Migné-Auxances combines cultural history with a landscape shaped by the Auxance. The built-up area of Migné lies in a bend of the river. A variety of natural environments stretch along the Auxance across 2,900 hectares: a valley, wet meadows, farmland and calcareous grasslands. This lets you tailor your stay to your interests—collections and historic buildings, or riverside scenery and wetlands.
Collections and Church Art
Since 1977, the Musée Manuel has displayed the collector’s finds across an exhibition space of 2,000 m². The collection includes historic cars, toys, velocipedes, tractors, military equipment, gramophones, dolls and curiosities. Among the objects are a 1912 Renault AX, a 1924 fire engine, a Sikorsky helicopter and a Ford Model T. The collection therefore ranges from vehicles and technology to everyday objects and collectibles.
The Église Sainte-Croix also reflects several periods in history. It is mentioned as early as 989. According to tradition, a cross appeared on December 17, 1826; the present-day church was rebuilt following this event. Marie Baranger created the frescoes in the choir in 1933 and those in the arms of the transept in 1956. Its early mention, the tradition surrounding its reconstruction and the later frescoes each give the church a distinct historical connection.
Building History and Stone Quarrying
The Château d’Auxances is a fortified castle and today serves as a Carmelite convent. It stands on the valley floor, in a bend of the Auxance and just outside the center of Migné. The square keep preserves evidence of medieval building phases. The present-day convent and the surviving architectural features reflect different aspects of its history.
Other historic sites offer their own points of interest: the Domaine de Malaguet was a former fief, first mentioned in 1328. It includes an old chapel that may date from the 17th century. The Manoir de Salvert is now a convent of the Filles de la Sainte-Vierge.
Alongside religious and castle architecture, stone quarrying is also part of the area’s history. Stone has been quarried in Migné-Auxances since Roman times; later, extraction took place underground, including at Les Lourdines. Stone from Les Lourdines was used to build the Gare d’Orsay in Paris. The local history of buildings thus also leads to the materials used to build elsewhere.
The Auxance and its Wetlands
The Sentier des Méandres de l’Auxance runs alongside the river and includes an educational trail about the wetlands. It offers a different way to explore the area than the museum, church art and historic buildings. As trail conditions may change, check the latest information before setting out.
Migné-Auxances brings these different themes together without requiring them to be combined into a single tour.
Discover more destinations: Vouillé, Gouex, Mignaloux-Beauvoir, Doussay, Sérigny, Moulismes, Latillé, Vouneuil-Sur-Vienne.
For the broader travel overview: Vienne.
