Saint-Augustin offers different reasons to visit: religious architectural history, the commemoration of a soldier, and walking trails in the Les Combots d’Ansoine forest. When choosing a destination, you can first ask yourself whether historic buildings, a monument with a specific biography, or the landscape should take priority. Local points of interest range from a former manor house used as a chapel to an area designated as a protected forest.
Church, Temple and Local History
The present-day church of Saint-Augustin was originally the private chapel of the Logis du Breuil. The logis was the manor house of a seigneury that depended on Royan. Today, the estate is privately owned and used as a campsite. Its former role as a manor house is part of the area’s history; its private ownership and current use are separate matters.
Another religious landmark is the Protestant temple of Saint-Augustin, which opened for worship in 1862. Its façade is made of stone from Thénac. Its features include a door with Gothic influences and an oculus, a round opening in the façade. The Gothic influences describe the design of the door; they are not the same as a dating of the temple. Visitors who pay attention to architectural details will find here a different kind of local history from that of the former private chapel: the temple is defined by its opening for worship and its own façade design.
The Recumbent Effigy and the Biography of Justin Élie Lecler
The recumbent effigy is a life-size white marble sculpture by Malterre of Saujon. It depicts Justin Élie Lecler, a soldier born in Saint-Augustin. He died on 20 February 1871 in Ornans, in the Doubs department. The monument therefore records a specific connection between his birthplace and the place where he died, rather than simply addressing a general historical theme. The details of his identity, profession and date give the artwork a clearly defined biography; the white marble and life-size scale are its stated artistic features.
To protect and restore it, the recumbent effigy was moved next to the Protestant temple. This move places the monument near the temple without conflating the different functions of the two: one is a religious building opened for worship, while the other commemorates a particular person. For those interested in cultural history, the building and sculpture thus offer two distinct ways to explore the history of Saint-Augustin.
Les Combots d’Ansoine: Forest and Walking Trails
The landscape is also part of the area’s character. The Les Combots d’Ansoine forest, which includes Saint-Augustin, is designated as a protected forest and forms part of the Natura 2000 network. The Les Combots d’Ansoine area includes the communes of Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, Les Mathes and Saint-Augustin. These local connections make clear that this is an area encompassing several communes, not just a single building in the town.
There are signposted trails in Les Combots d’Ansoine and a connection to Saint-Augustin. Alongside the churches, architecture and recumbent effigy, protected nature and walking trails are therefore interests in their own right. When choosing a hotel in Saint-Augustin, you can take these different interests into account without having to combine the area’s history and forest into a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Péré, Cozes, Jonzac, Vérines, Chaunac, Arces-Sur-Gironde, Bagnizeau, Saint-Coutant-le-Grand
For the broader travel overview: Charente-Maritime.
