| SURROUNDINGS |
|
You will be surprised
by the region of the
Charente
Limousine. In our information room you will find lots of ideas and
information. Underneath we pick at random from the various possibilities
.
All maps and region
information are available on our complex |
 |
Montrol Senard
A beautiful spot!! U will find
yourself back in time.
An
old school, an old house with furniture from 1900. A old bakery,
cobbler and old bar etc.
Amaze yourself!
|
|
Chassenon
The water
in the area is reputed to have healing properties, and is often
lukewarm and rich in sulphur. The benefits of these waters were
discovered by the Romans who built the traditional Roman thermal
baths to be found in Chassenon (or Cassinomagus as it was known
at the Romans) , some 20 kilometres from
Essubras. You can find also a theatr and remains of a temple. Chassenon is built in 1 AD from rock fragments after
the crash of a meteorite. |
 |

The château de Rochefoucauld
is on the list of most spectacular castles of France because of its
spectacular architecture. |
|
|
Route Richard Lionheart
In this area
you can follow an interesting tourist attraction, the so called
Route Richard Coeur de Lion. Richard Lionheart was king
of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. But he hardly
lived in England he was more away from his country. He was
either on crusade or in France, where he was Duke of Aquitaine (an
area that included also the modern-day Poitou Charentes ) He
fought a lot in this area: rebelled against his father Henry II.
He had to face rebellions and invasions from many barons and
even his own brothers. He died when he was struck by a crossbow
bolt as he and his men laid siege to the Chateau of Châlus.
|
As a real
princess or knight…..

In the castle of La
Rochefoucauld (at 26 km) you have the possibility to dress yourself in middle age
style clothes (also adults!) |
 |
Rochechouart
The 15 century chateau is specially intriguing since it is built
alongside the 20 km crater of an ancient (200 million years ago)
meteorite strike. It is also the home of a collection of 16th century
frescoes as well as a collection of contemporary art.
The attractive town of Rochechouart
(at 26 km)features a church with an unusual
twisted spire. A number of the buildings in the town also have medieval
and renaissance decorations on their facades.
On the edge of the town
you can relax on a small beach. |
|
|

The Charentaise slippers originated in Angoulême during the reign of
Louis XIV. At that time the city specialized in the manufacture of felt
for the uniforms of the Royal Navy. Cobbles collected the off-cuts and
rejects to make slippers with woollen uppers and felt soles. For the
maximum usage the slippers had neither left nor right feet. At
first the Charentaise slipper made its appearance in the castles (it
is said that La Rouchefoucauld introduced them at Versailles). Now it is
known all over the world. |
 |
Saint
Germain-de-Confolens,
stands
at the confluence of the Vienne and the Issoire. The medieval
castle of the Count de la Marche, of which three imposing towers
can still be seen, "holds" the hill overlooking the village. The
river Vienne flows past the foot of the village, wide, blue and
banked with lush green grass.
Also to
be seen :
beside
the castle, the small Romanesque church of Saint-Vincent, built
in accordance with a rare plan in the shape of a Greek cross.
outside
the village, at the Croix de Bellevue, the sumptuous panoramic
view of the Blond foothills and the Issoire reservoir.
|
|
Oradour-sur-Glane
(Located
around 15 kilometres from Essubras), and
its Centre de la Memoire, is a village which remembers its 642
martyrs - men, women and children - who were murdered by the
German SS on the 10th June 1944. Since that date
little has been changed in the village, and the Centre which is
a strong reminder of this terrifying act of barbarism, is a
‘must visit’. A new town bearing the same name has now been
built close by. |
 |
 |
The village has been
kept in the same stage since 1944. The centre de la Memoire exposes the events leading this barbaric act. A new town
of the same name has been built close by.This village and museum must been seen. It is
all so impressive and unbelievable. It lies about 15 kilometers from
Essubras.(www.oradour.org) |
|
|
 |
 |
Mortemart
Located at the
foot of the Monts de Blond, another place worth seeing is
Mortemart
, famous for the remnants of its glorious past. It offers an
architecturally imposing group of buildings remarkable for the purity of
its lines. To be seen: le château des Ducs, the covered market of the
18th century, the convents: the convent of the Carmelite order, the
convent of the Augustinian order, the parish church. This village grew
up around the 10th century castle, which was built by then Lord of
Mortemart. During the wars of Religion Cardinal le Richelieu ordered its
destruction and all that remains today is it's tower an a few rooms. |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Galois d'Esse
In Esse: a Gaulish villageins built named
Coriobona. A presentation of
daily life of the Lémovices, the Gaulish people of the Limousin.
You can visit the village from may to
november.
Although the website of the Gaulish is in french, you still can find
some beautiful pictures which will give you an idea of their way of life,
of their village:
http://lesgauloisdesse.free.fr/ |
 |
|

There are ongoing
exhibitions at the strip cartoon museum CNBDI, the Musée des Beaux Arts
(fine arts), Musée du Papier (Angoulême was a center for paper making
and printing) and Musée de la Résistance.(word War II) |
Angoulême
An absolute must! You'll love sitting at a table in one of the many
small restaurants in the restored old districts in the upper town.
Angoulême is a town of art and history, a town of the Middle Ages and the 19th
century.
Its paper-making history has left a distinct taste for the
visual arts. On every corner its architectural heritage can be seen, but
not just that. The walls of the town are home to a “bubble” of
creativity. Famous comic strip authors, like Franquin, Morris, Vance,
Zep, Margerin etc., have provided the inspiration for the painted walls
admired by visitors as they stroll through the streets.
The city is dominated by the 12th
century cathedral of Saint-Pierre with its richly decorated façade full
of sculptures and carvings. The ramparts of the old city walls offer you
walks with spectacular views over the Charente valley.
More info
at:
angouleme-tourisme.com |
|
Géants du Ciel
within an hour drive
you will see a beautiful show of giant birds of prey. Marvel at the
eaglesand falcons as they swoon down from a great hight.
 |
Vallée du Singe
You can have the best experience by
spending a day among the apes. Many free living different primates can
be discovered in the trees and along the paths. A true
adventure for young and old.
 |
 |
Saint Junien
is famous for its
glove-making. Tanning and leatherwork were once important local
industries. A few ateliers still supply haute couture desings for the
Parisian catwalks.
Even Jean Paul Gauthier and Yves Saint Laurent shop here for gloves!!
You can buy fabulous fashion accessories at warehouse prices. You will
find also lovely medieval churches, abbeys and bridges. |
|
Limoges
A
comfortable drive from Essubras, the town of Limoges is
worth a visit. To see (and maybe even buy) some of the famous enamelware
and porcelain, that has made the town
famous since 1771 when the
the
Porselein manufacture was founded
.
The Musée
National Adrien-Dubouché has the second largest collection of porcelaine
in France.
(www.musee-adriendubouche.fr) The Musée de l'Evêché, which you will find in the former
episcopal palace (18th century) is a splendid enamelware museum. The
jardin of Evêché holds more than 1500 species of plants! The town
hall(1882) is one of the most beautiful of France,
built in 1882 with the legacy
bequeathed to the town by one of its porcelain barons, and bearing a
striking resemblance to the Hôtel de Ville in Paris.
The Limoges Bénéditins railway station is dominated by a 60 metre
high clock tower. Inside the main hall, you can admire the sculptures
and stained-glass windows of Francis Chigot.
Limoges is the place of birth of the famous painter Auguste Renoir
(1841-1919). |
|
 |
Montmorillon
(60 km) When passing over the ancient 14th
gothic bridge, on the Gartempe river, make sure you stop to discover an
out of time site dedicated to book worms, art lovers, collectors of rare
works and families who fancy a change of scene. Set in a picturesque
area of le Brouard, the first inhabited town in the Middle Ages, the
Cité de l'écrit et de Métiers du Livre had made Montmorillon a centre of
excellence in its field, owing to its variety fo new and secondhand
booksellers, bookbinders, illustrators etc. Don't forget to visit the
muée de l'Amande et du Macaron (almond and macaroon museum)
|
|
|
|
 |
Pineau des Charentes
An error in the making
Pineau
des Charentes was not made by trial and error, utilising various grape
forms to produce a magnificent wine. No, legend has it, back in the 16th
Century, a winegrower accidently poured grape must into a barrel already
containing Cognac eau de vie. A few years later the barrel was needed
and the owner was somewhat surprised by the marvellous brew. Pineau
des Charente was born. Since then, for the last five centuries, the
winegrowers have continued to follow the same tradition, passed down
from generation to generation. |
There
are two types of Pineau des Charentes produced today, white and rosé. To
be able to call the produce Pineau des Charentes, the cognac eau de vie
and grape juice must come from the same property, and aged in oak casks
for a minimum period of 18 months.
There are strict methods to
producing Pineau des Charentes and its regulated by the
National Pineau Des Charentes Committee (Comité National du
Pineau des Charentes), which was created in 1949 to defend the
common interests of producers and merchants in terms of production,
promotion and sales. They have produced a fabulous
Infrmation Pack in English which is definitely worth a read if you
want to know more about the production,
Pineau
des Charentes is appreciated as an aperitif, cocktail (for example,
pineau and schwepps (tonic water)) and is used in gastronomy throughout
the meal with the finest foods |
 |
Visit a winyard
If you are interested in wines, pineau de Charentes, why don't visit
for exemple the wineyard of Patrick Mallinger and his family. (about 1
1/2 hours drive). At his domaine you can become aquinted with the proces
of wine making. And ofcourse there is an opportunity to taste their
products. More information on:
www.vignoblefamillemallinger.fr |
|
|