Saint-Laurent-de-Céris offers several specific starting points for planning a trip: a war memorial with distinctive visual and textual motifs, a religious statue on Route du Stade, and a plant-related offering that includes a farm shop and occasional workshops. Another perspective is the completed restoration along the Sonnette. You can first decide whether you are more interested in remembrance, plant knowledge, or a sporting event. Workshops take place only occasionally; the fourth edition of the Trail de la Sonnette was held in 2025.
War Memorial and Religious Motifs
The war memorial in Saint-Laurent-de-Céris is distinguished by two sculptural features: it is topped by a rooster, and the bust of a French infantryman (poilu) is depicted in bas-relief. Major battles such as Verdun, Flanders, and the Yser are inscribed on the pedestal. The imagery and text complement each other: the rooster and bust shape the figurative design, while the inscriptions name specific battles. Those interested in remembrance can therefore explore the memorial through both its sculptural details and the names on the pedestal.
A statue on a property along Route du Stade offers a different emphasis. It depicts the crowned Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, giving it a religious character, while the war memorial, with its imagery and battle names, evokes war and remembrance. The church garden was maintained in July 2023; as maintenance arrangements may change, ask for the current status if you are planning a specific visit.
Waterway and Washhouse
The completed restoration along the Sonnette involved three measures: the pond was removed, the river was uncovered, and the washhouse was renovated. This brought work on the waterway together with the enhancement of a built feature as part of a single project. For those interested in how landscapes change, this connection is particularly revealing: the project was not limited to the river but also included the washhouse.
Plant Knowledge at Aux Bonnes Herbes
At Aux Bonnes Herbes, shopping and workshops offer different ways to get involved. The farm sells its products at a farm shop in Saint-Laurent-de-Céris and occasionally runs workshops on discovering wild plants and processing plants. The farm shop is for shopping; workshops are offered from time to time. Since 2017, the “Aux bonnes herbes” farm has been growing and processing aromatic and medicinal plants in the Charente Limousine.
If you are coming specifically for a particular product, ask about the current selection in advance. If you would like to take part in a workshop, check for a specific date before planning your stay around it. This way, you can consider a possible shopping visit separately from a workshop that is offered only occasionally.
Trail de la Sonnette: the 2025 Edition
The fourth edition of the Trail de la Sonnette program took place in 2025 within the municipality of Saint-Laurent-de-Céris. The program included Bike & Run, Duathlon Kids, Rando VTT, Cani-Trail, and Cani-Rando. This list shows the different formats included in that specific edition. If the trail is the reason for your trip, plan around a confirmed date for the year you want to attend.
Discover more destinations: Guimps, Nieuil, Lignières-Sonneville, Salles-de-Villefagnan, Gardes-Le-Pontaroux, Saint-Germain-de-Montbron, Bernac, Marthon.
For the broader travel overview: Charente.
