The best traffic-free bike rides around Saint-André-De-Lidon

The Marquis de Sénectère at Semussac In the 18th century, the Didonne / La Touche estate in Semussac passed to Marie de Béchillon, then to her son, the Marquis de Sénectère. It was he who is said to have had the château rebuilt or largely transformed around 1730, giving rise to the residence we know today. He made Semussac an important country residence and developed his possessions in the Royan and Saintonge region. A prestigious family The Marquis de Sénectère, linked to the château of Semussac, belongs to an old French noble family: the house of Sénecterre (or Sénectère), originally from Forez and known since the Middle Ages. The Sénectère family included several renowned figures: - Henri de Senneterre (16th century), Marshal of France - François de Senneterre, a man of war under Louis XIII - Several marquises and dukes close to the royal court The name is sometimes written Senneterre, Sénectère, or Sénecterre depending on the era. End of family presence During the French Revolution, many noble properties were sold or seized, and the château of Semussac subsequently left this family. Legacy in Semussac The memory of the Marquis de Sénectère remains attached to: - the reconstruction of the château - the organization of the agricultural estate - local seigneurial prestige before 1789

Architectural features - Large residence in the classic Saintongeais style - Significant agricultural outbuildings - Preserved old cylindrical dovecote - 19th-century tree-lined park History of Semussac Castle (Château de Didonne) - Medieval origins The estate already existed in the 15th century under the name of La Touche, belonging to the lordship of Didonne. It then belonged to various local noble families before passing through alliances and sales into several hands. - Reconstruction in the 18th century The current castle was essentially built in the first half of the 18th century, around 1730, probably by Marie de Bechillon or her son, the Marquis de Sénectère. The latter made it his main country residence. He considerably enlarged his lands throughout the Royan and Saintonge region. - 19th century: transformation of the estate After the French Revolution, the property was sold as national property. It then passed to Count Alfred de La Grendière, mayor of Semussac and then mayor of Royan, who modified the castle and gave it its current appearance, with an English-style landscaped park. - 20th century: agricultural and tourist vocation In 1979, the estate was bought by the agricultural cooperative Cozes-Saujon to promote local productions, particularly wine. In 1981, a museum of agricultural equipment opened in the outbuildings and remained active until 2006. Subsequently, the site was converted into a charming hotel-restaurant. Completely renovated in 2019, the Château de Didonne opens its doors to welcome you between the charm of the old and the comfort of the modern. It has 10 air-conditioned rooms, 7 of which offer a breathtaking view of the park, allowing you to immerse yourself in a soothing natural setting from the moment you wake up. Local importance The castle bears witness to the agricultural and noble role of Semussac in old Saintonge, between Royan and the Gironde estuary.

Very beautiful Romanesque church and small port.

Sometimes the church is open.

Bronze and ceramic sculptures to browse and purchase

From the height of the coastal plateau the view reaches to the Gironde estuary, and the white cliffs of Pilou, with the tradition fishing huts on stilts (carelets).

A small town lying along the Gironde estuary, between Barzan and Mortagne-sur-Gironde, it is above all famous for its fishing port, which was the "French capital of caviar" for much of the 20th century: in the mid-1950s, between three and five tonnes of this luxury commodity were still being produced, exported worldwide. However, sturgeon fishing was banned in 1982 to protect the species; now, "Gironde caviar" is obtained from aquaculture farms: nearly twelve tonnes of caviar are produced each year in the region. At the gateway to the great marshes on the north bank of the Gironde, it is now a tourist and agricultural town.

Notre Dame de Nazareth Middle School is a private Catholic school under a state partnership agreement...and on a human scale, with 142 students and seven classes (two sixth-form, two fifth-form, one fourth-form, and two ninth-form), whose main focuses are student support and monitoring, valuing all achievements, and welcoming all. Depending on the families' schedules and needs, two statuses exist at Notre Dame de Nazareth Middle School: - Status 1: Children enter and exit NDN according to the school's hours: 8:55 a.m. - 5:10 p.m. They cannot enter later or leave earlier. - Status 2: Children can enter and leave the school at the first and last class times on their schedule. They have the option of entering later and leaving earlier than the school's hours, particularly in the event of a teacher's absence during the first and/or last class times of the day. 1865 The school was founded by three nuns from the Congregation of the Holy Family of Bordeaux at the "Château" in Sorlut. 1873 The sisters purchased land on the Route de Talmont in the hope of constructing a building there. 1875 The Château de Sorlut was put up for sale, and the school was relocated near the church on Rue Traversière. 1878 The building on the Route de Talmont was constructed, and the school was relocated there. 1902-1905 Despite the new secularization laws, the sisters continued their mission. 1914 The Red Cross flag flew over the school. 1923 The house was put up for sale by the estates. With some friends of the school, Father du Boulet placed a bid of 100 francs; no one else came forward, and the school was saved! 1940 The Red Cross flag flies over the house again, and the sisters carry out charitable works there. 1958 The school welcomes 70 children. 1959 The school is named "Our Lady of Nazareth." 1960 First expansion, installation of prefabricated classrooms, and opening of a complementary course. The school has 120 students. 1965 With 180 students, the school expands its enrollment to the surrounding towns: Cravans, Tesson, Montpellier, Corme Ecluse, Saint André de Lidon, etc. The classrooms and dormitories are modernized, and a refectory and a covered playground are built. 1983 The nuns hand over management to lay people while retaining supervision. 1987 A new building replacing the prefabricated buildings was constructed for the middle school students, with classrooms, a science laboratory, a technology room, and a computer room. The old building was completely renovated: the administrative area and a primary classroom were housed on the ground floor; the primary classrooms were housed on the first floor; and the library and chapel were located on the second floor. The entire school building, including the classrooms, courtyards, and grounds, underwent a complete renovation. 1989 Construction and development of the dining area: kitchen and refectories. 2008 Expansion of the middle school: new restrooms, 3 classrooms, and 1 study room. 2010 Creation of a nap and motor skills room for kindergarten students. 2012 Expansion of the refectory and construction of 3 additional classrooms at the middle school. 2015-2016 Nazareth celebrates its 150th anniversary! 2020 Opening of the flexible timetable (CHA) football classes, in partnership with the Cozes club. 2021 Interior renovation of the administrative building 2022 Opening of the CHA dance and table tennis classes Summer 2023 Renovation of the chapel and meeting room. Attic insulation. March 2025 Restoration underway