The best traffic-free bike rides around Blanzac-Porcheresse

A simple but elegant war memorial in Blanzac-Porcheresse, located near the church.

Among the oldest in the region, the Saint-Cybard church in Porcheresse was built in the 11th century. It is still surrounded by its cemetery and presbytery, which is one of its distinctive features. The church shares similarities with churches in the area (Etriac, Puypéroux, Bécheresse, and Côteaux du Blanzacais). It features narrow windows pierced in the buttresses, as well as rubble stone walls. In the 12th century, it was remodeled and reinforced to accommodate vaults. However, the building's condition currently prohibits visits; renovation work is planned for the very near future. This monument was listed as a "Historic Monument" in 1913. The church's patron saint was the monk Cybard, who came from Dordogne in the 6th century. He lived for a long time in a cave beneath the Angoulême plateau. https://www.sudcharentetourisme.fr/fiche-sit/eglise-saint-cybard-de-porcheresse-5895303/#truncate https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_Saint-Cybard_de_Porcheresse

A simple but elegant war memorial in Pérignac, located near the church and town hall.

This is one of the wayside crosses located between the villages of Champagne-Vigny and Bécheresse, in Charente.

This is one of the wayside crosses located around Aignes-et-Puypéroux, one of the 5 villages forming the new commune of Montmoreau. The commune of Montmoreau was born on January 1, 2017 from the grouping of five communes: Aignes-et-Puypéroux, Montmoreau-Saint-Cybard, Saint-Amant-de-Montmoreau, Saint-Eutrope and Saint-Laurent-de-Belzagot The five historic communes were kept as delegated communes until December 31, 2020. Since January 1, 2021, they are the different villages of Montmoreau. The village of Aignes-et-Puypéroux is located between the communes of Montmoreau–Saint-Cybard, Saint-Eutrope, Pérignac, Chadurie and Chavennat. Montmoreau municipal website: https://www.montmoreau.fr/orki/view/114/les-bourgs/deploy.html

The Church of Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais in Pérignac, built in the 12th century, is a jewel of Romanesque art. It is located in the Charente department, in the commune of Pérignac. Its Limousin-style bell tower is atypical for a Charente church. Only three similar bell towers have been recorded in the department. With its several modillion sculptures, its capitals, its interior decoration, and its history, the Church of Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais in Pérignac is well worth a visit. Due to its appeal and historical value, this monument was listed as a "Historic Monument" in 1907. https://www.sudcharentetourisme.fr/fiche-sit/eglise-saint-gervais-et-saint-protais-5895230/ https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais_de_P%C3%A9rignac

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

Unlike the nave intended for the faithful, the transept and the apse constitute the parts of the church reserved for religious people. In Pérignac, the cut stone construction of the apse testifies to the importance given to the sanctuary. Particular care was also given to the sculpted decoration of the transept, its chapels and the apse. Archaeological surveys have revealed the presence of painted decorations. The church is dedicated to Gervais and Protais, sons of Saints Vital and Valérie. After the martyrdom of their parents, the twins converted to Christianity. They are stopped by Nero who asks them to recant. Refusing, the brothers are then imprisoned, flogged and then beheaded. This term could indicate a very ancient foundation of the church. The building has a Latin cross plan. The nave does not have a window: the light comes from the bays of the facade, the apse and the apsidioles. The passages designed to connect the nave and the apse without having to cross the space of the transept crossing constitute a curiosity. This formula, which is quite rare in Charente Romanesque buildings, is nevertheless found not far from here in three other churches: Puypéroux, Nonac and Conzac. The church offers Romanesque sculpture of good quality, the difference in style of which can be explained by the intervention of several workshops. The bell tower rebuilt by the architect Warin is a replica of the bell towers designed for Angoulême Cathedral by his mentor, the architect Paul Abadie fils, around 1850.