La Barde: Church, half-timbered houses and circular trail

For a stay in La Barde, you can focus on culture, architectural history or a waymarked circular walk. Notre-Dame church represents a 19th-century phase of construction; in the small hamlet of Le Bonnin, half-timbered houses and barns are the focus of its historical interest. Circular trail No. 3, “Les Calvaires”, has a defined length and a starting point in the village. This lets you plan your stay around whichever topic interests you most.

Notre-Dame: architectural history and chalice

The present-day Notre-Dame church is a modern building, constructed between 1871 and 1873 on a hill near the former Romanesque church, which has disappeared entirely. This distinction helps place the village’s history in context: the present building dates from the 19th century, while its Romanesque predecessor no longer exists. The square bell tower stands in front of the nave and forms a porch. The nave has three bays, a slate roof and a pointed barrel vault. Traces of older painted decoration can be seen on the whitewashed walls. Thus, distinctive architectural features sit alongside evidence of an earlier wall treatment. The sacristy contains an 18th-century chalice. It was listed as a protected cultural object on 23 October 1991. This protection applies to the chalice and should be distinguished from the church’s architectural history.

Half-timbering in the hamlet of Le Bonnin

Le Bonnin is a small hamlet in the commune of La Barde and is considered the last village with half-timbered houses and barns. Some of these buildings date from the 15th and 17th centuries. The technique of wattle and daub in half-timbered structures dates back to the Middle Ages. It provides a separate historical context for half-timbering; the specific dates given for buildings in Le Bonnin are the 15th and 17th centuries. The centuries in which the buildings were constructed and the medieval origins of the technique therefore represent different timeframes.

Circular walking on “Les Calvaires”

Waymarked circular trail No. 3 is called “Les Calvaires”, is 9.48 kilometres long and is accessible year-round. It starts in the square by the church and town hall in La Barde. This gives you a specific distance and a clearly identified starting point for planning your day. Unlike architectural history, which is understood through individual building features and periods, the circular trail is a designated route with a set distance. If you would like to include a waymarked circular walk in your stay, its length gives you a concrete basis for planning.

Natural environment and area designations

The commune of La Barde includes the Type 2 ZNIEFF “Vallées de la Nizonne, de la Tude et de la Dronne en Poitou-Charentes”. In addition, the Natura 2000 site “Vallée de la Dronne de Brantôme à sa confluence avec l’Isle” protects habitats across 3% of the commune. The “Bassin de la Dordogne” biosphere reserve zone covers approximately 100% of the commune within its transition area. These are different types of designation: a ZNIEFF, habitat protection within a Natura 2000 site and the transition area of a biosphere reserve. The percentages also refer to different designations: 3% indicates the share covered by the Natura 2000 site, while approximately 100% indicates the share covered by the transition area.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Maurice-De-Tavernole, Salles-Sur-Mer, Croix-Chapeau, Saint-Sulpice-De-Royan, Avy, Chaillevette, Cherbonnières, Thézac.

For the broader travel guide: Charente-Maritime.