The best MTB trails around Saint-Amant-De-Boixe

Old road connecting La Rochefoucauld to Montbron, little used nowadays

only 2 in Charente!

A special man lived here. Died in October 2019 in the Pyrenees mountains.

Very narrow passage to drive through. You always have to be a little careful.

The passage in the tunnel under the railway line is narrow. The best thing is to signal yourself to other cyclists with a little ring of the bell.

Inside is a statue of Saint Anthony: The statue opposite represents Saint Anthony, a monk of the Carmelite monastery of La Rochefoucauld, who lived at the beginning of the 14th century. Saint Anthony is represented as a bearded old man dressed in a hooded homespun robe. He has a bell and a missal in his right hand. He puts his left hand on his chest. He is barefoot and in sandals. The features are severe, the tormented face. The statue dates from the 17th century (the base is later). Its author is unknown. It was carved directly from a piece of walnut wood with polychromy only on the front, but it had to be painted on the back as well. It has been classified as a Historic Monument since July 1, 2003. A restoration by Mrs. Bénédicte Leblanc was carried out in 2005. A local popular devotion to this statue developed: it was attributed the power to heal children. Cloths were placed at the feet of the saint; candles were also burned very close to the statue, even on the arm. This statue was presented at the Musée des beaux-arts d'Angoulême, from October 1999 to January 2000 during the exhibition "Treasures of Charente" and at the foyer des Carmes in La Rochefoucauld, in April-May 2019 for the exhibition "Treasures" of our churches in the Community of Communes La Rochefoucauld-Porte du Périgord. Note that the large stained glass window of the apse of the church of Souffrignac has for illustration this Saint Antoine, Carmelite of La Rochefoucauld. Saint Anthony traveled through the countryside, announcing his passage with a bell. One day when he was going to the church of Peyroux (municipality of Orgedeuil), passing by the chapel of Landes, a mother joined him between the summit of La Faurie and Les Bourdichoux. The woman begged him to ask God for the healing of her sick child. Father Antoine pressed one of the child's diapers over his heart, prayed, and the child recovered. This “miracle” was repeated later. In testimony of their gratitude to the good monk, the inhabitants of Saint-Sornin, in the 16th century, would have taken advantage of the passage of a sculptor to have the statue of the Saint executed, carved, it is said, in the most beautiful walnut of the plain of Chadries. .

This former Augustinian priory-cure belonged to the priory of Notre-Dame des Salles-Lavauguyon, of the diocese of Limoges. It remained a convent until around 1560. The church was restored in 1862, as indicated by the engraved lintel on the south face of the bell tower. Built in local materials of Bajocian limestone and tertiary elements, this church consists of a single nave of three bays, followed by a narrow rectangular choir opening onto two modern side chapels. Inside, the nave is coated and currently covered with a lowered barrel vault from the 19th century. A possible apse, of modest size, could complete the building to the east. It was replaced by a large arcade built in the 19th century, closed by a wall in its lower part and a modern stained glass window in its upper part. From the choir, a 17th century door provides access to the south chapel, serving as a sacristy, while opposite an arcade pierced in the north wall allows communication with the north chapel. Outside, you reach the bell tower by means of a stone staircase then a metal miller's ladder leading to a high door, datable to the 17th century. From the top of this door, the rest of the bell tower has been redone and pierced with four modern arched bays. The facade is a complete reconstruction of the 19th century. The Virgin with the Rosary. Look for this painting on the wall to the right. It is very dark and well damaged; but, as it is, it attracts restoration in memory of its possible origins: either the Venetian school or the work of Murillo's workshop. The story says that in the middle of the 17th century, the ambassador of the King of Spain returning to his country fell ill in the area and was treated at the presbytery. As a thank you for the good care received, returned to his country, he asked Murillo, a great Spanish painter, for a replica of his painting The Virgin with the Rosary, exhibited today at the Goya Museum in Castres, and gave it as a gift to Saint-Sornin. . THE CHURCH St Saturnin's church was originally a priory depending on Notre-Dame of Salles-Lavauguyon, in Limoges diocese. If kept its conventual status until around 1560. Erected in fhe 11th century, It was restored in the 19” century. Two chapels were added to each side in the 17th century. They communicate with the rectangular choir through iwo archways. On the right wall, there hangs a dark painting in very bad repair. It is supposed to be a copy of Murillo's famous Virgin of the Rosary.

Imposing in this small village, the abbey is easy to find. Built in the 11th century, this abbey was not finally completed until 1170 by Eleanor of Aquitaine. If you are interested in Roman architecture, visit the local museum to learn about the origins of this abbey.