Montamisé: Forest Trails, Nature and History

Explore Montamisé through its forests, local history and horse-riding opportunities. Highlights include the marked themed trails at La Maison de la Forêt, the bells of Notre-Dame and the surviving traces of former quarrying at Ensoulesse. The forest activities are distinct from the historic traces of the quarries: the state-owned Forêt domaniale de Moulière is open to the public, while the quarries are described as a former operation with surviving relics.

Forest Trails and Forêt de Moulière

La Maison de la Forêt is a place for discovery, information, events and exhibitions in the heart of the Forêt de Moulière. Several marked and interpreted trails start there. They offer an introduction to local flora and fauna, as well as local legends. Nature and storytelling are therefore the shared focus of these trails.

The state-owned Forêt domaniale de Moulière is open to the public; the trail types described include wide avenues and narrower paths. The Massif de Moulière covers more than 6,900 forested hectares, including around 4,200 hectares of state forest. These figures show that the state forest is part of the larger forest massif. For orientation, the descriptions of the trail types differ from those of the interpreted routes, which also explore themes from nature and local legends.

Bells and Remembrance

The bell tower of Notre-Dame de Montamisé houses three bells, classified as historic monuments in 1938. The oldest bears the date 1583. The two dates refer to different things: 1583 appears on the oldest bell, while 1938 is the year all three bells were classified.

The memorial stele at La Roche de Bran lists seven names, as well as Andrée Choffat, who died in deportation. Together with the bells, the stele offers another way to approach Montamisé’s history: through remembrance and commemoration alongside its architectural heritage.

The Former Quarry Site at Ensoulesse

The former quarries at Ensoulesse were in operation from at least the 19th century until the 1920s and 1930s. Stone blocks and underground mining galleries remain on the site. These relics give a tangible sense of the former quarrying: as well as the long period of operation, traces of the work carried out there have also been preserved.

The site has been covered by a prefectural decree protecting its biotope since 14 January 1994. Together with the slopes of the surrounding dry valleys, it forms ZNIEFF No. 177. Two aspects therefore come together here: the history of stone quarrying and the protected status of the site and its associated slopes. When visiting, it is worth considering these as separate but connected facts relating to the same protected area.

Horse Riding in Montamisé

Ecuries de la Roche de Bran offers indoor riding facilities with two riding arenas. The facilities also include an outdoor riding arena and a 45-hectare pasture for horses and ponies. Equestrian activities thus add another specific option in Montamisé to its forest and heritage attractions. If you plan to visit the facilities, check the latest information before you go, as details may change.

Discover more destinations: Chaunay, Persac, Mauprévoir, Maulay, Champagné-Saint-Hilaire, Loubressac, Latillé, Villiers.

For the main travel guide: Vienne.