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On Your Doorstep
The
area around Confolens contains many typical French villages with medieval quarters, local markets, chateaux, old churches and lakes
with beaches - perfect for swimming or just for relaxing.
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Manot - your local village
Just a scratch on the map but Manot is situated between
Confolens and Roumazières, a route indicated as one of outstanding beauty. A typical sleepy French village with the old bridge crossing the
River Vienne, the beautiful church dominates the skyline on your approach.
Manot station may not have seen a train for some years, but many people pass through it or board from it using the velo-rail. The best way to describe the velo-rail is to liken it to pedaloes that run on rail tracks - a great day out for the whole family.
Manot also boasts a very small beach by the ruins of the old mill. Here, the beds of the local river contain minute deposits of gold and garnet for which you can prospect whilst paddling in the cool clear water. For the more ambitious it is one of the starting points for the canoe school, where you can paddle up river to
Confolens.
The village shop is a short stroll away from the farmhouses and is great for the odds and ends you may need. There is also a boulangerie where you can get your freshly baked bread and croissants each morning.
Confolens
Confolens, with its bars and restaurants, stands at the confluence of the rivers
Vienne and Goire, and is a delightful medieval town with a castle keep and natural spring. Every year the whole world meets in its streets to celebrate folklore and traditional music from all over the globe. Canoes and pedaloes are available to explore the river.
Saint-Germain-de-Confolens
The ruins of the fortress of Saint-Germain-de-Confolens, built in the 12th and the 15th centuries, dominate the valleys of the
Issoire and Vienne. Its inner courtyard is flanked by four towers. For several years a group of young volunteers has been working to preserve and restore the site and largely thanks to their efforts you can admire the arrow slits, loopholes and vaulted rooms of the basement.
Saint-Germain is a pleasant village to explore with its weaver's house, medieval house and 12th century church.
Roumazières
Roumazières is the European capital of terracotta roof tiles. Whilst not as touristic a town as its neighbour
Confolens, it conceals some excellent restaurants at the lowest prices.
Roumazières also has a plan d'eau which is a cross between a man-made lake and a swimming pool. There is no entrance fee and is excellent for those with younger children.
Etagnac
A tiny village with so much to offer: the Château of Rochebrune with its mirror-like moat, its large swimming lake with sandy beach and bar/restaurant, areas for the keen fishermen, village bar/restaurant and hotel.
Chabanais
Split in two by the River Vienne,
Chabanais has several bars and an excellent restaurant. At the grand village station you can board the train that runs between
Limoges and Angouleme.
Oradour sur Glane
Less than 1 hour's drive is the martyr village of Oradour sur Glane. Early in the afternoon of 10 June 1944 the Waffen SS troops arrived at the entrance to the village and surrounded it. The troops assembled the inhabitants in the village square and separated men, women and children before executing them.
Oradour sur Glane has been left untouched since that fateful day and has become a place of remembrance.
www.oradour.org
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