Vallée de la vienne, granit heart

Tour around the villages closed to confolens in the vienne valley.

1st day : confolens, medieval town  Set up at the confluence of Vienna and Goire, Confolens was, at all times, a strategic place. But during the middle Age the town was developed. From this time, the town preserves beautiful half-timbered houses, a street of the sun without sun, a street "casse cou" which has the spirit of staircase, a keep, an Old Bridge, squat, gently uneven, which spans Vienne river What to see: the house of the Duke of Epernon that Marie de Médicis escaped in 1619, then captive in the castle of Blois. The district of Fontorse (that can be joined by going through the Old Bridge) and its beautiful fountain of the 18th century.  To taste: Kroumirs, local speciality manufactured with grilled almonds and chocolate.

2nd day : saint-germain-de-confolens  Saint-Germain is in the confluence of Vienna and Issoire. The medieval castle of the de la Marche, whose three imposing towers remain, the granite hill which overhangs the village. The Vienna river is next to the village. It rolls full, blue, bordered of green grass.  What to see: beside the castle, the small Roman church Saint-Vincent, built according to a rare plan in Greek cross. At the Cross of Bellevue, the sumptuous point of view on the first curves of the mounts of Blond and the reserve of water of Issoire.  Let's search gold: the gold sands carried by Vienna and Issoire. Do the summer, seek gold. To meet: Roger Conceicao, craftsman in wrought iron.

3rd day : esse & lesterps  Esse is a small village between scrap-metals and small valleys, made of granite and cover of pink tiles. Really attached to its legends and habits, the village lives, every seven years, the ostensions (procession during which are carried relics of saints).  To sit down: under the lime of Sully, lime several times has 100 years-old and is told to be planted in front of the Roman church by the minister of Henri 4th.  Lesterps: This village conceals a single building in the area: a Roman bell-tower porch (11th century) almost 43 meters high.  strolls: in the streets of the village, for the houses built starting from the walls of the old abbey.

4th day : brigueuil & etagnac  The village: It is a strengthened village (11th century) perched on a hillock. From Medieval time, remain fragments of ramparts, the Eastern door, a lantern of died in the cemetery. What to see : the Home (16th cenbtury) capped of an elegant pepper plantation.  Etagnac: The castle of Rochebrune, its history merges with the one of the lords of Chabanais who made it their residence. If the oldest parts date from 11th century, the masonry was largely altered during the 17th century by Blaise de Montluc. Protected by its ditches, Rochebrune is a framed robust construction of four capped towers of pepper plantations. A property of the General Dupont time, comrade in arms of Napoleon, the castle comprises an inside decoration of the First Empire.  fishing, having bathes: in the pond of the féculerie, located at the exit of Etagnac.

5th day : chassenon  Gallo-Roman thermal baths: On the Aggripa way connecting Saintes to Limoges, Chassenon was, during the 2nd century, a significant complex of crowned hydrotherapy. Hot baths, tepid, cold, for the Gallic and the Romans, the pilgrims curists, the priests doctors.  These thermal baths are in a remarkable estate of conservation and are the most significant thermal baths of sanctuary known in France.

6th day : chabanais  The arboretum of oak tree : On nearly 3 hectares, more than 2 500 trees and 200 long-lived species for essentiall: teaching workshops, space of exchanges for plants (grafts, seeds, cutting roots).

7th day : exideuil  Vienna bathes the village of Exideuil. Two steps from Exidieuil, you should walk in front of the castle of Chétardie where Madam de Sévigné stay several times.  What to see: the small church Saint-Andrew (12th century), its baptismal swimming pool (13th century), the statue of Saint-Eloi (12th century).  Rafting: Vienna river rolls and is agitated on round rocks, ideal water for radelage (derivative of the rafting) and canoe.