Curçay-Sur-Dive: Donjon, Hiking Trail and Grape Varieties

Curçay-Sur-Dive brings together historic buildings, a circular hiking trail and a focus on wine grape varieties. If you are looking for a hotel in Curçay-Sur-Dive, it helps to plan your stay around the topics that interest you: architectural history, a specific walking route or learning about different grape varieties. The places and activities offer different ways to do this.

Buildings from Different Periods

The Donjon of Curçay-Sur-Dive represents a history of defensive architecture. Construction began in the late 14th century to defend the region against the English. It was classified as a Monument historique on 28 October 1965.

The remains of the Church of Saint-Pierre reveal a different layering of periods. They include a 12th-century bell tower and two adjacent tuff-stone columns. The nave and entrance gable were probably rebuilt at the beginning of the 13th century; the rectangular apse dates from the 17th century. The church remains were listed as a Monument historique on 4 February 1927.

The Pont gallo-romain dit Pont de la Reine-Blanche is a Gallo-Roman bridge in Curçay-Sur-Dive. The watercourse La Dive is associated with the structure. The bridge has been listed as a Monument historique since 15 July 1980. It is also part of a protected area classified as an archaeological site. The protection dates of 1927, 1965 and 1980 should be distinguished from the construction dates: they refer to heritage protection status, not to when the buildings were created. The building history itself also spans several periods: the bridge is Gallo-Roman, the church remains encompass several centuries, and construction of the donjon began in the late 14th century.

Hiking Trail and Historical Activity

Le Sentier de la Reine Blanche is an 18.5 km circular hiking trail that starts and ends in Curçay-Sur-Dive. The 18.5 kilometres refer to the entire loop and give you a concrete distance for planning your day. The trail passes through lanes carved into tuff stone, so their construction also shapes its character, alongside the distance. Check the practical information about the trail before setting out.

At Tèrra Aventura: Les Raisins de la Folie, visitors explore the Donjon of Curçay-Sur-Dive on foot and discover memories of the Hundred Years’ War. Compared with the circular trail, the focus here is on the historical theme: the Sentier de la Reine Blanche highlights the route length and the tuff-stone lanes, while Tèrra Aventura explores the donjon and the Hundred Years’ War.

Grape Varieties at the Foot of the Donjon

Les Treilles de la Reine Blanche is in the village of Curçay-Sur-Dive, right at the foot of the donjon. The conservatory contains 500 grapevines representing 50 different wine grape varieties. Visitors can learn about the history, origins and characteristics of each variety through an educational trail and explanatory signs. So it is not just the number of grapevines that matters here, but also the diversity of the varieties and the context for each one. This adds a distinct topic to your trip planning, alongside architectural history and walking routes: exploring different wine grape varieties right at the donjon.

Discover more destinations: Vouillé, Asnières-sur-Blour, Mirebeau, Chaunay, La Chapelle-Moulière, Savigny-Sous-Faye, Les Trois-Moutiers, Bonnes.

For the broader travel overview: Vienne.