The best gravel rides around Épargnes

For this nature and its church

Very nice walk or bike ride

The Marquis de Sénectère at Semussac In the 18th century, the Didonne / La Touche estate in Semussac passed to Marie de Béchillon, then to her son, the Marquis de Sénectère. It was he who is said to have had the château rebuilt or largely transformed around 1730, giving rise to the residence we know today. He made Semussac an important country residence and developed his possessions in the Royan and Saintonge region. A prestigious family The Marquis de Sénectère, linked to the château of Semussac, belongs to an old French noble family: the house of Sénecterre (or Sénectère), originally from Forez and known since the Middle Ages. The Sénectère family included several renowned figures: - Henri de Senneterre (16th century), Marshal of France - François de Senneterre, a man of war under Louis XIII - Several marquises and dukes close to the royal court The name is sometimes written Senneterre, Sénectère, or Sénecterre depending on the era. End of family presence During the French Revolution, many noble properties were sold or seized, and the château of Semussac subsequently left this family. Legacy in Semussac The memory of the Marquis de Sénectère remains attached to: - the reconstruction of the château - the organization of the agricultural estate - local seigneurial prestige before 1789

Architectural features - Large residence in the classic Saintongeais style - Significant agricultural outbuildings - Preserved old cylindrical dovecote - 19th-century tree-lined park History of Semussac Castle (Château de Didonne) - Medieval origins The estate already existed in the 15th century under the name of La Touche, belonging to the lordship of Didonne. It then belonged to various local noble families before passing through alliances and sales into several hands. - Reconstruction in the 18th century The current castle was essentially built in the first half of the 18th century, around 1730, probably by Marie de Bechillon or her son, the Marquis de Sénectère. The latter made it his main country residence. He considerably enlarged his lands throughout the Royan and Saintonge region. - 19th century: transformation of the estate After the French Revolution, the property was sold as national property. It then passed to Count Alfred de La Grendière, mayor of Semussac and then mayor of Royan, who modified the castle and gave it its current appearance, with an English-style landscaped park. - 20th century: agricultural and tourist vocation In 1979, the estate was bought by the agricultural cooperative Cozes-Saujon to promote local productions, particularly wine. In 1981, a museum of agricultural equipment opened in the outbuildings and remained active until 2006. Subsequently, the site was converted into a charming hotel-restaurant. Completely renovated in 2019, the Château de Didonne opens its doors to welcome you between the charm of the old and the comfort of the modern. It has 10 air-conditioned rooms, 7 of which offer a breathtaking view of the park, allowing you to immerse yourself in a soothing natural setting from the moment you wake up. Local importance The castle bears witness to the agricultural and noble role of Semussac in old Saintonge, between Royan and the Gironde estuary.

This small road ends on a white gravel track, ideal for Gravel biking

From the height of the coastal plateau the view reaches to the Gironde estuary, and the white cliffs of Pilou, with the tradition fishing huts on stilts (carelets).

Cute little coastal village at the mouth of a small canal, with a recreational port and a few restaurants as well as picnic spots for a break.

The current church replaces a Romanesque church that occupied the same site. Poorly maintained and dilapidated over the centuries, it was in danger of falling into ruin when the Count of Sénectère, Lord of Didonne and Semussac, proposed to the parish community that a new building be built. The issue was clearly not a priority for the inhabitants, who, meeting in assembly in February 1771, were barely more than ten people deliberating, and agreed that a simple repair of the old sanctuary would be just as suitable. A chapter assembly, held on Sunday, April 2 of the same year, resolved the situation, and it was ultimately decided to rebuild the parish church, on the condition that as many materials as possible be reused to limit costs. Work began quickly, and just three years later, on November 22, 1774, the church was blessed and opened for worship during a solemn ceremony attended by Mr. Étienne de la Sale, Prior of Semussac, Mr. Vanson, Archpriest-Parish Priest of Arvert, and the Count of Sénectère, Lord of Didonne. However, signs of weakness quickly appeared in the bell tower, which the parish trustee, Jacques Guillot, proposed be demolished in 1788 and replaced with a simple pinnacle. The growth of the Catholic population during the 19th century necessitated an expansion of the church, and a campaign of renovations began in 1877 under the direction of the architect Eustase Rullier, also the master builder of the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Pontaillac, in Royan. The nave was extended and the current bell tower-porch was built, giving the church the appearance it retains today. The interior, very simple, consists of a single nave flanked by two small transepts and a choir covered with lowered barrel vaults. The rear of the façade houses a neo-Gothic gallery. The former presbytery, built in 1729 and which became the town hall in 1980, retains a carved stone on its façade from the old Romanesque church, which appears to date from the 11th century.