Moulidars brings together three specific points of interest: the Romanesque façade of Église Saint-Hippolyte, the long building history of Château d’Ardenne and the Pigeonnier d’Ardenne’s former connection to the château. The landscape and seasonal events add a cultural and historical perspective. When planning a trip, you can therefore consider both the area’s enduring architectural and local history and activities available during specific time periods.
Église Saint-Hippolyte: Romanesque façade and renovation
Église Saint-Hippolyte is a 12th-century church with a Romanesque façade. A fire destroyed parts of the building; the church was renovated in the 15th century. The ground floor of the façade has arcades, and a cornice of small arcades supports the upper storey. The Romanesque façade was designated a historic monument in 1912. The church’s history therefore cannot be reduced to a single period of construction: the Romanesque façade, the 15th-century renovation and its 1912 historic monument status mark different chapters in its history.
Château d’Ardenne and the Pigeonnier
The historical record of Château d’Ardenne also begins in the 12th century: the château’s existence is documented from this time, although its construction history extends through to the 18th century. The parts protected by decree on 29 December 1978 include the façades and roofs, the large south terrace with balustrade, the grand staircase with wrought-iron railing, and the spiral staircase in the northwest tower. The protected features thus include exterior areas and several precisely identified architectural elements. The period from the 12th to the 18th century and the protected features answer different questions: how far back does the construction history go, and which parts are explicitly protected? The time span and specific architectural features offer two different ways to explore the château.
The Pigeonnier d’Ardenne is in the commune of Moulidars in the Charente department, about 300 metres north of the village centre and 100 metres from Château d’Ardenne. It formerly belonged to the château. These two location details complement each other: the distances help establish its location, while its former connection links the Pigeonnier to the history of Château d’Ardenne.
The Association du Pigeonnier d’Ardenne was founded in 2003 to preserve this heritage. It organises cultural activities intended to introduce the Pigeonnier to a wide audience; individual activities may vary.
Landscape and seasonal events
The highest point in Moulidars is 103 metres above sea level, overlooking the Charente Valley and the Fins Bois vineyards. The altitude and these two landscape features are part of the description of the area. This perspective differs from the architectural details of the church and château: here, the focus is on the location above the valley and vineyards; there, on historic buildings.
There are also specific points to consider when choosing when to travel. Festi-ferme is a two-day festival in a hamlet of Moulidars, usually held in July. The programme includes performances, gatherings, debates, conferences and film screenings; dates and programme highlights may vary. From June to July, local associations hold guinguette gatherings beneath the trees in the municipal park, La Garenne; these seasonal dates may also vary. By comparison, Festi-ferme brings together performances and discussion formats, while the guinguette gatherings are seasonal events held in the park. If you plan your trip around either event, check the dates in advance.
The 2026 edition of the Trail La Montliardaise is scheduled for 1 November in Moulidars. Check the date again before travelling.
Discover more destinations: La Couronne, Champagne-Mouton, Saint-Séverin, Saint Preuil, Nercillac, Touzac, Fouquebrune, Paizay-Naudouin-Embourie
For the broader travel overview: Charente.
