Valdivienne

Valdivienne brings together churches and fortifications, themed trails, seasonal flora and a cycling route. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on historic buildings, a particular walking route or cycling. The local themes offer specific points of interest, ranging from Romanesque sculptures to a depiction of the solar system.

Churches and Buildings in Valdivienne

The Église de la Chapelle-Morthemer dates from the 12th century and is partially protected as a Monument historique. The Château de Morthemer is a fortress comprising a keep and a rectangular building known as the “small château”. It adjoins the nave of the Église Notre-Dame. The Église Notre-Dame de Morthemer was designated a Monument historique in 1908. Those interested in historic buildings will find several named buildings here, along with details of their protected status; each has its own distinct history.

In Salles-en-Toulon, the Église Saint-Hilaire dates from the 12th century. Its most recent restoration highlights Romanesque sculptural elements on the west façade. The listed façade of the Church of Saint-Hilaire is also a highlight along the Chemin de la Vallée de l'Aubineau; an unusual figure there is known as “God with the Hammer”. The Église de Saint-Martin-la-Rivière tells a different architectural story: it is Neo-Gothic and has replaced the former Romanesque church since 1896. Its series of stained-glass windows was made by the DAGRAND workshops.

Walking Routes with Different Points of Interest

The Chemin des Bisons starts in Saint-Martin-la-Rivière in Valdivienne. This easy route is 12 kilometres long and takes around three hours. It passes through gently rolling, varied terrain with woods, fields, meadows, a river and a bison farm. The length, estimated duration and difficulty rating provide practical guidance for planning your time. The landscape features also give you an idea of what makes this route distinctive.

The Chemin de la Vallée de l'Aubineau offers a different natural highlight. The trail follows the Aubineau, an area designated as a zone naturelle d'intérêt écologique, faunistique et floristique (ZNIEFF), a natural area of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest. Depending on the season, you may see Sicilian garlic, orchids and Turk's cap lilies. If plants are a factor in your travel plans, the time of year is important here: you cannot expect to see the species mentioned regardless of when you visit.

The Chemin des Planètes offers yet another focus. In Valdivienne, it depicts the main celestial bodies of the solar system at a scale of 1:0.00000001 and is rated difficult. Compared with the easy bison route, which is estimated to take three hours, it provides a clear contrast between the stated difficulty ratings. No duration or route length is given here for the Chemin des Planètes; its distinctive feature is its depiction of the solar system.

Walk and Cycling Route

In Morthemer, Valdivienne, Tèrra Aventura: La Malédiction de la Dame d’Or is a free treasure hunt open to everyone. The walk is two kilometres long. This offers an experience with its own name, length and theme alongside the walking trails. When planning, you can choose whether to focus on a designated route, the treasure hunt, or the town’s buildings and churches.

For cycling, the EuroVélo 3 runs from Valdivienne to Availles-Limouzine via quiet country roads, riversides and villages worth visiting. Route conditions can change, so check the latest route information before setting off. This makes the cycling route a distinct option to include in your travel plans, separate from the local walking trails.

Discover more destinations: Château-Garnier, Pouant, Curzay-Sur-Vonne, Blanzay, Iteuil, Saint-Savin, Moulismes, Brux.

For the regional travel overview: Vienne.