Saint Preuil can be explored through several themes: the architectural history of Église Saint-Projet, trails with different focuses, and winegrowing and Cognac. Together, these offer a clear picture when choosing a destination: local history is reflected in a medieval church and in the memory of pilgrimage routes; outdoors, walks draw attention to the forest or rural water sources. Winegrowing and Cognac add production and research to these cultural and natural themes.

Church and pilgrimage history

Église Saint-Projet was built at the end of the 13th century and remodelled in the 15th century. Its bell tower was also built during this period. The church therefore reveals two distinct building phases: construction in the late 13th century was followed by alterations and the construction of the tower in the 15th century. Three upper openings in the façade feature modern stained-glass windows in various shades of blue. Alongside the building’s history, the contrast between its medieval origins and modern colour design offers a distinctive architectural focal point.

Another historical trace leads to Place Jacquaire. It bears witness to past pilgrimages in the direction of Santiago de Compostela. This adds the history of travel to that of an individual building: the church can be viewed through its building phases, while Place Jacquaire evokes earlier pilgrim movements. These offer different perspectives on local history for a culture-focused weekend.

Forest, fountains and rural heritage

The walk “Saint-Preuil, Les secrets de la forêt” is one of the discovery trails offered by Grand Cognac via the LegendR app. Its title makes the forest its theme. Fire-bellied toads and marbled newts may be encountered in the forests of Saint Preuil. These possible wildlife encounters give the nature theme a tangible connection, without guaranteeing that the animals will be spotted.

The Circuit des Fontaines et des Lavoirs walking route has a different focus: it leads to rural fountains and washhouses. Each water point has a historical and/or anecdotal description. The trails therefore have clearly distinct themes: the LegendR walk focuses on the forest, while the Circuit explores water sources and their on-site descriptions. There is a picnic table at the Circuit’s starting point. As facilities can change, it is best to check their condition before your visit.

Winegrowing: production and research

Cognac Courtin is located in Saint-Preuil, in the heart of Grande Champagne, the Premier Cru of Cognac. Production spans everything from planting to bottling and includes tasks such as pruning and distillation. These steps show the range from work in the vineyard to processing. At Cognac Courtin, production encompasses both vineyard work and processing through to the finished product.

Domaine de La Bataille is now a research centre focusing on the challenges of climate change and sustainable winegrowing. New winegrowing methods are being tested there to benefit biodiversity and soil life. The two themes are distinct: Cognac Courtin focuses on the steps from planting to bottling, while Domaine de La Bataille focuses on research and testing methods. For travellers interested in winegrowing, both production and the question of sustainable practices are therefore in view.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Angeau, Vindelle, Roussines, Lesterps, Saint-Laurent-De-Céris, Le Gond-Pontouvre, Segonzac, Genté

For the wider travel overview: Charente.