La Villonnière Chambres d'Hôtes

Bed and Breakfast near Argenton sur Creuse, Saint Benoit du Sault, Eguzon and La Souterraine a few minutes drive from junction 20 off the A20 autoroute, approximately half way between the channel ports and Mediterranean

A small selection of sights and places of interest within our area.

Argenton Sur Creuse

A charming medieval town on the River Creuse with a variety of shops, hotels and restaurants. Argenton sur Creuse has a fascinating history and a delightful atmosphere. Picturesque alleyways and ancient houses hanging precipitously over the winding river make this town a popular subject for artists and photographers.

Le Musée de la Chemiserie -The Shirt Museum in the center (unique in Europe) houses collections of shirts, lingerie, suits, accessories and the machines that made them from the XVll to the present day.

Musée d'Argentomagus at Saint-Marcel, Argenton - the Gallo-Roman city of Argentomagus is one of the most important archeological sites in France. You are invited to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and walk through real prehistoric and Gallo-Roman habitats. For more information follow the English language link http://www.argentomagus.com/indexgb.php

The Brenne Regional Natural Park

A paradise for rare species of plants and animals. Set against a backdrop of diversified landscapes on the River Creuse. In the north, ponds, prairies, moors and woods provide a unique landscape extending over a large 15 km by 30 km plain: this is the Brenne of the lakes. Undulating woodlands covered with copses, forests and small fields all bordered by sunken paths, occupy the south and west. The Creuse and the Anglin have sculpted valleys bordered here and there by sheer cliffs. The lakes are not natural, but they have created an exceptionally interesting and complementary natural environment that hosts an abundance of plant and animal life.

Le Parc naturel régional de la Brenne

Crozant

Hundreds of painters frequented the valley of the Creuse, especially Gargilesse, Crozant and Fresselines, this pictorial movement became known as the "Ecole de Crozant".

Eguzon and Lac Chambon

Visit the Creuse Valley Museum at Eguzon, here you can learn more about the past crafts of the valley, the construction of Eguzon dam and the surrounding countryside.

At Lac Chambon the beaches have safe bathing and water sports, plenty of space to fish and sunbathe, play areas for younger children even crazy golf. Cafés, beachside bars and excellent restaurants cater for all tastes.

A ferryboat sails at regular intervals from the jetty on the beach at Fougères to the main beach at Chambon, where every conceivable water sport is available there is a sailing club and a water ski school, water toboggans and pedalos for the less ambitious! A good family day out that everyone can enjoy.

Fresselines

A delightful artist’s village where beauty, simplicity and authenticity blend together. In 1883 the poet and musician Maurice Rollinat took refuge in Fresselines, bringing with him his friends; musicians, writers, painters. for example Claude MONET who, in 1889, painted 23 scenes of the settings of the two Creuse rivers because the confluence they form is a "magical" site which has always attracted and charmed visitors and walkers.

Gargilesse

Another charming artists village where many famous French painters have visited or lived. This little enclave was also home to the writer Georges Sand. A magnificent chateau a beautiful 12th century church the venue for concerts and the Harp Festivals. Ask at the tourist office and they will show you into the magnificent vaulted crypt. Pavement cafes, hotels and restaurants and during the season the artists welcome visitors into thier homes to watch them at work.

http://www.gargilesse.fr/indexuk.php

Oradour-sur-Glane

The 1940 Peugeot, abandoned by the doctor

About 20km north-west of Limoges stands the remains of the village of Oradour-sur-Glane, a grim reminder of the reality of war for this village has been left exactly as the marauding SS soldiers left it on the 10th June 1944 when they slaughtered the entire population of 642 men, women and children, supposedly in reprisal for Resistance activities. One of the many poignant relics, the rusting hulk of a 1940 Peugeot, abandoned by the doctor as he was dragged off and shot along with all the other men of the village, the women and children were killed in the church.

Saint-Benoît du Sault

Included in 1988 among the one hundred "Most Beautiful Villages of France" this small medieval town was founded in the Xth Century, developed around a Benedictine priory. Leave your car in the car park a go on foot into the old town or you will miss a store of treasures.

La Souterraine

Beneath the town of La Souterraine lies a network of 'secret tunnels' it is these hidden passage ways that gave the town it's name, La Souterraine means ' under the ground'. Above ground the town has many beautiful and historical buildings. Wander through the medieval gateway, the Porte St Jean, make sure you don't miss the incredible Trompe-l'oeil

Limoges

Saint-Etienne Cathedral and its botanical gardens. Saint-Martial Bridge the oldest Roman bridge in Limoges. The covered market for fresh seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables and bakery. The National Porcelain Museum, housing the largest public collection of porcelain in Limoges, and The Enamel Museum are both reminders of how the arts of fire have existed here for over 1,000 years.

Le Blanc

The Creuse cuts the town in two - the low city clustered around the Church of Saint-Génitour, the high city built on limestone hills around two fortresses, Château Naillac and Château des Hautes-Tours, the latter now destroyed. Château Naillac, composed of two feudal dungeons connected by an 18th century structure houses the permanent exhibit of the Ecomusée de la Brenne.

© 2005-2010 La Villonniere Chambres d'hotes B&B, La Villonniere, Parnac, Argenton sur Creuse, 36170, L'Indre, Centre, France. Phone 0033 (0)254248905 e-mail chris@lavillonniere.net