The best road cycling routes around Birac

Bourge medieval style, very pretty

Very nice view

The Saint-Cybard Church of Plassac-Rouffiac is located in the village of Plassac-Rouffiac, in Charente. Built in the Romanesque style, it was listed as a historic monument in 1862. At the intersection of an ancient Roman road connecting Périgueux and Saintes, known as the "Boisné Road," and a road south of Angoulême, this small church boasts several assets: refined sculpted decoration, harmonious proportions, and a façade enlivened by arcades. The façade is divided horizontally into four levels by cornices: the ground floor with a central portal flanked by blind arcades, the second and third levels occupied by semicircular arches, and the top level topped with a triangular pediment. The single nave is covered with a pointed barrel vault. The false square, topped by a dome on pendentives, supports an elegant bell tower with a stone tortoiseshell spire. https://mairie.plassac-rouffiac.fr/eglises/ https://www.angouleme-tourisme.com/patrimoine-culturel/eglise-saint-cybard-4/ https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_Saint-Cybard_de_Plassac

Beautiful little town center

The parish church of Notre-Dame is Romanesque and dates from the 12th century. It has a Romanesque bell tower with two floors of arched bays and a conical spire. A dome is at the crossing and the capitals are decorated with sculptures. On the gable of the façade, bas-reliefs depict Christ between evangelical symbols. Its façade was damaged during the Revolution, and heavily restored in the 19th century10. It was classified as a historic monument on July 12, 1886 https://www.angouleme-tourisme.com/patrimoine-culturel/eglise-notre-dame-de-trois-palis/ A little history of the town of Trois Palis by following this link: http://trois-palis.fr/histoire-et-patrimoine/

Notre Dame de Trois-Palis is a small church located in the center of the town of Trois-Palis. From the Romanesque period, it was listed as a historic monument in 1886. The conical spire covered with pine cone scales that rises above the square bell tower can be seen from afar. It dominates a small Romanesque building located in the heart of the town. Its façade is divided into three floors: At the top, in the triangular gable wall, Christ in Majesty is surrounded by the tetramorph (set of four symbolic representations of the evangelists: the bull of Saint Luke; the eagle of Saint John; the lion of Saint Mark; the angel of Saint Matthew). This theme is directly inspired by the Saint-Pierre cathedral in Angoulême. The central space, between the gable and the portal, is occupied by modern high reliefs representing Christ surrounded by the Virgin and Saint John. On the ground floor, the sculpture made of foliage and animals is present on the arches of the portal. Restored in 1891 century, the small church of Notre-Dame has undergone major modifications. A semicircular apse replaced a flat chevet and the nave was vaulted. Inside, the building consists of a single nave, split into three bays. The walls of the nave are clad with large pointed arches. The south wall of the nave is pierced by three bays, while the north wall is blind. In the extension of the nave, a bay under a bell tower deserves attention. The columns arranged in this space are all endowed with a rich sculpted program that develops in the capitals. They are all historiated and represent the themes frequently deployed near the sanctuary: original sin and the fight between Good and Evil. The semicircular apse replaced a flat chevet in the 19th century. It has a cul-de-four vault. Listed as a Historic Monument in 1886. Open every day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Notre Dame de Trois-Palis is a small church located in the center of the town of Trois-Palis. From the Romanesque period, it was listed as a historic monument in 1886. The conical spire covered with pine cone scales that rises above the square bell tower can be seen from afar. It dominates a small Romanesque building located in the heart of the town. Its façade is divided into three floors: At the top, in the triangular gable wall, Christ in Majesty is surrounded by the tetramorph (set of four symbolic representations of the evangelists: the bull of Saint Luke; the eagle of Saint John; the lion of Saint Mark; the angel of Saint Matthew). This theme is directly inspired by the Saint-Pierre cathedral in Angoulême. The central space, between the gable and the portal, is occupied by modern high reliefs representing Christ surrounded by the Virgin and Saint John. On the ground floor, the sculpture made of foliage and animals is present on the arches of the portal. Restored in 1891 century, the small church of Notre-Dame has undergone major modifications. A semicircular apse replaced a flat chevet and the nave was vaulted. Inside, the building consists of a single nave, split into three bays. The walls of the nave are clad with large pointed arches. The south wall of the nave is pierced by three bays, while the north wall is blind. In the extension of the nave, a bay under a bell tower deserves attention. The columns arranged in this space are all endowed with a rich sculpted program that develops in the capitals. They are all historiated and represent the themes frequently deployed near the sanctuary: original sin and the fight between Good and Evil. The semicircular apse replaced a flat chevet in the 19th century. It has a cul-de-four vault. Listed as a Historic Monument in 1886. Open every day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF HINE In 1791, Thomas Hine (1775-1822), then aged 16, left his native land on the south coast of England to go to France… in the middle of the French Revolution. He went to Jarnac, Charente, where he was hired as a clerk in the Ranson et Delamain trading house, which produced his father’s favourite cognac. James Delamain (1738-1800), a Huguenot who had emigrated from Ireland, founded the trading house in 1763 with his father-in-law Jean-Isaac Ranson. On 3 October 1797 (13 Brumaire Year VI), Thomas Hine married Françoise Élisabeth Delamain, daughter of James Delamain and Marie Ranson. In 1817, the Ranson et Delamain house was liquidated, the heirs having been unable to agree on the succession. The eponymous son-in-law founded Thomas Hine & Co, and his cousins Paul Roullet and Henri Delamain (James' grandson) founded the Maison Roullet et Delamain seven years later, which would become Delamain et Cie. The links between the two Protestant Jarnac families remained close, and Thomas Hine's great-granddaughter, Adrienne Hine (1850-1922) married Philippe Delamain (1847-1902) - they had sons Jacques and Robert Delamain. Today, as in Thomas Hine's time, the Hine establishments line the banks of the Charente in Jarnac. The logo is inspired by Hine's speaking arms, hind meaning doe in Old English. He is lying down, his head turned backwards, symbolically looking towards England2. In 1962, Hine was granted the Royal Warrant of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and became the official supplier of cognac to the Court of England. In 1987, the company was bought by Moët Hennessy. In 2003, it became the property of the CL Financial group, which emerged from the Angostura group. The House was bought in 2013 by the Edv company. TYPOLOGY OF HINE EAUX DE VIE The House of HINE is located on the banks of the Charente, in the heart of the Cognac region. In the cellars, which ensure the protection of the precious vintages under seal, little has changed in more than 260 years. From the neighboring quays once began the journey of HINE cognacs around the world. This house is one of the oldest in Jarnac. Cognacs exclusively from the Grande and Petite Champagne vintages, a distillation with the lees, and an aging in fine grains with a light to moderate heating. Here, every manufacturing detail will be revealed to you. > To find out more: - https://hine.com/fr - Address: 16 quai Orangerie 16200 Jarnac - 05 45 35 59 59 - Visits, Tasting and Purchases possible - Opening periods: From 01/04 to 31/12 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Excluding public holidays. Full price: from €20. Free for children under 18. (Subject to change)