Discover Magné through its architectural history, funerary art and landscapes. The Château de La Roche overlooks the Belle Valley; the Église Saint-Médard and the cemetery represent different chapters in the area’s local heritage. There is also the Parc de la Belle and two longer walking trails in Magné and its surroundings. When planning your stay, you can therefore choose between cultural highlights, parkland and a walk, rather than combining all the destinations into one fixed day’s itinerary.

Heritage in the church and cemetery

The Église Saint-Médard was built in the 17th century in the Flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance styles. It was listed as a historic monument by decree on 16 October 1952. The cemetery in Magné offers a different art-historical focus: it is home to an exceptional heritage of funerary sculpture. The funerary art there drew on European artistic movements such as Art Nouveau and, later, Art Deco. The church’s architectural history and the design of the funerary sculptures thus offer different ways to explore local heritage.

Château de La Roche and visits

The Château de La Roche is located in the commune of Magné, on the outskirts of Gençay, and overlooks the Belle Valley. Construction work spanned the 15th to the 18th centuries. Unlike the Église Saint-Médard, which dates to the 17th century, the château’s construction history spans several centuries. Guided tours are available by prior appointment only. If you would like to include a tour in your stay, arrange it in advance and check the visiting conditions.

Parkland along the Belle

The Parc de la Belle lies on the banks of the Belle, across 12 hectares of hilly grounds that also include the setting of a 19th-century bourgeois residence. More than 20,000 plants, along with numerous flower varieties and several tree species, give the park its botanical character. The grounds also include a large, natural-style playground. Unlike the church and château, the focus here is on the riverside setting, rolling terrain and plant life. If the playground is important to your plans, check its current availability in advance.

Quarries and local history

For about a century—from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century—the quarries of La Talonnière were associated with craft and artistic activity. Remains of stonecutters’ huts and a lime kiln can be seen on private property in La Talonnière.

The very old hamlet of Puyrabier, also known as Puy Rabier, is mentioned as early as 1286. The Fontaine du Puyrabier is a private site and is considered one of the sources of the Belle. Its water is described as always blue, and many legends are associated with the fountain.

Two walking trails, different highlights

The 21-kilometre “Entre Belle et Clouère” circular trail is one of the routes in Magné and its surroundings. It leads from the medieval Château de Gençay through a rich architectural and natural heritage. The 22-kilometre “Entre brandes et plaines” walking trail passes through heathland with broom and the plains of Magné, La Ferrière-Airoux and Champagné-Saint-Hilaire. The routes differ in length by only one kilometre; their stated highlights are a better guide when choosing: one focuses on the château and architectural and natural heritage, while the other takes in heathland and plains. Route descriptions and trail markings may change; check the latest information before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Mauprévoir, Berrie, Tercé, Sanxay, Savigny-Lévescault, Maire, Saint-Gervais-les-Trois-Clochers, Jaunay-Clan.

For the broader travel overview: Vienne.