Day 1 : MONTBRON - LA ROCHE-L'ABEILLE (107 on 302 km)
At the far end of Charente and Périgord between castles and rivers you will discover this beautiful XVIIth century mansion at the heart of a magnificent 8 hectare park.
The legend maintains that the Sainte-Catherine castle was likely to be Joséphine de Beauharnais’dwelling.
You will drive through a Périgourdine countryside scattered with helmets, castles and full of character churches. The Salles-Lavauguyon church (Xth-XIIth centuries) deserves a visit to see its period frescoes.
After having crossed the Lavaud stretch of water you will travel in the direction of the Vienne area. At Chassenon you will discover the Roman thermal baths perfectly maintained which known their summit in the IInd century. You will travel about Rochechouart a thousand-year old town bearing the name of one of the most illustrious families in France. The castle stands on a rocky spur at the confluent of the Vayres and the Graine rivers.
You will return to the limits of la Vienne in Saint-Junien, one of the major place of the French glove production where you will admire the Limousin Roman style of the abbey church and its original monument dating back to the XIth century.
In Aixe-sur-Vienne, here you are at the china area gate. The work and process steps of the white clay can be followed at the Maison de la Porcelaine (House of china). You will travel up the Briance valley to discover the Solignac abbey. The abbey church is the only remaining monument from the monastery founded by Saint Eloi, the king Dagobert’s « adviser ».
The Chalusset castle will open the gate of the Ligoure valley which will lead you to the end of your stopping point.
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