Discover Châteaubernard

Châteaubernard offers a range of ways to plan your stay: the Chapelle des Templiers and the Dolmen de la Combe des Dames represent different periods in the town’s history. There is also a spring festival, choral music and a year-round Centre aquatique. When planning your trip, you can weigh up historic heritage, a specific event date and leisure activities.

Templar heritage at the Chapelle des Templiers

The Chapelle des Templiers is the only surviving remnant of the Templar commandery of Châteaubernard. Its construction cannot be assigned to a single confirmed year: stylistic and architectural features suggest it was built around 1150 to 1160. Inside, you can see, among other things, a liturgical inscription dating from 1531. The chapel therefore brings together two distinct historical reference points: a stylistic assessment of its possible construction period and a specifically dated inscription.

The surroundings also contribute to the visitor experience: today, the site is laid out as a park with tall chestnut trees. The chapel thus combines its architectural heritage with a park setting. Those interested in the town’s history will find both traces of the Templar commandery and a detail from the site’s later history of use.

The dolmen and its re-erection

Another historical highlight is the restored Dolmen de la Combe des Dames. It is believed to date from around 2400 BC. The capstone and one orthostat have survived. An orthostat is an upright standing stone. The surviving parts were re-erected in 1976 together with new orthostats. The dolmen’s present form therefore includes both surviving stones and additions made during its re-erection.

The two historical sites offer different chronological reference points: at the chapel, a possible construction date in the 12th century sits alongside the inscription of 1531; the dolmen’s approximate dating points far back into prehistory. This helps distinguish the local historical evidence without reducing it to a single period.

Spring festival and choral music

The Fête du Pain et de la caillebotte has been held every spring for around 30 years. Several hundred caillebottes are prepared for the occasion. Visitors can enjoy them on site or take them away. The festival therefore combines a recurring spring event with a culinary tradition. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the exact event date in advance.

Castel’Odies, by contrast, puts choral music centre stage. The event brings together local choirs of amateur singers, conducted by professional choir directors. Audiences can enjoy a varied repertoire of sacred and secular choral music, ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. Unlike the spring festival, the focus here is on the musical programme, so the date of the event is key to planning.

Water activities at the X’eau Centre aquatique

The X’eau Centre aquatique at Pôle des Vauzelles in Châteaubernard is open year-round. It has three pools: a sports pool, a learning and leisure pool, and a paddling pool. The sports and leisure facilities also include a 50-metre slide. The different pools offer a range of options, adding a leisure dimension to the historical and cultural attractions.

There is also a clear difference when choosing when to travel: the Fête du Pain et de la caillebotte takes place in spring, while the Centre aquatique is open year-round. Together with the historical sites and choral music, this offers a choice of different activities, without requiring them all to take place on the same dates.

Discover more destinations: Ruelle-sur-Touvre, Bourg-Charente, Champagne-Mouton, Chabrac, La Rochefoucauld, Saulgond, Lesterps, Anais.

For the broader travel overview: Charente.