JARNAC AREA

BASSAC
469 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 94 72
Post office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 94 11
Email : maire@mairie-bassac.cegeteldsl.com
At the beginning of the 11th century (in the diocese of Saintes where it borders of the diocese of Angouleme) Wardrade le Riche, Lord of Jarnac and his wife, Rixendis founded an abbey on the banks of the Charente. The place was called Bassiacum or Baziacum and today is known as Bassac. A visit there is not to be missed.
To see : Abbey and abbey-church founded in the 11th century, listed as a building of historical interest in 1880 - Ruins of the former church of St-Nicholas ( "Bassigeau", a fisherman's paradise - "La Trache" : the bridge, its alleyways and the wood mill. Park - craft centre.

BOURG CHARENTE
710 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 30 25
Post office : +33 (0) 5 45 82 20 90
Email : mairie-bourg-chte@wanadoo.fr
picnic area
On a hillside overlooking the river, Bourg is a village rich in historic remains and picturesque spots for the visitor to admire. Roman art, walks and good food are amongst the attractions of one of the most charming villages in the Charente valley.
To see : 12th century church with 13th century Gothic frescoes representing the Adoration of the Magi - 17th century castle : Maison Marnier-Lapostolle - "La Pouponnière" (Dolls Museum) - fishing.

CHASSORS
1082 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 06 63
Email : mairie.chassors@wanadoo.fr
Internet : http://perso.orange.fr/chassors
"The Champagne of the Jarnac area", Chassors has been known and celebrated for many years for the quality of its wine. The centuries-old oak tree in Chassors is the pride of its inhabitants.
To see : 11th century church of St Romain - views from the Hautes Perrières - Chapel

FLEURAC
232 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 35 82 38
Email : mairiedefleurac@free.fr
Built on the slope of a hill, Fleurac provides many fine views. On the border of the ancient provinces of the Saintonge and the Angoumois, its charming river, the Guirlande winds through lush, green meadows.
To see : Church of Ste Elizabeth - Museum of Headdress - Washing place and spring (known locally as "les Rigauds") - Sand quarries

FOUSSIGNAC
591 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 35 87 77
Email : commune-de-foussignac@wanadoo.fr
Foussignac is known as the village of wells, amongst which is the "puits des Ages" (Well of Ages). Situated in the area around the Chai des Pères (formerly a farm owned by the Abbey at Bassac) it is certainly the oldest well in the region. It was used as a watering place for the horses of the lords of Aunis when they visited their fellow noblemen in the Angoumois.
To see : 12th century church of St Laurent - 18th century Château de Brillac - Alleyways and Bread ovens

GONDEVILLE
528 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 02 81
Email : mairiedegondeville@wanadoo.fr
Situated in the Grande Champagne area, the "Holy of Holies" in terms of Cognac production, Gondeville's economic prosperity is bound up with the cognac and Charentais melons.
To see : Gates of the Logis (now the Council Offices) - Church of Notre-Dame dating from the 18th century

HOULETTE
396 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 80 86 47
Email : commune.houlette@wanadoo.fr
Houlette is traversed from East to West by the ancient Roman road from Lyons to Saintes. When its two rivers, the Toutrat and the Thidet were in flood, this prevented the spread of phylloxera and so gave its vines a special interest. Unfortunately this distinction has now disappeared.
To see : 11th century church of St Martin - Old cemetery with two gates (one for Protestants and one for Catholics) - Washing place

JARNAC
4817 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 08 11
Post office : +33 (0) 5 45 36 60 36
Email : mairie.jarnac@wanadoo.fr
The original settlement of Jarnac clustered around the castle (itself demolished in the 19th century) has developed today into a modern, busy town which welcomes visitors. In the premises of numerous cognac "negociants" in Jarnac, the world-famous spirit is being slowly aged in barrels.
To see : cognac houses : Courvoisier, Delamain, A.E. Dor, Hine, Louis Royer

JULIENNE
488 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 20 24
Email : mairie@julienne.fr
Internet : http://www.julienne.fr
picnic area
This village, founded in 1793, contains many reminders of its Protestant past. Nowadays the vine-covered hillsides bear witness to the importance of Julienne as a producer of high-quality wines.
To see : Small Protestant cemetery - Wells and springs - The way of the sculpture proposes the monumental works carried out during different "symposium of sculptures on stone" in Julienne

LES METAIRIES
540 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 05 30
Email : mairie-les-metairies@wanadoo.fr
Situated in the heart of a picturesque area known for its pastoral charm, this pleasant village owes its name to the system of rents (metayage) due to the Lord of Jarnac. It is one of only two villages in France to have neither a church nor a cemetery.
To see : The motte in Peljeau : earth works dating back to feudal times. La Tenaie : ground-water springs

MAINXE
538 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 83 41 59
Email : mairie.mainxe@orange.fr
Situated close to the Roman road from Saintes to Perigueux, the Provostship of Mainxe was originally the property of the Counts of Angouleme. It is rich in traces of the past, do not miss the little church reconstructed in 1867.
To see : 11th and 12th century church of St Maurice - Cemetery with 2 entrances (one for Protestants and one for Catholics) - Cognac house of Tiffon - Montagan woods - model aeroplane ground

MERIGNAC
691 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 35 80 20
Post office : +33 (0) 5 45 35 80 38
Email : communedemerignac@orange.fr
picnic area
Mérignac is situaded on the banks of the Guirlande. Both the village and its church owe their origins to the spring, which in former times had a reputation for curing many different maladies. It is essentially a wine-producing village, and remains today a busy and thriving community.
To see : 12th and 13th century church of St Pierre - ancient washing place and large covered wells

NERCILLAC
1050 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 80 92 11
Email : mairie-nercillac@wanadoo.fr
Peaceful green foliage lines the banks of the Soloire right up the foot of the church which dominates the village. The river itself is full of fish. Nerdillac is a farming area, but above all wine-producing. Thanks to the richness of the soils and the skill of its nurserymen it has become the centre for growing young wines.
To see : 11th century church of St Germain d'Auxerre

REPARSAC
510 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 80 92 71
Post office : +33 (0) 5 45 80 92 60
Email : reparsac.mairie@wanadoo.fr
picnic area
Réparsac's origins go back to the first centuries of the Christian epoch. The adjoining wooded areas provide pleasant, tree-shaded walks. Along the cool, green banks of the Soloire and Toutrat rivers is a fisherman's paradise.
To see : Church of St Pierre, restored in 1995 - Craft centre

SIGOGNE
1003 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 60 29
Post office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 60 60
Email : mairie.sigogne@wanadoo.fr
Sigogne is an important wine-producing village situated in the heart of the "fins bois" cognac area. It offers the visitor two beautiful shady squares as well as a church with an imposing square bell-tower, one of the finest in the Charente.
To see : 12th century church of St Martin - Craft centre

ST MEME LES CARRIERES
1078 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 91 41
Post office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 91 38
Email : mairie.st.meme.les.carrieres@wanadoo.fr
St Même takes its name from the stone quarries in the area. In a pleasant, rural setting, its houses are strung out along the D10 road.
To see : 12th century church - Dolmen de la Pierre Levée - Restored washing place (illuminated by night) - the "remarkable" oak tree - archeological collection (at the Council Offices) - esplanade of the careers illuminated each evening

STE SEVERE
550 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 80 86 06
Post office : +33 (0) 5 45 80 86 00
Email : mairie-ste-severe@wanadoo.fr
The village of Sainte-Sévère took its name from a young girl martyred in 660 in the Trèves area. It is well known for its Roman camp, the most famous in the region. Both the Soloire and the Thidet rivers run through the village, and the area is partly covered by the Jarnac forest, providing many fine walks.
To see : 19th century parish church - Bric-à-brac shop

TRIAC-LAUTRAIT
398 inhabitants
Council Office : +33 (0) 5 45 81 05 41
Email : mairie.triaclautrait@wanadoo.fr
picnic area
This pleasant place is in fact three villages in one : Triac, Lautrait and Lantin. It is near here that the Battle of Jarnac took place on March 13th 1569, in which the Prince de Condé lost his life. A stone monument and Latin inscription mark the spot.
To see : Church of St Romain, rebuilt in the 15th century - Condé monument - ancient washing place