Les Alleuds can be understood through several concrete traces of its Benedictine abbey: the nave and portal of the former Notre-Dame church remain; a short section of the “Chemin de l’Abbaye” leads to the abbey remains. The bell tower, tomb and old lime tree add to the historic focus. The underground Bataillé River represents a different subject and has its own visitor requirements.

Abbey history in several stages

The Benedictine abbey of Les Alleuds was founded in 1120 in the hamlet of Les Alleuds by Saint Giraud de Salles. At least 24 abbots successively led the abbey; during the Hundred Years’ War, it was plundered and damaged several times. The former abbey church of Notre-Dame dates from the late 15th century. Thus, the abbey’s foundation and the dating of the church fall in different centuries: the earlier foundation story and the later dating of the church represent two distinct historical stages.

Church, bell tower and lime tree

Only the nave and portal of the former abbey church remain. Inside the church is the tomb of Abbot Guillaume, who died in 1318. Église Notre-Dame has been listed as a historic monument since 22 October 1926. Its bell tower has a square ground plan and is adorned on all four sides with large round-arched openings. The tower can therefore be described both by its ground plan and by the design of its four sides.

In front of the portal stands a lime tree several centuries old, with a trunk circumference of 4.2 metres. Its age and circumference provide two distinct points of reference; together with the church and bell tower, it is one of the notable features of the church grounds.

The “Chemin de l’Abbaye”

The “Chemin de l’Abbaye” walking trail, described in May 2015, reaches Les Alleuds at Bois du Juge. The round trip to the remains of the Benedictine abbey is described as less than 300 metres. This short section leads to the monastic remains and offers a clearly defined walking option focused on the historic site. Check local conditions before setting out.

The underground Bataillé River

The underground Bataillé River is in the commune of Alloinay, formed by the merger of Gournay-Loizé and Les Alleuds. Access is via a 28-metre-deep artificial shaft at the former Bataillé pumping station. Public visits by people without caving experience must be accompanied by a professional caver holding a state diploma. If you are considering such a visit, factor in the required accompaniment from the outset.

The experiences on offer have different focuses: Notre-Dame and the “Chemin de l’Abbaye” are associated with abbey history and a short walk; at Bataillé, shaft access and the required accompaniment are the key visitor conditions.

Discover more destinations: Airvault, Sepvret, Sainte-Soline, Fressines, Pas-de-Jeu, Châtillon-Sur-Thouet, Pouffonds, Pamproux.

For the wider travel overview: Deux-Sèvres.