For a stay in La Boissière-En-Gâtine, two themes are easy to distinguish: medieval history and the landscape, with its protected areas and waterways. The historical dates tell of different milestones; the nature information relates to different geographical scales. Together, they give you a concrete basis for choosing what interests you most on your trip.
Medieval history: the church and Templar heritage
The Église Saint-Martin dates from the late 12th century. It was listed as a historic monument by decree on 6 February 1929. The two dates answer different questions: the late 12th century places the church in its historical context, while 1929 is the date of its protected status. This keeps the building’s history and its later listing distinct as two separate aspects.
Another landmark in the local history is L'Hôpitau in La Boissière-En-Gâtine: the former Templar house later became a commandery of the Order of Malta. The Templar commandery of La Boissière was transferred to the Knights Hospitaller around 1313. The Templar house is also mentioned in the trial records against the Templars; the relevant interrogation took place in Paris on 12 May 1310. The dates refer to different events: 1310 to the interrogation, and around 1313 to the transfer. This distinction helps place the medieval records in chronological context, rather than treating both dates as a single milestone.
Natura 2000, bocage, and the Autize
La Boissière-En-Gâtine is part of two Natura 2000 sites: Vallée de l'Autize and Bassin du Thouet amont. Bassin du Thouet amont was designated in 2004 because it is home to two habitats and ten species of community interest. Vallée de l'Autize is described as having small, fast-flowing, well-oxygenated, high-quality streams in a bocage landscape. The two sites therefore represent distinct aspects of the natural environment; the 2004 designation refers to Bassin du Thouet amont.
The landscape and waterway information also reveals different facets of the area. La Boissière-En-Gâtine lies entirely within the Bocages deux-sévriens landscape unit. The Autize runs for about 1.5 kilometres through the commune; at the same time, 97.4 percent of the commune’s area lies within the catchment of the Autize and its tributaries. These figures do not describe the same area: the river’s length refers to its course within the commune, the 97.4 percent figure to the catchment, and the complete classification to the landscape unit. This makes it possible to consider the river, catchment, and landscape character separately.
Information for planning your trip
The Val de Gâtine Tourist Office provides information on nature outings, historical and natural heritage, leisure facilities, maps, and tourist guides. When planning your trip, you can weigh the themes according to your interests: the Église Saint-Martin and the history of the Templar house form the cultural and historical focus; the Natura 2000 sites, bocage landscape, and the Autize highlight the natural environment and waterways. This comparison helps you decide which side of the area matters most for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Augé, Mazières-en-Gâtine, Saint-Aubin-Du-Plain, Messé, Châtillon-Sur-Thouet, Saint-Loup-Lamairé, Saint-Georges-de-Noisné, Saint-Hilaire-La-Palud.
For the broader travel overview: Deux-Sèvres.
