The Templar commandery and the Sentier de la Commanderie give Maine-de-Boixe a clear cultural, historical and landscape focus. The trail passes the Maison du Commandeur; the remains of the Chapelle des Templiers can also be seen from the trail. Houses à balet and the nature and archaeology themes of the Forêt de la Boixe add to this experience. You can decide whether to focus on a hike with named points of interest or on architectural history and landscape.

The Sentier de la Commanderie

The Sentier de la Commanderie is 7 km long and starts at the Mairie, Place de la Mairie, 16230 Maine-de-Boixe. It runs between cultivated land and woodland towards Hameau du Courreau. The starting point and length provide clear reference points for planning your day: allow time for breaks and the points of interest according to your own pace. Check the trail signs locally.

The Maison du Commandeur is associated with the former Templar order, and the trail passes by it. A few hundred metres to the right, the remains of the Chapelle des Templiers can be seen from the trail. The Maison is right beside the trail; the chapel remains are a landmark some distance away. The houses à balet along the trail add residential architecture to the architectural history. Their stone staircases lead to the living quarters, while awnings shelter the entrances. The staircase and awning show two distinct functions of the house: access to the living quarters and protection for the entrance. Details like these give the walk a tangible architectural point of interest.

Templar heritage and landscape

The Templar commandery, also known as the Chapelle du Courreau, is relatively secluded in green surroundings within a largely wooded agricultural landscape. The Commanderie des Templiers appears to have been built at the same time as the chapel in the second half of the 12th century. Today, the east wall is all that remains of the Commanderie; a distinctive group of three openings gives it its recognizable form. The former chapel is representative of early buildings belonging to the military religious orders. The Église Saint-Thomas was built in 1173. This places a cautiously worded date for the Commanderie, a surviving architectural feature and a firm construction date for the church alongside one another as distinct historical reference points.

Notable species such as the Circaète Jean Leblanc and Odontite de Jaubert are found in the Forêt de la Boixe. Archaeological remains, including tumuli and the Pierre du Sacrifice, also shape the landscape. For those interested in natural history, the species names offer a specific starting point; those with a stronger interest in history will find named archaeological features in the tumuli and the Pierre du Sacrifice. Nature and traces of the past thus offer two distinct ways of viewing the woodland landscape.

Discover more destinations: Yviers, Châteauneuf-sur-Charente, Lessac, Jarnac, Criteuil-la-Magdeleine, Segonzac, Chassenon, Boutiers-Saint-Trojan.

For the wider travel overview: Charente.