Historical sites for your holiday
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Charente, Dordogne and Vienne: Regions steeped in history
From 200 million year old meteorite to World War II resistance. A deep and powerful past.
*Gallo-Roman thermal baths at Chassenon
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See our page on Gallo-Roman Baths, Chassenon, for further information. Well worth a visit to this massive Gallo-Roman thermal Baths at the very epicentre of Gallo-Roman France. * Guests of registered tourist accommodation receive discount vouchers for this activity. |
Oradour Sur Glane
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This is the martyred World War II village. On 10th June 1944 as the allies were advancing through northern France and more and more German units were being moved north, being fearful of a strong rear-guard action by the French resistance, the Waffen SS rounded up 642 men, women and children in this peaceful (non-resistance) town and brutally put them to death by fire and arms. The village as a whole was burned that night and bodies removed and dumped in mass graves. Website: http://www.oradour.org/ |
*Chateau Route of Richard the Lionheart: "Route Richard Coeur de Lion"
Follow the trail of mediaeval castles left by Richard Coeur de Lion - the historic "Route Richard Coeur de Lion" as he struggled to maintain influence in this region of his Angevin Empire, (France was not yet unified, remember), against Raymond Count of Toulouse and Philip Augustus of France. *A discount is available off admission to Chateau de Rochebrune, part of the Route Richard Coeur de Lion.
*Rochechouart Meteorite
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See our page on the Rochechouart meteorite for further information. This cataclysmic event saw one of the 15 largest meteorites ever to hit the earth. All life within 300 miles was wiped-out. *Guests of registered tourist accommodation receive discount vouchers for the "Paul Pellas" Museum of the meteorite in Rochechouart. |
*Chateau Rochechouart
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Part of the "Route Richard Coeur de Lion", but also a museum of modern art set in picturesque Rochechouart with its church with corkscrew spire and good restaurants and bars. So well worth a visit in its own right. * Guests of registered tourist accommodation receive discount vouchers for this activity. |
*Chateau de Peyras, Roumazieres (8km)
This magnificent castle is steeped in mediaeval history. In 1188 the counts of Chabanais fell-out with Richard the Lionheart, who put the surrounding countryside to the fire and sword. The famous "Black Prince" camped near here with 10,000 armed men, ending in the capture of the King of France near Poitiers. In 1420 the castle was beseiged and defended by a garrison of 25 knights and their men. This gorgeously ancient chateau is off the beaten track and privately owned but open for visitors by arrangement. * Guests of registered tourist accommodation receive discount vouchers for this activity.
Website: http://www.chateau-peyras.com
Tel 05 45 71 25 25
La Rochefoucauld
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The Chateau at Rochefoucauld. Rather easier to digest than the chateaux in the Loire, as it is smaller, well restored and furnished and is still lived-in by the family. Well worth a morning's visit. |
Memorial to the French Resistance at Chasseneuil
This memorial was erected in the forests where the "Maquis" dug in against the Germans. 2,026 members of the resistance and French army are buried in the cemetrery here. There is a small museum on site as well. Open all year round.
Brantome
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"France's Venice", Brantome is a gorgeous canal-crossed town an hour's drive south of us in the Dordogne. You can take a boat trip, see caves troglodites and have lunch in one of the many open air restaurants. A lovel day's outing. Combine it perhaps with a trip to the Grotte de villars - the stoneage cave complete with stalagtites/mites, cave paintings and prehistoric bear scratch marks! |
Montmorillion
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A pretty "Very French" town to visit especially if you love art, or are visiting "Ile Aux Serpents" and want a place to go for lunch. |
Gallo-Roman influence around Pressignac & La Guierce
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The "Treasure of La Guierce" was found 2 kilometres away from Pressignac. What lies underfoot? See this page on Gallo-Roman influence around Pressignac & La Guierce for all the local historical "treasures" the Romans left within 2 kilometres of Pressignac. |
This region is steeped in history: from the 15 largest meteorite to hit the earth, to Roman and Angevin occpuation along the key trade routes that existed at the crossroads of France, to German occupation and atrocity in World War II. There are many castles and historic monuments and historical sites of the Charente, Dordogne and Vienne to see: the Rochechouart meteorite crater, the Gallo-Roman Baths at Chassenon, the martyred village at Oradour Sur Glane, the Chateau Route of Richard the Lionheart: the "Route Richard Coeur de Lion". There are fabulous nearby chateaux at Rochechouart and La Rochefoucauld. Or head into the Dordogne for Brantome and the cave poaintings in the Grotte de Villars. Everything for a truly memorable cottage holiday in France.
