The Église Saint-Pierre and the Maison du Patrimoine showcase different chapters in Pompaire’s local history: the church’s Romanesque predecessor was followed by a rebuilding in the 19th century; the former public school became a place of remembrance, gathering and events. The GR36 and the Gué du Rézard add a long-distance trail and an example of small-scale water engineering.
The Église Saint-Pierre and its building history
The Église Saint-Pierre in Pompaire was rebuilt between 1865 and 1866, replacing a Romanesque building dating from the 12th century. Ten stained-glass windows were created between 1862 and 1865, so their period of creation overlaps with the start of the rebuilding in 1865.
A tour of the church allows visitors to see its religious furnishings, statues and other works of art. These include 14 Stations of the Cross. This shifts the focus from the building itself to its contents: alongside the building’s history, the artworks and religious furnishings take centre stage.
Maison du Patrimoine: school and agriculture
The Maison du Patrimoine is housed in Pompaire’s former public school, which was repurposed in 2005. It serves as a place of remembrance, gathering and events. On display are documents on local heritage, exhibition panels, household items and agricultural tools used in the past. A schoolroom corner recalls the classroom’s use from 1890 to 1975.
The covered area and courtyard are also part of the display, with agricultural machinery from the 1920s exhibited there. The Maison therefore brings together a range of artefacts, from documents and household items to tools, machinery and memories of the former classroom. The dates refer to different aspects: 2005 marks the building’s repurposing, 1890 to 1975 the classroom’s period of use, and the 1920s the machinery.
The Viette, the GR36 and the Gué du Rézard
The Viette forms Pompaire’s southern municipal boundary and flows into the Thouet at Parthenay-le-Vieux. The river is thus described as part of the municipal boundary; its confluence lies at Parthenay-le-Vieux. The exact route of the GR36 is a separate matter: the long-distance trail passes through Pompaire for a few hundred metres, near the Église Saint-Pierre de Parthenay-le-Vieux, along the start of the Route du Coteau and the Chemin du Rézard.
The place name in this church’s name helps distinguish it: the Église Saint-Pierre de Parthenay-le-Vieux is a Romanesque monument on the Ways of St James and has been classified as a historic monument since 1846. It is a different building from the Église Saint-Pierre in Pompaire, whose rebuilding and interior furnishings are described above.
Another tangible example of small-scale water engineering is the Gué du Rézard. It consists of stone slabs resting on blocks lying in the water. Its construction makes the design easy to understand: the slabs do not simply rest on a reinforced bank but are supported by blocks in the water. Together with the Viette’s role as a boundary and the named section of the GR36, the ford offers a distinct perspective on water and routes in Pompaire.
If you are considering Pompaire as a destination for a cultural trip, you will find several points of interest: church architecture and furnishings, the history of the former school and local agriculture, and a section of the GR36. These themes can help you shape your visit around the interests that matter to you.
Discover more destinations: Vire, Bessines, Pouffonds, Puihardy, Combrand, Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes, La Coudre and Saint-Maixent-LĘĽĂ©cole.
For the regional travel overview: Deux-Sèvres.
