Discover Chiddes: countryside, churches and Montcharlet

Chiddes combines a bocage landscape shaped by pastures, hedgerows, ponds and deciduous woodlands with traces of village life in times gone by. Churches, the pilgrimage and walking destination of Montcharlet, and a fortified farmstead each add a distinct character. If you are looking for hotels in Chiddes, you can consider whether the countryside, architectural history or pilgrimage should be a particular focus of your trip.

Rural landscape and village life in times gone by

The green bocage around Chiddes is shaped by pastures and a network of hedgerows, ponds and deciduous woodlands. The landscape is home to a diverse range of wildlife. Its character comes from several elements: pastures, hedgerows, bodies of water and wooded areas sit side by side, rather than a single natural feature defining the place. This makes the surrounding countryside a thematic counterpoint to the churches and historic buildings.

In the village centre, houses line a long street that was once called Rue des Artisans. Coachbuilders, blacksmiths, grocers and innkeepers once had their businesses in these houses. The former street name evokes the village's crafts and everyday life: coachbuilders and blacksmiths represent skilled trades, grocers supplied daily necessities, and innkeepers ran places of hospitality. The history of the street can thus be read through its different former trades, not just its name.

Churches and architectural history

The parish church of Saint-Maurice dates from the 12th century and was altered in the 19th century. Towards the end of the 19th century, the former parish church lost its nave and sacristy; remains of the deconsecrated church have survived.

Notre Dame du Suprême Pardon in Chiddes is a Neo-Gothic church. The two churches offer different architectural points of reference: Saint-Maurice, with its date and later alterations, and Notre Dame, with its clearly identified Neo-Gothic style. You can therefore consider architectural history and a specific architectural style as distinct aspects of the religious heritage.

Montcharlet and the pilgrimage

Montcharlet lies above Chiddes and is a destination for both pilgrims and walkers. A 21-metre-high reinforced-concrete structure stands on its summit. The combination of walking and pilgrimage tradition sets this destination apart from the churches in the village, while the structure adds its own architectural feature.

The annual pilgrimage starts at the church of Notre Dame du Suprême Pardon and leads to Mont Charlet; this tradition dates back to 1908. It takes place on a Sunday around 8 September. Check the date for the relevant year before travelling if you would like to plan your visit around the pilgrimage.

More traces of local history

At the lieu-dit Couloise, an old fortified farmstead has been preserved, offering a view of the battlefield. Here, a rural building type meets a view of a historic battlefield. This site adds a different link to the past alongside the religious buildings.

The Moulin de Bousset is a renovated example of the mills that once stood on the River La Roche and is now used for guest rooms. The building thus combines its history as a mill with its present-day use for guests.

Discover more destinations: Moux, Raveau, Azy-Le-Vif, Nevers, Montaron, Saint-Brisson, Fertrève, Pougny.

For the overview of the wider region: Nièvre.