La Clisse can be discovered through two distinct themes: Sainte-Madeleine Church, with its long building history, and the Arnoult, whose valley shapes the landscape and natural environment. Which one you explore first depends on whether you are more interested in the church, the history of agriculture or the natural environment.
Sainte-Madeleine Church: Building History and Art
Construction of Sainte-Madeleine Church began in the 12th century; work is said to have started in 1130. The façade features headless sculptures, including a lion motif. A crucifix painting by the Saintongeais painter Pierre Vincent, dating from 1784 and recently restored, hangs above the altar. The start of construction and the altarpiece point to two different periods in the town’s history: the church was built in the Middle Ages, while the painting dates from the late 18th century. The church can therefore be explored through both its architecture and a specific work of art.
The church is normally open daily throughout the year and admission is free. If it is closed, you can contact the town hall to arrange for it to be opened. For planning purposes, this means that a visit is usually possible, although an exceptional closure cannot be ruled out. The façade with its headless sculptures is a point of interest in its own right; the crucifix painting is inside the church, above the altar.
The Arnoult: River Landscape and Habitats
The Arnoult, a tributary of the Charente, forms a three-kilometre boundary of La Clisse between Luchat and Corme-Royal. At the exit from the village towards Corme-Royal, a prominent rock face can be seen at the Marais de l’Arnoult. The river boundary and the rock face describe two different aspects of the local landscape: one indicates a specific boundary line, while the other marks a visible landscape feature at the village exit.
La Clisse lies within the ZNIEFF Type I site “L’Arnoult”. Its boundaries encompass the entire Arnoult Valley from source to mouth, as well as several adjoining satellite marshes. The three-kilometre boundary and the broad extent of the ZNIEFF refer to different scales: the first concerns La Clisse between the two places mentioned, while the second covers the entire valley and additional marshland.
Documented habitats include wet eutrophic meadows and bocage landscapes. The ZNIEFF encompasses habitats for the European otter, European mink, European pond turtle, notable dragonfly species and bats. The Arnoult Valley serves at least 15 bat species as a feeding area or possible breeding site; 13 of them are classified as qualifying species. These bat records are based on historical observations; the figures given therefore do not guarantee that you will see them during your stay.
The Gabirotte and Vegetable Growing
A gabirotte, a traditional dry-stone shelter for vegetable growers, stands in the park of the same name next to the town hall. At the time of writing, the surrounding park was still being developed. Vegetable growing in La Clisse is documented from the Middle Ages and developed in the 19th century, after the Arnoult was canalised in 1812. The gabirotte and the history of vegetable growing thus link a specific structure with the town’s agricultural development. This cultural heritage is also distinct from the natural themes along the Arnoult: here, the focus is on a traditional way of working and changes to the river; there, it is on the valley, marshes and habitats.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Georges-D'oléron, Cercoux, Aulnay, Le Gua, Saujon, Fouras, Port-Des-Barques, La Vergne
For the main travel overview: Charente-Maritime.
