La Boissière-En-Gâtine: Church, Templar History and Natura 2000

When looking for a hotel in La Boissière-En-Gâtine, you can get a sense of the destination through its cultural and landscape themes. The Église Saint-Martin, the former Templar house L’Hôpitau, two Natura 2000 sites and the Autize provide concrete points of reference. Consider whether medieval local history, nature, or both perspectives are important for your trip.

Church and religious order history

The Église Saint-Martin dates from the late 12th century. It was listed as a historic monument by decree on 6 February 1929. The construction date and listing mark two different points in time: the former places the church in the Middle Ages, while the latter refers to its later legal status as a protected monument. For travellers interested in religious history, this provides a clear chronological context.

L’Hôpitau is also connected with the medieval history of the town. It was a former Templar house and later a commandery of the Order of Malta. The Templar house of La Boissière is mentioned in the trial records against the Templars; the hearing in question took place in Paris on 12 May 1310. Around 1313, the Templar commandery of La Boissière was transferred to the Knights of Malta.

Natura 2000, bocage and the Autize

La Boissière-En-Gâtine lies within both the Natura 2000 site Vallée de l’Autize and the Bassin du Thouet amont. The Bassin du Thouet amont was designated in 2004 because it is home to two habitats and ten species of community interest. The year and the information about habitats and species refer to this site; they cannot be applied to the Vallée de l’Autize. This keeps the features of the two Natura 2000 sites clearly distinct.

The Natura 2000 site Vallée de l’Autize includes small, fast-flowing, well-oxygenated, high-quality streams in a bocage landscape. La Boissière-En-Gâtine lies entirely within the Bocages deux-sévriens landscape unit. The first statement describes streams and their surroundings, while the second describes the municipality’s landscape unit. This distinguishes a specific connection to waterways from the landscape classification that applies across the whole municipality.

The figures for the Autize also refer to different scales. La Boissière-En-Gâtine lies 97.4 percent within the catchment area of the Autize and its tributaries. The Autize itself flows through the town for about 1.5 kilometres. The percentage refers to the catchment area, while the distance refers to the course of the river within the municipality. The figures therefore describe two different spatial relationships.

Travel planning information

For further travel planning, the Val de Gâtine Tourist Office provides information on nature outings, historic and natural heritage, leisure facilities, maps and tourist guides. Maps and guides can help you find your way; information on historic and natural heritage adds a regional perspective to the local points of interest. When looking for hotels in La Boissière-En-Gâtine, you can use the local cultural and landscape themes to help choose the destination.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Loup-Lamairé, Les Groseillers, Neuvy-Bouin, Échiré, Pioussay, L'absie, Rom, Massais

For an overview of the wider area: Deux-Sèvres.