The Argentor valley and around
A river, a former railway line turned greenway, and everything worth seeing within an hour.
The valley
The Argentor is a river in northern Charente, twenty-nine kilometres long, a left-bank tributary of the river Charente, which it joins near Poursac. It is formed by the meeting of the two streams it is named after — the Argent to the south and the Or to the north — and runs through Champagne-Mouton, Nanteuil-en-Vallée, Poursac and Saint-Georges.
This is the valley that La Maison de la Cloche looks down on from its terrace. Standing above Moulin-Robin, it has the viaduct for a horizon: a stone structure carried on arches.
The greenway, on foot from the cottage
A former railway line, now a greenway, winds along the valley. Flat and free of traffic, it suits walkers and cyclists alike, and stays manageable with young children.
You can reach it on foot from the house — the easiest outing there is, with no need to take the car. Nanteuil-en-Vallée was served last century by the Ruffec to Roumazières line, and had its own station.
Worth visiting near Nanteuil-en-Vallée
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10 min by car
Nanteuil-en-Vallée
A designated Petite Cité de Caractère
The nearest village, and the most endearing: lanes of pale stone, the national Petite Cité de Caractère designation, and an abbey founded around 780 of which handsome pieces survive.Things to do
- The abbey of Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Benoît Two medieval buildings remain: the 12th-century treasury, listed as a historic monument in 1943, and the Grands Greniers, a 13th- and 14th-century guest house.
- The Argentor gardens A former arboretum planted in the 1920s, crossed by a medieval canal.
- The waymarked paths They follow the river and are easily picked up from the village.
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20 min by car
Verteuil-sur-Charente
Village and château
The village steps down to the bank of the Charente, below its château. Recorded as early as 1080, the castle has belonged ever since to the La Rochefoucauld family: François VI, who wrote the Maxims, lived here.Things to do
- Wandering the village The lanes drop towards the Charente; on an island stands what remains of the 15th-century Cordeliers convent.
- The church of Saint-Médard Dating from the 12th century, it holds an Entombment attributed to the workshop of Germain Pilon.
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30 min by car
Confolens
Old town and outdoor pursuits
The little town grew on both banks of the Vienne, crossed by its stone Pont Vieux. Old façades, a covered market hall and riverside walks: it is the most complete half-day out in the area.Things to do
- The rail bike On a disused railway line, two people pedal while three others enjoy the view. Departures from Confolens and Manot, spring to autumn. The same association also runs a heritage train. Chemin de Fer Charente Limousine
- Canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding The Roches Bleues centre, on the Vienne, hires out canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and pedalos, and runs guided descents towards Saint-Germain-de-Confolens, Manot or Exideuil. Open in summer. Confolens canoe and kayak centre
- The Confolens Festival Every August since 1958, dance and music companies from all over the world take over the town.
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40 min by car
Coriobona
A reconstructed Gaulish village
At Esse, on a wooded slope above the Issoire valley, a full-scale reconstruction of a Gaulish oppidum, begun in 2003 by the association Les Gaulois d’Esse.Things to do
- Visiting the village The buildings reproduce those of the 1st century BC, from the aristocratic house to the craftsman’s workshop. Open March to November, on your own or with a guide. The association's website
- Craft demonstrations Smithing, pottery, weaving, basketry, leatherwork and coin striking, run by the volunteers.
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40 min by car
La Rochefoucauld
Château
Known as the pearl of the Angoumois, the château sets a Romanesque keep raised around 1030, sixteen metres high, above a Renaissance range built around 1520. The same family has owned it for a thousand years.Things to do
- Touring the château Two ranges of buildings, tiers of galleries, a chapel, a great 16th-century spiral staircase and a library of more than 18,000 volumes. Open all year except Tuesdays.
- A footnote of history It was here that Charles VII learned, in July 1453, of the victory that ended the Hundred Years’ War.
Driving times from the cottage
The house sits where the Ruffécois country meets the Charente limousine.
See all thirteen destinations
| Destination | Driving time |
|---|---|
| Champagne-Mouton | 5 min |
| Nanteuil-en-Vallée | 10 min |
| Ruffec | 20 min |
| Verteuil-sur-Charente | 20 min |
| Confolens | 30 min |
| Roumazières-Loubert | 30 min |
| Angoulême | 40 min |
| Poitiers | 1 hr |
| Niort | 1 hr 10 |
| Limoges | 1 hr 10 |
| Cognac | 1 hr 20 |
| La Rochelle | 1 hr 50 |
| Royan | 2 hrs |
