Boucle vélo route Blanzac - Circuit découverte 7B

Set off on a circuit offering beautiful views of the rolling countryside of the South Charente with its changing colours through the seasons, from the ochre to the white of the chalky hills in winter, and from the green to the golden of the crops in fine weather. The pretty town of Blanzac-Porcheresse is situated in the fertile Né valley, a fair town on the route to Santiago de Compostela. It was prosperous in the Middle Ages following the construction of a fortified castle by a branch of the La Rochefoucauld family. The shady village square faces the collegiate church of Saint Arthèmy and its beautiful facade decorated with columned beams takes you on a journey to the East. Inside, sculptures and murals will amaze you. You will be able to see the tower of the castle of Blanzac, a high defensive tower from the 13th century, the only vestige of the old fortified castle. Then, you will set off to conquer the Templar chapel perched on an eminence, which dominates the surrounding vineyard landscape. The interior contains magnificent 12th century frescoes set against a red and white background. In the heart of the Blanzacais hills, this chapel, built in the middle of the 12th century, belonged to the Templar commandery called "du Dognon". If you wish, before continuing your tour, continue to the church of Saint-Cybard de Porcheresse, one of the oldest in the Angoumois. Built in the 11th century, it has the same characteristics: narrow windows with monolithic lintels, pierced in the buttresses, and rubble stone walls (public access not permitted). Then you will arrive at the church of Saint-Jacques-de-Conzac, push the door of the building, admire its unique nave and its apse with sculpted capitals, where numerous interlacing animals and plants appear. On the way back to Blanzac, you will follow the Né, a charming little river, on which the remains of beautiful water mills remain.