Sers offers several themes to explore: prehistoric finds, church architecture dating back centuries, a pilgrimage site and the landscape of the Vallée des Fontenelles. When planning, it helps to decide what you would most like to focus on: early traces of settlement, the history of the buildings, or nature along a 3 km trail?

Prehistoric finds and how they are presented

The prehistoric site at Roc de Sers has yielded the oldest known sculpted frieze to date. It also features several settlement sites beneath rock overhangs, thousands of flint tools and limestone slabs engraved with animals. These groups of finds offer different insights: the settlement sites indicate places where people lived, the flint tools are objects shaped by human hands, and the animal engravings are pictorial representations. The frieze is a notable point of reference; the other finds also show that the archaeological significance of the site extends beyond a single discovery.

The Le Préhisto-Sers museum explores the history of prehistory and displays replicas of prehistoric objects. The two highlights offer different perspectives: Roc de Sers is the archaeological site, while Le Préhisto-Sers presents prehistory and displays objects as replicas. In this way, traces of finds and museum displays offer distinct ways of exploring the subject.

The Church of Saint-Pierre: a building history spanning three centuries

The bell tower of the Church of Saint-Pierre dates to the 12th century; two chapels date to the 13th and 15th centuries. On 9 July 1970, the bell tower was classified as a historic monument. These dates allow for a direct comparison within the church building: the tower and the two chapels represent three different centuries. Those interested in architectural history will find a different historical perspective here than at the prehistoric sites: the focus is on dated building elements rather than settlement traces, tools and engravings.

Bellevau: pilgrimage and access conditions

In the 1950s, the site at Bellevau became a place of pilgrimage dedicated to the Virgin Mary; the pilgrimage is now held on 15 August. This fixed date makes it easy to place this religious event on the calendar. The miraculous spring has its own access conditions: outside 15 August, it can be reached via a municipal path; the grottoes and chapel are private. Check local access conditions before visiting.

Nature in the Vallée des Fontenelles

The Vallée des Fontenelles has been designated a Natura 2000 site since 2013 and includes ponds, reed beds, wildflowers and oak trees. A 3 km trail runs through the valley, surrounded by nature, and offers a chance to discover its different natural features. Here, the focus is on a specific route and the landscape, rather than dated buildings or archaeological finds. Check local trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Planning considerations vary depending on your focus: at Bellevau, the pilgrimage date and access are relevant; in the Vallée des Fontenelles, the trail length and local conditions matter. For those interested in culture, archaeological traces and dated building elements offer different ways to explore the past. If you choose to focus on the landscape, the 3 km trail is a clearly described option.

Discover more destinations: Chillac, Le Grand-Madieu, Chassenon, Montignac-Charente, Genté, Tusson, Bassac, Le Tâtre

For the main travel overview: Charente.