In Chasseneuil-Sur-Bonnieure, several clearly signposted hiking trails sit alongside sites commemorating the RĂ©sistance. There is also a church with historic stained-glass windows, cultural activities and regular market days. You can plan your days around outdoor activities, history or local events.
Choose Hiking Trails by Length and Starting Point
The Sentier du chemin des ânes is 10.5 kilometres long and marked in blue. The green Sentier de Bon air is 12.5 kilometres long and starts at Place Sarreguemines. The yellow-marked Sentier du Mémorial is also 12.5 kilometres long; its starting point is the car park at the Salle municipale. A six-kilometre trail also runs through the Forêt de Chasseneuil, starting at the upper car park of the Mémorial de la Résistance.
For a general comparison, distance offers a concrete point of reference: the forest trail is the shortest of the four routes listed, while two of the marked hiking trails are each 12.5 kilometres long. Check the municipal route details again before setting out.
Remembering the RĂ©sistance
The Maison de la Résistance René Michaud displays memorabilia from the Maquis Bir’Hacheim, relating to the history of 1943 to 1945. The exhibition models include a Gourbi maquis shelter, a parachute drop zone and a crossing point on the demarcation line. On request, the Maison offers eyewitness accounts from former members of the Maquis Bir’Hacheim, as well as a two-hour introduction to the remembrance trails.
The 21-metre-high Mémorial de la Résistance towers over the forests where the region’s maquis groups were based. The most important maquis leaders in the Charente département are buried in its crypt. The National Necropolis covers more than two hectares around the Mémorial. It is the burial place of 2,026 resistance fighters or military personnel from the Second World War. Together, the Mémorial, crypt and necropolis illustrate different aspects of remembrance.
Church and Cultural Activities
The Eglise Saint Saturnin stands out for its proportions and restrained ornamentation. Its chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The stained-glass windows date from the 19th and early 20th centuries and were restored in 2007. Regular exhibitions are held at the Espace Michel Bourdareau.
The Cinéma VOX is also part of the cultural offering: it is run by Cinéveil16 and is a rural, association-run art-house cinema. It is also a cultural meeting place for the local community. The cinema and exhibitions thus complement the historic sites with other cultural experiences, so you need not focus your stay solely on the history of the Résistance.
Activities and Local Events
Accrodéfis is a high ropes course in Chasseneuil-Sur-Bonnieure. It offers five adventure courses of increasing difficulty, paintball in the Taillis de la Fuie and an outdoor laser game using laser guns. Check the operator’s current opening arrangements before your visit.
Tèrra Aventura offers another way to explore local history: the free geocaching mission “Mission spéciale pour Bir Hacheim” takes you along a trail of hidden QR codes, treasures and puzzles, and introduces you to some of the history of Chasseneuil-Sur-Bonnieure. Check the municipal website for the route’s current availability.
Markets are held year-round: on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Place de l’église, and on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Place Sarreguemines. The Foire du 22 adds stalls selling local produce to the calendar; it takes place on the morning of the 22nd of every month. If you are planning your trip around a particular market day, check the dates locally in advance.
The Point Infos Tourisme is on the ground floor of the Maison des associations and shares its premises with the Maison de la RĂ©sistance. As opening arrangements may change, check them before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Massignac, Julienne, Chabrac, Saint-Paul, Saint-Germain-de-Montbron, Gondeville, Chassenon, Marthon.
For the regional travel overview: Charente.
