Brillac – Church, Issoire and Hiking Trails

Explore Brillac through its church, local architectural heritage and the landscape along the Issoire. The hiking trails offer a range of highlights: historic traces, rock outcrops, woodland or views across the valley. The river also offers specific points of interest to help you plan your visit.

Church and Architectural Heritage

The Church of Saint-Pierre-es-Liens has been listed as a Monument historique since 2001. Its nave has a single aisle and is divided into three bays. A bay is a section of the church interior that helps explain the layout of the nave. The north portal is made of large granite blocks and designed in the Limousin Gothic style. The church has only contemporary stained-glass windows: the choir windows date from 1964, and the window on the west façade was created in June 2005.

Other parts of the local architectural heritage include the Fontaine Gaillard and the Ancienne Bascule. The Fontaine Gaillard has a square ground plan reminiscent of the Moorish style. At the Ancienne Bascule, the weighing mechanism and a platform for trailers and livestock are still preserved. These structures show different aspects of the local heritage: from a distinctive ground-plan shape to a facility with a clearly defined purpose.

The Issoire, Pont Binot and Nature

Pont Binot was built in 1853. The bridge is 15 metres long, has four arches and is made of locally sourced granite. At Pont Binot, you can swim or fish in peaceful surroundings. Fishing is permitted and regulated in the Issoire. Check local fishing regulations before your trip; before swimming, find out about local conditions and safety.

The Issoire at Brillac is protected and designated as a Natura 2000 site. Grey herons, coypus, roe deer and polecats can be seen in the valley around Pont Binot, although sightings are not guaranteed. A stay by the river therefore combines a designated protected landscape with practical opportunities to experience the surroundings, without making wildlife sightings something you can plan on.

Hiking Trails with a Range of Highlights

The Sentier du Bois d’Amont follows the remains of an old Roman road that crossed the Issoire via Pont Binot. The Sentier les Dames starts in Brillac, follows the Issoire, reveals distinctive rock outcrops and then passes through woodland. The hilly Sentier le Font Melezy also starts in Brillac and offers panoramic views across the Issoire Valley. These three trails are open year-round and free to access.

The Sentier les Deux Vallées passes small hamlets around Brillac and follows the Issoire Valley. Its landscape includes rolling countryside and the distinctive flora along the banks of the Issoire. The features of the trails described here are therefore distinct: this one focuses on hamlets, the valley and riverside flora; the Sentier les Dames on rock outcrops and woodland; and the Sentier le Font Melezy on panoramic views.

The history of the trails also spans several periods. At the end of the 20th century, hiking trails were established in Brillac along routes that had previously been used for local religious observances. The Grande dévotion de la Trinité is a separate historic pilgrimage tradition: its route of around 7 kilometres led towards La Lande, Salvert and Chalotte, stopping at about ten crosses. This information relates to the historic tradition, not to a current event or route.

Accommodation in Brillac

The Village de Vacances offers 18 individual, fully equipped holiday homes for 4 to 7 people each, on a 3-hectare site. The site includes a swimming pool, a sports field, tennis courts and boules courts. Confirm availability before booking; operating conditions may apply to the facilities.

Discover more destinations: Yvrac-Et-Malleyrand, Salles-Lavalette, Mornac, Roumazières-Loubert, La Couronne, Chassenon, Saint-Paul, Bernac.

For the broader travel overview: Charente.