Set high up on a hillside, the village is very old, probably dating from around 450. The term "Gour" dates back to the Visigoth occupation; "villette" refers to the small town. GOURVILLETTE - BEAUVAIS-SUR-MATHA - Circuit de Gourvillette (10 km - 2 h 30 - altitude gain: 55 m) Set high up on a hillside, this is a very old village, probably founded around 450. The term "Gour" dates back to the Visigoth occupation; "villette" refers to the small town. Location: 25 km east of St-Jean-d'Angély Start: town hall Markings : yellow 1 - Take rue de la Croix then rue de Bellevue on the left. At the crossroads turn left twice. Turn right onto the chemin de la prairie de Massac. 2 - Turn left. Cross the D224 then the D133E2. Turn right then left. 3 - On entering Beauvais-sur-Matha, take the chemin de Montvinouze, then the rue des Petits Couteaux and the rue des Trois Roys. In this street you will notice a mullioned window with a carved angel bearing a coat of arms. Continue along rue de la Garde and you will see a fortified barn, evidence of a Templar Commandery, of which two watchtowers remain, a large building where the parapet walk used to be and a monolithic stone well. Take the central square to the church. Turn left onto the Chemin Païen (reserved for the non-Catholic dead) and then right onto the Chemin du Petit Bois. 4 - Cross the D133 then turn right onto the Chemin de Beauvais towards Fontaine-Chalandray. Turn left onto a dirt track. 5 - Cross the D222 and continue straight ahead as far as Gourvillette. When you reach the village, turn right into chemin de la Cure, then left into rue du Chêne and left again into rue de l'Église. Gourvillette church, dedicated to Saint-Martial, was built in the 12th century. Only the north wall and the façade escaped destruction. It was rebuilt in the 15th century. Note the three beautiful voussoirs with geometric motifs supported by three pairs of columns with finely decorated capitals. The columns are engraved with a large number of crosses left by pilgrims after they passed through.
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From 01/01 to 30/12/2025, daily.