The discovery trails in Sainte-Soulle lead through the town centre and bring its heritage, landscapes and biodiversity to life. To the west of the commune lies the Bois de Longueil, with a hiking trail. Historical landmarks range from the Église Saint-Laurent to Le Treuil Secret and the Motte castrale de la Roche-Bertin. In Sainte-Soulle, local history, themed trails and a woodland option therefore come together in different ways.
Church and Historical Traces
The Église Saint-Laurent was founded in 1013 and houses a painted funerary board as well as historical furnishings. Excavations at the church also uncovered medieval objects and an old cemetery. The founding year, furnishings and excavation finds offer different ways to explore the church’s history: a specific date, objects inside the church and archaeological discoveries.
At Le Treuil Secret, Bertrand du Guesclin and the people of La Rochelle signed a secret agreement known as “la Popelinière”. Here, the focus is on a named agreement and its signatories. This is a different historical reference from the Église Saint-Laurent, where the founding year, furnishings and finds provide the points of interest.
Discovery Trails and Hiking Trail
The discovery trails in Sainte-Soulle lead through the town centre. They bring the medieval church, traditional buildings, landscapes and biodiversity to life. Information panels mark notable local heritage sites. This means the focus is not solely on individual buildings: the landscape and nature are also among the trails’ key themes.
Solin’Patrimoine has marked the “Les Beaux Champs” hiking trail. Anyone planning a route around a named hiking trail has a specific name to follow. By contrast, the discovery trails are characterised by their range of themes and their route through the town centre. These offer two different points of reference when choosing: a named hiking trail on the one hand, and several cultural and landscape themes on the other.
The Bois de Longueil
The Bois de Longueil lies to the west of the commune. The hiking trail there is accessible on foot or by bicycle. The woods also have a children’s playground and shaded picnic areas. This means that the Bois offers both a specific trail option and additional facilities. The picnic areas provide shade; the hiking trail is explicitly accessible on foot and by bicycle.
Unlike the discovery trails in the town centre, the focus in the Bois is on the woodland trail and its additional facilities. This distinction can help you choose what to focus on: the town-centre trails explore heritage, buildings and nature themes, while the Bois de Longueil offers a specific option for walking or cycling.
The Motte castrale de la Roche-Bertin
The Motte castrale de la Roche-Bertin stands at an elevation of 42 metres and is one of the highest points in the agglomeration. It once served as an observation post. This brings together a topographical and a historical point of reference: its height situates the motte within the agglomeration, while its former function describes how it was used in the past.
Unlike the Église Saint-Laurent, the motte is notable not for its founding and furnishings, but for its height and former function. Anyone interested in local history will find different points of reference here: the church’s founding year and its finds, the agreement at Le Treuil Secret, and the motte’s former role as an observation post.
Discover more destinations: Tonnay-Charente, La Benâte, Saint-Sauveur-d'Aunis, Boisredon, Périgny, Le Château-Doléron, Dampierre-Sur-Boutonne, Saint-Jean-De-Liversay
For the wider travel overview: Charente-Maritime.
