Curiosités

Croix de chemins

Some interesting stone crosses can be found around the Canton which witnessed the start of local Christianity. They were built at the on the edge of villages where routes crossed or in cemeteries to help guide and look over travellers. They are maintained and decorated with flowers and looked after by the local parishioners.

Discover some crosses in the commune of Château Garnier:

  • The oldest cross can be found near Envaux – croix hosannière
  • Croix de Loup – between Monchandy and the Petit Pin
  • Croix de l’Epine
  • Croix des bandes – on the corner of the Gencay and Saint-Secondin roads.
Croyances populaires

[/At Airoux there is a wooden statue of the virgin and crowned child dating from the 17th century. It is situated on the small alter in the chapel de Notre dame d’ Airoux. This chapel lit by the stained glassed windows made by the Master poitevin glassier Jean Bousset. Here the healing of undernourished children was invoked and on the 8th September each year a pilgrimage is held.

At Château Garnier Saint –Antoine aux cochons was known for protecting the pig herds of the region. As one enters the church on the left is a tableau depicting Saint-Antoine with a pig with long ears and feet. On market days the locals and people from the surrounding area came to light a candle to the saint.

At Sommières du Clain hidden next to the church is the spring of the stream Bé. Many deaf people came here to wash their ears with these waters, then went into the church and rang the bells, all hoping to recover their hearing.

Fontaine du Puy Rabier

The spring de Puy Rabier at Magné has blue waters which change colour depending on the time and season. These pure waters appear suddenly from a deep cave to feed the stream known as La Belle.

There is a legend of the origine of ‘La Fosse au Diable’ which was that he promised a poor paysan to dig a well during the night and before the cockerel crowed in exchange for the soul of his daughter. But the cockerel crowed before Diable had finished it as the wife had made it swallow a mixture of toasted bread and warm red wine ‘La routie’. It is then that the paysan finished the hole to obtain an underground water supply once the demon had fled.

A mound féodale in the centre of La Ferrière is part of three mounds known to the commune. It is possible to see the motte Castrale if one takes, on foot, the ancient road between Poitiers and Charroux.

Motte castrale

La motte féodale du bourg de La Ferrière fait partie des trois mottes connues sur la commune. Des arbres ont poussé sur le monticule de la motte castrale érigée vers l’An Mil au bord de l’ancienne voie romaine qui reliait Poitiers à Charroux. Il faut emprunter à pied le verger communal pour s’ en approcher et découvrir son fossé encore bien visible.

Hangar de Brande

The beautiful oak woodlands produced the carbon needed to fire the iron works of the region. Little by little the forests heve disappeared giving over to heathland.

These heathlands consisted of briars and gorses. This vegetation was used to build lodges and large sheds. If you visit the village of Charntemerle at La Brande à Vergna there has been built one of these large shed resembling a building from the countryside in bygone times.

Val de Clouère

The natural damp areas along the banks of the Clouère are a secret world where many beautiful wild plants can be found. Walk the route L’Effarvatte and surprise the reed warbler jumping amongst the reeds, listen to the nightingale in spring or admire the flight of the herons. At Usson du Poitou, Brion and La Liardière there are observatorys where one can enjoy ones passion for flaura and fauna.

Baudet du Poitou

This beautiful breed of donkey would have died away if it had not been for the help of several breeders in the Poitou Charentes. At Pardines, next to usson where you can take a walk you will be charmed by the appearance of the baudet. He was used in olden times with the mares to produce very big and strong mules. These were sold to buyers from southern France, Italy and Spain.