La Rochebeaucourt-et-Argentine walks

Route 1, proposed as part of the Departmental Plan for Walking and Hiking Routes (PDIPR), in the commune of La Rochebeaucourt et Argentine.From the heart of the village, you will reach the Argentine Plateau and its historical past. Then, a long walk along the former Angoulême-Marmande railway line will take you through woods and copses, along the edge of the Ste Croix quarry, before turning onto a green slope facing the Nizonne and returning to the village.

After a beautiful walk through the countryside and its hamlets, the castles of Fieux and Argentine will bring the history and legends of the ancient commune of Argentine to life.

Set off to discover the miraculous fountain of Bellevau in the commune of Sers (16). This place is a real gem, home to an underground chapel and a fountain set in a green and cool setting. Arriving via the mule track, you will pass the remains of troglodyte dwellings until you reach the chapel, part of which is underground (private property). Behind the chapel, on the side of the rock and sheltered by trees, a few cavities house religious emblems and signs of contemplation.

Unspoilt nature, pretty villages, art in the countryside, magnificent views, remarkable limestone cliffs and a major prehistoric site are all good reasons to explore this route in the shade of the undergrowth.

This circuit will take you through the Charente countryside, following in the footsteps of the "raboliots" (wild rabbits) that were once hunted by poachers. You will alternate between passages in the undergrowth and paths running alongside cultivated plots and meadows.

Just 10 minutes from Angoulême, the Forest of Dirac offers welcome shade and sunken paths lined with low walls or wide forest lanes. Take advantage of this beautiful immersion in nature to discover its flora and fauna. In spring, you can see the spectacular flowering of the asphodel.

Some points of interest in the village: you will pass the Tour Pigeonnier, the Pierre à Sacrifice or Peyre d'Ermale or Dermale. Further on, there is a climbing site and a troglodytic village dating from the 12th-13th centuries. Don't miss the Peyrelevade dolmen, dating from the Neolithic period and listed as a Historic Monument since 1960, and the sculptures visible on the gate of a quarry.

Pranzac is a small commune in Charente with a rich feudal past. The association "Les secrets de Pranzac" is involved in the partial reconstruction of the Château des Comtes des Cars.Our walk will first take us around the old seigneurial park of the castle, then continue along the valley, crossing fords and footbridges.

A major protected natural site, the Eaux-Claires Valley is a popular walking destination, remarkable for its limestone cliffs and biodiversity.

Vouthon is home to a 12th-century Templar church. The Tardoire river flows near this church and you will cross it several times. In places, you will walk along the platform of an old railway line. This walk will bring you closer to history and nature.

This very short hike allows you to discover the extent of the pools that form the sources of the Touvre, fed by several resurgences. This walk also takes you to the Lèche wash house, where one of the resurgences can be seen near an old Roman bridge.

From the top of the hills, you will see the village of Touvre, its valley and the Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. The start and finish are at the source of the Touvre, the second largest resurgence in France. The route will take you through the Braconne forest and end on theGR®4.

A short, relaxing walk around the River Tardoire, dotted with ancient monuments including a Roman ford to cross at the start. Don't miss the castle ruins either.

Cliffs, boulders and old quarries frame this lush valley with its waterlogged soil and rich heritage, which you can discover by following the course of the Anguienne and from the top of the cliffs.

This route offers beautiful views of the town of Angoulême and the surrounding countryside, passing through the heights of Champniers and the village of Argence. With numerous paths and wooded crossings, this route follows part of the GR® long-distance footpath between Angoumois and Périgord.