The best road cycling routes around Sainte-Lheurine

A beautiful church with beautiful houses hidden in an ancient but romantic village, it's worth a stop. The Saint-Étienne church in Brives-sur-Charente is recent. It was consecrated in 1868 and reflects the 14th-century Gothic style. It replaced an older church, of which only a baptismal font, listed as a historic object in 1922, and a capital remain. This font, square and made of a single block of siliceous limestone, is a rare specimen of 12th-century sculpture and symbolism. Certain characteristic features, such as the draperies, allow it to be dated to the 1150s. On three sides, we discover the Annunciation made to Mary, then on the main face of the font, Christ officiating in heaven, and finally Christ descending into hell, savior of souls.

Visit of the quarries on request. From September to May: visit at 3 p.m. From June to August: visit at 5 p.m. A walk of about 2 hours allows you to contemplate the facade of the quarries, the church, the washhouse, the communal oven, the castle, the porches and the wells. 05 45 81 92 28 smpatrim@gmail.com Meet at the post office square A link to find out more: https://pierre-et-carriers.haute-saintonge.org/la-pierre-et-ses-carrieres/237-pierre-et-carrieres/868-saint-meme-les-carrieres

In Saint-Meme-des-Carrières, you will find access to the quarries which can be visited with a guide. These limestone stones are visible on many buildings in Charente, and internationally.

Consider deviating from the cycle path for a few minutes. Church your real the detour

A nice little climb to reach the beautiful church of Montchaude and its beautiful castle opposite.

This Renaissance style building looks great with its white stones and slate roof. The castle is believed to have been built in the 16th century, but its exact origin is debated. It belongs to private people.

Superb Saint-Pierre church in Lagarde sur le Né, surrounded by fields. Built in the 12th century in the pure Romanesque style. The church is often open. Ideal for a cool ravito and a prayer break 🙏

The church is in the form of a rectangle thirty meters long and ten meters wide, flanked by 4 buttresses, one of which is located on the north wing and the 3 others on the south wing, a bell tower and a small extension on the south west part housing a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Massive building, reinforced by buttresses, low and poorly lit, it has a facade with a Romanesque portal surmounted by a large rose window. This gate is made up of 2 straight legs, and a projecting coving made up of 3 semicircular rollers with a keystone. The oculus rose is surrounded by a frieze with a sawtooth motif. The porch opens onto a single nave 22 m long by 9 wide without side aisles. It is made up of 4 bays with semi-circular vaults. The south wall is pierced under the 1st bay with a large semi-circular arch giving access to the chapel. The north wall has a pulpit which bears a monogram which would be that of Louis XIV. The choir of the church, raised from the nave by 3 steps, consists of a flat chevet and a span of semi-circular vaults. The bedside wall is pierced at each end with a rectangular door allowing access to the sacristy. The old sacristy has just been refurbished and has a very modern look with paneling on the floor and ceiling. The chapel of the Virgin is located on the southern extension of the church. It measures 13.50 m long by 7 wide, and consists of a small single nave 10 m long by 7 wide and a choir with a flat apse. The floor of this chapel is 1.25 m lower than the floor of the church corresponding to the initial floor of the old abbey. Access to the bell tower is through a door located on the east wall of the nave of the chapel. It consists of 4 floors and a vaulted ground floor. The facing is made up of medium-sized cut stone for the ground floor and the 1st floor and rubble stone coated with brown lime for the 2nd and 3rd floors.