Culture vultures

Le nom vient d’une pierre sacrée druidique : La Roche Brune.

Aux confins du Limousin et du Poitou, le château de Rochebrune est l’une des maisons fortes entourant à l’origine les terres de Chabanais, exposée en priorité aux raids des comtes de la Marche et de l’évêque de Limoges. La place, devenue anglaise, défendra aussi la principauté de Chabanais dans le conflit entre Richard Cœur de Lion et Philippe Auguste. Le prince Jourdain IV mourra à la croisade. La propriété passée par mariage dans la famille de Matha, puis de Rochechouart, l’édifice, flanqué à l’origine de deux tours rondes devient un véritable château fort aux XIIIème et XIVème siècles. Il sera la résidence des Thouars entre 1345 et 1450. Leur fille Catherine, après un premier mariage avec Gilles de Retz, maréchal de France, épouse Jean de Vendôme.

Jacques Marchand created his ceramic studio in 1988, seduced by the colour of a Charente Limousine fawn stoneware. From the choice and extraction of the clay to the firing of his creations,
Jacques Marchand created his ceramic studio in 1988, seduced by the colour of a Charente Limousine fawn stoneware. From the choice and extraction of the clay to the firing of his creations, Jacques is involved in easy stage. Sculptures, graphics and colorful decors, exuberant or sober, will awaken your curiosity in his gallery studio. His signature is the guarantee that each piece is an original.


Maybe you'll be lucky enough to see him make a " Ponne de type Benest", or a "bujadier de type Thiat" using the traditional method.


Ponne : old washpot (other names : "bujours", " bujadiers",...) These earthenware washpots were black in Benest (Charente)

Covered riding school (20x40 m), obstacle course (50x80 m), training area (20x60 m), boxes, places to clean horses and where they can have shower.

Spend an interesting and exciting afternoon with our honeybees. Find out more about colonies and their importance to the environment, with hands-on experience of inspecting hives
Spend an interesting and exciting afternoon with our honeybees. Find out more about colonies and their importance to the environment, with hands-on experience of inspecting hives. Open on Monday afternoons, 1-4pm, from April until mid-October, weather permitting. The price is 20 euros per person which includes all equipment and protective clothing, refreshments and honey tasting. 3-day and 6-day courses are also available with accommodation included. Booking is essential by telephone or email (0545 71 22 90 or info@13bees.co.uk).

In this charming medieval village, information boards will lead you to some twelve houses which ages span from the 15th century to the 18th century. At the bottom of various alleys and passageways, you will fall upon several timbered houses with mullioned windows, some bearing the vestiges of fortifications.

La 'Butte de frochet' (hillock of Frochet, is a natural area offering ecological as welle as fauna and flora interests. Is is a mineral backbone of white quartz, themnants of the hydrothermal activity of the Oradour-sur-Glane rift towards the end of the primaryera.
The ridge path offers splendid vistas on "Charente Limousine" and on "Basse-Marche".

The heather-covered moor is currently administered by the 'Conservatoire des espaces Naturels du Limousin'. Thus, some endangered bird species such as harriers or nightjars whosenesting area is heather spaces will be able to inhabit the place.

The landscape takes on pink hues at the beginning and at the end of the Summer at the time when ashen heather ans calluna vulgaris are in full bloom.

Canoes, kayaks and pedalos can be hired without prior reservation.

Descents in canoe or kayak, Manot to Confolens or Ansac to Confolens. Reservations required.

A countryside getaway along the former railway line that runs between Confolens and Roumazières, travelling to the rhythm of the trains of yesteryear
A countryside getaway along the former railway line that runs between Confolens and Roumazières, travelling to the rhythm of the trains of yesteryear. To find out when the trains run telephone + 33 (0)5 45 71 16 64. Choose between the long route (Confolens - Roumazières return, a total of 34km) or short route (Confolens – Manot or Roumazières – Manot return, a total of 18km).

The biggest paintball park in the Limousin, 3 zones of over 3 hectares of natural ground. Enjoy a game with family or friends.

bed and breakfast and gites in the beautiful surroundings of the Charente. Large pitches for camping and comfortable rooms.
Our ´gites & camping’ exists more than 20 years. After some renovations we have created a very pleasant campsite with 16 pitches and gites / rooms to rent. In our spacious garden you will find our swimming pool and children's area, as well as a petanque field.


In the environment there are many things to discover and visit. Canoeing is very popular, but don't forget the restaurants, the castle and all the trails for a nice walk or bike ride.

Restaurant pizzeria. Menus from 8,50€ to 22,50€. Lovely setting by a lake.
Open Tuesday and Thursday : 12noon - 2.00pm and 7.00 - 11.00pm
Wednesday: 10.00am - 11.00pm
Friday: 2.00pm - 1.00am
Saturday: 10.00am - 1.00am
Sunday: 10.00am - midnight

Indoor facilities:


- 25-metre competition pool.

- A leisure pool of 200m2 with a depth ranging from 0.40 to 1.40 m.

- sauna and hammam.

- 2 squash courts.


Outside:

- A 25m pool with diving board.

- A leisure pool with waterslide.

Detached house with a fenced in lawn on a property of 60 hectares of meadows and forests. Footpaths and can rent donkeys.

Saint Junien, a rural holiday resort,

“gateway to the sea” reputed for the high

quality of its leather goods particularly the

luxury gloves lies just on the border of the

Charente. During your stay, you will enjoy

the visit of the historical districts gathered

around the collegiate church ; in Summer,

the city offers a wide range of cultural

events, fun fairs, and rural markets. Between

the river Vienne and the Glane, the “site

Corot” is a well preserved place, its natural

environment inspires a lot of painters. The

shady campsite offers a wide range of sports

amenities : a skate park, a swimming pool,

a golf course and many footpaths.

La Table du Gantier - brasserie/ bistrot/gourmet cooking. Owned by Mr and Mrs Bouny and son.
Open Tuesday to Saturday : 09.00am - 2.00pm and 5.30 - 9:00pm
Sunday : 9.00am - 2.00pm

The Monjonc mill has been completely renovated to welcome visitors in optimal comfort. The idyllic setting on the banks of Glane in Saint-Junien (10 minutes from Oradour-sur-Glane and 20 minutes from Rochechouart) will allow you to recharge your batteries during your stay. It has 3 bedrooms and a maximum capacity of 6 people. 1 bedroom with shower is located on the ground floor and accessible to people with reduced mobility. The gîte can be privatized for evenings or days (contact them for prices). Prices: 1 night mini / maxi 150 € / 170 €, prices 2 nights 340 €, 3 nights 490 €. the week: 845 €.

Listed as a Natural Zone of ecological interest, fauna and flora (ZNIEFF), the Corot site is part of the Glane valley, with varied fauna and flora, in particular, the ‘Royal Fern’, a protected plant. The 3 km trail is interspersed with descriptive panels with a riddle to solve. A prize is offered by the Tourist Information Centre for every correct answer!

At the Relais de Comodoliac restaurant, we do all we can to ensure the time you spend with us is synonymous with pleasure.

Quality food is carefully prepared with seasonal flavors. Large armchairs, white tablecloths and refined tableware for your comfort. We also have a fireplace and air-conditioning.

The Como Bistro serves a set menu at lunch-time from Monday - Friday - 14€.