A roof frame dated 1617, details at the Église Saint-Pourçain and routes on foot or by bike give Marigny several practical starting points for planning a trip. If you would like to combine architectural history and outdoor activity, the different visiting arrangements and ways of getting around can help you choose.
The Château de Charnes and its grounds
The Château de Charnes is a château dating from the early 17th century. Its square main building is complemented by square towers with mansard roofs in the Empire style. The recurring shape makes the arrangement of the main building and towers a distinctive feature of the château.
The grounds include a chapel dating from 1720, a dovecote and a granary. Its roof frame is dated 1617 and is shaped like an inverted ship’s hull. Also part of the ensemble are the half-timbered houses of the Maison de la Réserve and a terraced French-style garden. The Château brings together a variety of architectural elements and forms, from half-timbering to the unusually shaped roof frame.
Church architecture and remembrance
The Église Saint-Pourçain has Romanesque origins and was altered in the 15th and 19th centuries. Its portal features a trefoil tympanum. The capitals are decorated with curling leaves, heads and griffins. The building’s history and the details of the portal offer different points of interest if you are interested in historic architecture.
Another perspective on the history of the area can be found at the Monument des fusillés de la forêt de Marigny. The memorial stele commemorates young people from Marigny and Souvigny who were executed on 27 August 1944. The exact date and the naming of both communities make clear who the monument is dedicated to.
Getting around on foot or by bike
The marked circular walking trail “PR 15: Circuit de nature Marigny” starts at the church in Marigny, passes the Château de Charnes and heads towards the Bagnolet Forest. This very easy walk is 6 km long and takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. The route runs along bocage hedgerows through a landscape shaped by livestock farming and arable agriculture. Notable stone features and the area’s historic character are also part of the route.
The easy road cycling route “Entre églises et bocage” starts in Marigny and is 5.9 km long. It follows roads shared with motor vehicles. The two routes are therefore almost the same length, but differ in how you travel and in their road setting: the PR 15 is a walk with a stated duration, while the cycling route follows shared roads. When choosing between them, you can give these differences more weight than the small difference in distance.
Plan your visit
The Église Saint-Pourçain is a listed historic monument and can be visited free of charge, independently and without a guide. The grounds of the Château de Charnes are also open year-round free of charge and without a guide. Guided tours of the château take place during the season and must be booked in advance. This means that options for an independent visit differ from the seasonal guided tours. Check the visiting arrangements before your trip if a visit is important to your plans; for the walking route, take the markings and conditions into account.
Discover more destinations: Monétay-sur-Allier, Toulon-Sur-Allier, Vicq, Dompierre-Sur-Besbre, Châteaugay, Jaligny-Sur-Besbre, Hérisson, Bressolles
For the main travel overview: Allier.
