Name: Heritage
Address: FR

To discover the heritage of the Pays Loudunais, we advise you to take your time here. Just as you cross our landscapes, keep the same pace as you immerse yourself in our heritage. Slowly, with curiosity, let each place tell you what it has to say. Whether you’re a family or a romantic getaway, here you’ll find captivating stories, places where you can move around freely and a peaceful atmosphere, far from the hustle and bustle of the big sites. In an area where people like to understand, observe and take their time, let the magic of this mix of castles, ancient stones, local legends and discoveries guided by passionate locals work its magic.

Castles

Neolithic

Religious heritage

Listen to tales of our castles and homes

The Château de Monts sur Guesnes often leads the way. Its Historial du Poitou brings to life the era ofEleanor of Aquitaine through immersive rooms that appeal to children and adults alike. It’s a place where you can learn without feeling too heavy-handed, and where you can let yourself be carried away by the rhythmic, well-told stories. Continuing along the road, La Mothe Chandeniers continues to surprise with its unique history and its renaissance supported by thousands of contributors. In this almost romantic château, vegetation and stone coexist gracefully.

More intimate, Château de Ternay welcomes visitors with a sense of hospitality that belongs as much to the place as to the people who live there. Here you’ll find family charm, anecdotes, rooms that are gently revealed and sometimes a game of riddles that creates a lovely moment of complicity between generations.

A little further afield, the Berrye fortress, part of a wine estate, links heritage and terroir in a visit that often ends with a tasting session. Other eras await you at Chapelle Bellouin and La Rouvraye. These sites open a door on a period between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, in more confidential atmospheres. It’s an ideal outing for those who like places that whisper rather than impose.

Guided tours unveil the heritage of the Loudun region

If you want to go further, the Tourist Office’s guided tours offer a valuable insight into the region’s villages and emblematic buildings. In Loudun, the Tour Carrée rises above the town, offering a panoramic view that puts the whole place into perspective. You can see the geography of the Loudun area, with its rooftops, narrow streets and farmland stretching off into the distance. The donjon at Moncontour is a challenging but rewarding climb. It’s a great opportunity for children to measure themselves against the height of the monument and discover the valley from another point of view. In a completely different vein, the Treilles de la Reine Blanche in Curçay-sur-Dive offers a peaceful interlude. Here, the ancient grape varieties tell a cultural as well as agricultural story, creating a lovely learning experience in the midst of the vines.

Celebrating heritage together

Loudun’s heritage loves to be showcased at events that bring people together. Every year, the European Heritage Days provide an opportunity to discover the sites in a different way, sometimes with events, stories or demonstrations. The Magies du Patrimoine (Magic of Heritage) events add a touch of fantasy, bringing the old stones to life through words, music or artistic performances. These moments of exchange are a reminder of just how much our heritage is alive and well, nurtured by local residents and visitors alike.

Along paths and landscapes shaped by time

Discovering heritage also means walking. The Moncontour wash-house trail leads from one watering place to the next, following the quiet rhythm of the old ways. You can feel the everyday life of yesteryear in every detail. A little further on, a number of dolmens punctuate the footpaths, taking you back thousands of years, with nothing more than their imposing presence. These walks are an essential part of the natural environment, which always accompanies heritage tours of the Loudunais region.

Discovering our neighbouring heritage

The Pays Loudunais is close to other major sites that are the perfect complement to local discoveries.Fontevraud Abbey, with its striking architecture, is just a few kilometres away. The nearest châteaux on the Loire, such as Montreuil-Bellay, Brézé, Rivau, Saumur and the fortress of Chinon, are a natural part of a trip where history flows from one area to another. Not to be missed a little further north: the Château d’Oiron. This fascinating building combines heritage with contemporary art.

All these places form a coherent extension to the trip to Loudun, with a change of scenery but the same idea of gentle, curious and accessible discovery.

A discreet region with a generous heritage

As you explore the Pays Loudunais, you’ll discover a heritage that’s as appealing for its history as it is for its architecture and ease of access. You’ll find accessible stories, places where you can move around freely, a welcoming atmosphere and a very natural way of blending past and present. Families appreciate this tranquillity, this coherence between sites, landscapes and the people who tell them.

You can discover our region by taking your time, like slowly turning the pages of a book that you like to keep close to you. Would you like to come and read it with us?