In Les Trois-Moutiers, a clear choice leads to two distinct themes: the history of Saint-Hilaire church and a 12.5 km route that starts in the village. Those interested in local history will find a timeline at Saint-Hilaire; those looking for a route featuring dolmens and a Neolithic mound can follow the Sentier des Dolmens.
Saint-Hilaire: from the Romanesque church to its replacement
After the French Revolution, the Romanesque church of Saint-Hilaire was the only one of the village’s three churches to survive. In 1888, Saint-Hilaire was demolished and replaced by the present-day church of Les Trois-Moutiers. Its history therefore moves from a Romanesque church that survived the upheavals of the revolutionary period to a later replacement building. The chronology is key: today’s church is not the surviving Romanesque building, but its replacement.
The Sentier des Dolmens
The Sentier des Dolmens starts in Les Trois-Moutiers and is 12.5 km long in total. Along the way, it passes several dolmens and a mound where large stone slabs were gathered by Neolithic people. The route thus combines tangible Stone Age remains with a clearly specified trail length. Its length is a useful planning guide for treating the trail as a substantial outing in its own right; facilities include a picnic area.
The trail’s themes give the outing a clear focus: the dolmens and the mound are the main attractions, rather than an arbitrary sequence of stops. If you are primarily interested in the history of Saint-Hilaire, the church offers a different focus. Local history and the trail experience can therefore be considered as distinct interests when choosing a destination.
Picnicking at the Etang de pêche
The Etang de pêche des Trois-Moutiers is located at the edge of the village, in the direction of Loudun. There are picnic tables and play equipment for children. This makes the pond a different kind of outing from the 12.5 km route: here, picnicking and play go hand in hand with time by the water, while the Sentier des Dolmens is defined by its trail and historic stone structures.
Cultural history, mushrooms and wine
At Château de la Mothe-Chandeniers, the story of its development is the focus: a period of splendour was followed by neglect, an ambitious reconstruction, a devastating fire and remarkable survival. Moulin du Gué Sainte-Marie offers a different cultural-historical perspective; it is one of the last tower windmills in the Vienne department. The château and the mill therefore offer distinct points of interest.
In Bernazay, the Champignonnière de Bernazay offers a visit to an underground mushroom farm that is still in operation. Blonde button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake and cauliflower mushrooms are sold on site. The visit thus combines mushroom cultivation with the opportunity to buy directly from the producer; it is advisable to check the current visiting arrangements in advance.
The family-run Domaine de la Neuraye in Vaon produces wines under the AOP Saumur, Saumur Puy Notre Dame and Crémant de Loire appellations, as well as grape juice, and sells these products directly. Domaine Saint Landor is an organically certified winery in the Vienne part of the AOP Saumur. Its production includes Saumur Rouge, Saumur Blanc, Saumur Rosé, Saumur Puy Notre Dame and Crémant de Loire. The wineries mentioned therefore differ in their products and in the information about direct sales provided here. Product ranges and certifications can change; if a particular wine or organic certification is important to your choice, check the latest information.
Discover more destinations: Gençay, Ternay, Prinçay, La Roche-Posay, Lathus-Saint-Rémy, Le Vigeant, Neuville-De-Poitou, Saint-Clair
For the broader travel overview: Vienne.
