Châtillon-sur-Thouet offers several ways to enjoy a stay: the pre-Romanesque Church of Saint-Pierre, the history of the former Priory of La Madeleine, the Vallée paysagère for a stroll, and trails along the Thouet. When planning your visit, you can consider historic buildings, a walk, and routes of varying lengths and suited to different uses.
Historic buildings and their stories
The Church of Saint-Pierre was built in the 10th century and is a rare regional example of pre-Romanesque architecture. It provides an early point of reference in time when exploring the local buildings.
La Maison Dieu is the last surviving building of the former Priory of La Madeleine. In its choir, wall paintings draw attention to the sculptures on the capitals. Capitals are the upper sections of columns; here, the paintings direct the eye to the sculptures. Together, the wall decoration and stone carvings stand out.
The protection status of the Ancienne maison-Dieu is differentiated: some parts are classified as a historic monument, while others are listed as a historic monument. The former Moulin de Rouget adds to the picture of local architectural history. It is one of the few local mills that still has a working wheel today.
Discover the Vallée paysagère on foot
The Vallée paysagère lies between the town hall and the Church of Saint-Pierre and covers about 3.5 hectares. Its location connects the area to two notable local landmarks; at the same time, it offers a destination for a stroll in its own right.
The Vallée paysagère includes a small animal park and an arboretum, which you can discover on a walk. The area thus brings together two different themes: animals and trees. The animals you may encounter can change over time, so do not plan on seeing any particular animals.
Trails along the Thouet and beyond
La Maison Dieu is right beside the GR36, which follows the Thouet. It offers a place to rest for tourists, hikers and pilgrims. If you are travelling along the GR36, you can factor this stop into your stage and combine a break with a visit to the historic architecture.
The Voie Verte Parthenay-Bressuire follows the former SNCF railway line for about 30 kilometres and runs away from motor traffic. It can be used on foot, by bicycle, with a pushchair or in a wheelchair. Its length and the types of use listed here make it different from a single waymarked hiking trail.
A leaflet published several years ago lists the yellow-marked Les berges du Thouet de Parthenay à Châtillon-sur-Thouet trail as 9 kilometres long, with a duration of about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Before setting off, check the current trail conditions before using this time to plan your stages. The two routes therefore offer different ways to plan: an approximate duration is given for the waymarked trail, while the Voie Verte is described in terms of its length and possible uses.
Discover more destinations: Vouillé, Melle, Le Beugnon, Coulonges-Thouarsais, Saint-Hilaire-La-Palud, Granzay-Gript, Vasles, Périgné
Return to the main travel overview: Deux-Sèvres.
