The Arboretum de la Bussière is home to 850 trees and overlooks the Gartempe Valley. Gardens, the Church of Saint-Pierre and activities on the water provide further, clearly distinct focal points. When choosing where to stay, consider whether you want to focus on plant collections, water activities, local cultural heritage or a specific route.

Gardens and the village landscape

With its 850 trees, the arboretum is a clear point of reference for travellers interested in tree collections; the view over the valley adds a landscape dimension. The gardens, by contrast, offer a different focus: the Jardin de La Bussière features a collection of fragrant roses and peonies, while opposite it is a conservation garden with around a hundred old apple and pear varieties. The gardens thus offer perspectives ranging from flowering plants to the preservation of old fruit varieties. If both garden themes interest you, you can consider them as distinct focuses when planning your trip.

The Church of Saint-Pierre is also in La Bussière. It provides a distinct religious point of interest alongside the garden and landscape themes. If you would like to combine local cultural heritage with nature during your trip, you can include Saint-Pierre as another focus in your selection.

Activities on the water

At the Bertholière leisure centre on the Gartempe, canoes and kayaks are available to rent; supervised swimming is also offered there. Both activities are located in the same leisure area, but cater to different interests: boat hire offers the opportunity to go canoeing or kayaking, while supervision is explicitly part of the swimming offer. This makes Bertholière a specific point of reference if you want the Gartempe to factor into your travel plans not only as a landscape, but also through activities on the water.

Another water-based activity is part of a Tèrra-Aventura route: “Gare à la Trempette!” takes you to a stop at La Bussière beach, where you can picnic and cool off. For planning purposes, this offers a different kind of experience from the leisure centre: here, the beach is a stop along a route. If you want to focus on a specific point along a route, you can take this beach stop into account.

Walking trails and riding route

La Bussière has numerous walking trails, including some educational trails. They add a distinct walking theme to interests in gardens and water. The educational trails have a specific learning focus, so when making your choice you can also distinguish between a walking route and an educational trail.

The “De Grottes en Châteaux – Boucle 1” riding loop starts and ends in La Bussière; horse riding is the stated way to travel the route. Its starting and ending point gives the route a clear connection to the village. Check the route conditions before setting off.

Accommodation in La Bussière

The VVF Villages Le Domaine de Poitou holiday village in La Bussière is arranged around a 15th-century manor house.

Discover more destinations: Marigny-Brizay, Nouaillé-Maupertuis, Curzay-Sur-Vonne, Thollet, Châtellerault, Journet, Quinçay, Sossais.

For the main travel overview: Vienne.