Sentier des bois et vallées - Cellefrouin

A walk combining a rich Romanesque heritage with a long forest walk. Discover one of the oldest Romanesque facades in the Angoumois region and the town's lantern for the dead. Cellefrouin is criss-crossed from east to west by the Son valley, with its many mills, wash-houses and footbridges. The village of Cellefrouin owes its existence to the monastery founded there. Built at the end of the 11th century, the church of Saint-Nicolas was part of a vast monastic complex dating back to the Middle Ages. It has one of the oldest facades in the Angoumois region. The cemetery was most likely built in the early days of the monastery, in its current location (on the plateau to the south of the village) and not near the church, as the church was located at the bottom of the Son valley and to avoid any risk of flooding. Please take care when crossing the D739. First you reach the heights of Cellefrouin, then farmland and forest. The woods cover more than a quarter of the commune's total surface area and extend mainly to the south, forming the Bois de la Bachellerie and the Bois de Bel-Air. You will reach the village via the cemetery, crossing Chez Francillou. Before entering the cemetery, you can walk a few metres along the shady road to discover the gateway to the Maine Salomon dwelling. Inside the cemetery is a stone monument, the Lantern of the Dead. Built in the 12th century, it is 12 metres high. It is pierced at the bottom to allow access to the lantern and to place a lamp in the upper pavilion. Take the winding path back down to admire the abbey church. An excellent view of the village.