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A hike in the region Poitou-Charentes
The ruins of the castle sit imposingly in the village of Angles-sur-l'Anglin, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, near the confluence of the rivers Gartempe and Anglin, in which magdalenian sculptures have been found. This place, in the border of Poitou, Touraine and Berry, will probably surprise you.
1- In front of Saint-Martin church, go to the right in the small paved alley "la Cueille". Once at the road, turn to the left and walk along the castle ruins. At the crossroads, turn to the right. Leave a road on your right, and continue up to a track on the left facing another road.
2- Take this track and go up to the road.
3- At the road, turn to the right. Continue up to a track on the left.
4- Take this track. At the next crossing, turn to the left. Go up to the road.
5- On the road D2, turn to the left, and continue up to a track to the right.
6- Take this track, and just after turn to the left.
7- At the crossroads, take the left road, and then turn immediately to the right. At the crossing, go straight.
8- Take the track opposite. Walk past a water tower. Leave a path on the left, walk 350 meters and turn to the left. You reach the road D5.
9- Turn to the left and take the first track to the right, toward the river. Continue on this way to find a road. Take then the first track to the left. At the road, turn to the right, and get back a track on the left. Continue straight ahead leaving a path on the right.
10- Go back up to the church.
Information
General points
- Geographic situation. District : Angles-sur-l'Anglin
(department Vienne, canton Saint-Savin)
Road map with
 - Starting point : Church Place (from the fairground car park, go to the panoramic viewpoint of "Huche Corne", and go up the street "rue de l'église").
- The length of the stroll is estimated at 5,9 Km and the walk duration is about 2 h .
- The stroll is marked out all along
- Stroll form : loop
- Stroll relief : hilly (alt. mini = 80 m ; alt. maxi = 120 m)
- Maintenance : regular (right brushwood clearing)
- Exposure : varied (both covered and uncovered areas)
Events and information
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Worth seeing.
Angles-sur-l'Anglin is known for its embroidery trade with a special handcraft technique of drawn-threadwork which gives a lace-like material.
Noteworthy places
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Le château. The castle was built by Hugues de Lusignan and his son Hugues le Brun in 1025, and reshaped during the XIIth and XVth centuries. Situated in a strategic location, it towers 48 meters above the valley of Anglin. In 1281, it became property of the bishops of Poitiers. After over and over attacks, it finally fell in ruins, so that it was even declared "public quarry" after the French Revolution. This is only after the Second World War that the ruined walls were strengthened, in order to preserve this heritage masterpiece of Angles.
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La chapelle Saint-Pierre. Situated on a rocky spur near the castle, the Romanesque chapel was built between the XIth and the XIIth century. The panoramic viewpoint offers a superb view over Anglin and the lower part of the city. The chapel is adjacent to a part of the ruined ramparts, which presents quite indistinct vestiges of a little bridge situated over a door.
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L'abbaye et l'église Sainte-Croix. Situated on the left bank of Anglin, the abbey Sainte-Croix (Holy Cross) dates from 1080. It was attached to the Augustinian order. The building of the church Sainte-Croix began in 1175. A part of the nave was restored during the XVIIth century. This is the current chapel. The rest of the original church was destroyed to let place to a road. From time to time, artistic exhibitions are laid on in the chapel.
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L'église Saint-Martin. The Romanesque church of Saint-Martin is situated in the upper city. It was damaged during the French religion wars. In 1657, the bell tower was reduced by two meters after it was struck by lightning.
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Tranchée des anglais. A trench is situated between the promontory of the Chapel Saint-Pierre and the castle. It corresponds to a natural ditch that people used and arranged for a military purpose, as this place was often attacked.
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Le "Roc aux Sorciers". This is a Magdalenian site discovered in 1948. It is dated from 12000 BC. The rock is carved in low relief in several friezes, on which it can be distinguished bisons, ibexes, horses and feline species, as well as three women and a unique in the world man head. The site is protected and not open to visit. On the other hand, an interpretive centre, including a reproduction of the site, has been built in Angles-sur-l'Anglin to welcome visitors.
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La "Huche Corne". From this panoramic viewpoint, you can enjoy the sight on the lower city, with the roofs overlapping, and a watermill on the river Anglin.
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Le pigeonnier du château des Certeaux. The dovecote (pigeonnier) of the castle Certaux goes back to the XVIIth century.
Maps
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IGN 1926 O, IGN 1926 E.
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