Le Gicq: La Gravelle and the Romanesque Church of Saint-Pierre

Le Gicq on the Gravelle

Le Gicq can be understood through two distinctive landscape features: the Gravelle and the Plaine de Néré à Bresdon Special Protection Area under the Natura 2000 network. The Gravelle flows through the village centre and is a tributary of the Antenne. The protected area covers 99 percent of the municipality. This means the landscape ranges from the waterway running through the centre to a protected area that encompasses almost the entire municipality. If you are planning your trip around nature and the proximity of water, this combination offers two different perspectives: the course of a named river through the centre and the share of the municipality covered by the protected area.

Fishing on La Gravelle

The fishing stretch on La Gravelle runs from the village of Gicq to its confluence with the Antenne upstream of Les Touches de Périgny. The Gravelle therefore serves two distinct roles in planning your trip: it flows through the village centre and also forms the basis of a named fishing stretch leading to the Antenne. The Gravelle may dry up in summer; actual conditions vary from year to year. Seasonal fishing rules and conditions can also change. If fishing is part of your plans, check the current rules and conditions on the river in advance.

Picnic area and overnight motorhome parking

The picnic area in Le Gicq is shaded and located on a riverbank. If you are planning an outdoor break, the shade and waterside setting are its main features. The picnic area also offers the option of parking a motorhome overnight. Overnight rules and capacity may change; check these details before travelling. You should also check the facilities again before your visit.

The Church of Saint-Pierre

The Church of Saint-Pierre is Le Gicq’s most important historic site and a Romanesque building constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries. The west façade features a red round-arched portal with four archivolts. Archivolts follow the curve of an arch and give the portal a stepped profile. The choir has two 13th-century windows framed by several small columns with crocket capitals. A capital is the upper part of a column; the crocket shape describes the design of these column tops. The west façade and the choir offer two different ways to explore the church’s architecture: the round arch and archivolts of the portal, and the small columns framing the windows. If you are interested in Romanesque architecture, these details provide concrete features that help you understand the design.

Boule in Le Gicq

The freely accessible Terrain De Pétanque boules court is part of the Terrain De Boules sports facility and is intended for pétanque and jeu provençal. The facility and access should be confirmed on site. The playing area is accessible to people with mobility impairments; confirm this specific accessibility on site before your visit as well.

Discover more destinations: Saintes, Cressé, Arvert, Saint-Mard, Yves, Saint-Hilaire-du-Bois, Haimps, La Gripperie-Saint-Symphorien

For the regional travel overview: Charente-Maritime.