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year. It is also possible to rent rooms for private events such as weddings or receptions.