Attractions and Places To See around Lignières-Sonneville - Top 20

You can even rent canoes there to discover the Charente river in a different way.

The Charente in this sector is lined with many castles, the area is rich thanks to the production of Cognac and Pineau.

Castle with a fairly compact architecture, rich in details and various corbels that seem to come out of a Walt Disney story. It doesn't look very well maintained, what a pity!

Still under construction and still closed ..... too bad It seems, from certain particularities, of the parish church of Saint-Pierre, built around the middle of the 14ᵉ century, at the time when the country was under English domination, that it must have been built by them. It forms a rectangle composed of a nave with two crossed warhead bays, a dome surmounted by the bell tower and a rectangular sanctuary. A crypt exists under the sanctuary; but the purpose of this crypt seems to be simply to collect the waters of a fountain which springs under the church and to lead them outside. The monument is entirely vaulted in stone. The dome rests on four double pilasters, whose capitals are extremely graceful. The windows of the nave include two pointed arches set back from each other; the side windows of the sanctuary are two-compartment; the apsidal window is radiant and has three divisions. The facade is very simple; the central door and the two side arches are adorned with graceful moldings. The bell tower is a square tower raised two stories above the vaults. Towards the end of the 15ᵉ century or the beginning of the 16ᵉ century, a side chapel was built to the north, under the bell tower. The arcade, which unites this chapel to the church, bore the following inscription: “Messire Guy de Marueil chevalier and Dame Johanne Dirchillac SA FAe”. A very curious fresco was once seen on the wall of the nave, below the bell tower. It represented the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. The building was listed as a historical monument in 1992.

Abbey of Saint-Étienne de Bassac, (Sancti Stephani de Bassaco vel Bassacensis, Bassacum): Monks of the order of Saint-Benoît, united in 1666 to the Congregation of Saint-Maur. It was founded at the beginning of the 11th century by one of the Princes of Angoulême, called Guadardus de Lorichis, in honor of St-Etienne, the first martyr, according to what is reported in the acts of the life of Grimourd (bishop of 'Angoulême), but in the history of Angoulême it is said that it was founded by Wardrard de Jarnac, and his wife Rixende. Be that as it may, the church and the regular places having been destroyed by the heretics, the Benedictines of the congregation of St Maur who were introduced there, restored everything, and had a beautiful church built. The Abbot has the collation of a few simple priories, and the appointment to a few parishes. • Foundation in the 11th century. Church rebuilt from 1247 to 1286. • Defensive works at the end of the 14th century. • Abbey burnt down by the Anglo-Saxons in 1434. • Reconstruction in the second half of the 15th century. • Abbey plundered by the Protestants between 1564 and 1569. • Maurist reform introduced in 1666 after the abbey had been abandoned for nearly a century: rehabilitation and restoration until 1746 (conventual building, guest room, etc.). • Abbey sold as national property during the Revolution. • Destruction of the Gothic cloister in 1820. • Major restoration work on the church and abbey buildings during the 19th and 20th centuries. Many times transformed over the course of congregations and historical events, it mixes Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Classical styles. Listed as a Historic Monument, the Saint-Étienne de Bassac abbey today unveils a rectangular abbey church consisting of 4 bays and a flat chevet. Gothic in style, it has however retained the bases of the original walls and has domed rib vaults. Romanesque, the bell tower is not lacking in charm, just like the apse and the 13th century chapel pierced by a bay and covered with a ribbed vault. The 17th century convent buildings are also still visible. Like several other religious sites around the world, the abbey of Saint-Étienne de Bassac had a “Gate of Mercy” in 2015-2016; door which, on the margins of the Holy Doors open every 25 years or according to the exceptions fixed by the pope during the course of the holy years or Jubilees, was established at the abbey of Saint-Étienne de Bassac following the desire of Pope Francis to see the Jubilee of Mercy spread all over the world. In short, this Door, like all the other doors of Mercy, supports the Holy Doors in their roles in the Jubilee of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016 In addition, the Saint-Étienne abbey now hosts retreats, and also has an approval to receive green classes. Opening hours: Monday: 09:00 – 18:30 • Tuesday: 09:00 – 18:30 • Wednesday: 09:00 – 18:30 • Thursday: 09:00 – 18:30 • Friday: 09:00 – 6:30 p.m. • Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. • Sunday: 9:00 a.m. -6:30 p.m.

Foundation in the 11th century. Church rebuilt from 1247 to 1286. Defensive works at the end of the 14th century. Abbey burnt down by the Anglo-Saxons in 1434. Reconstruction in the second half of the 15th century. Abbey plundered by the Protestants between 1564 and 1569. Maurist reform introduced in 1666 after the abbey had been abandoned for nearly a century: rehabilitation and restoration until 1746 (convent building, guest room, etc.). Abbey sold as national property during the Revolution. Destruction of the Gothic cloister in 1820. Major restoration work on the church and the abbey buildings during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The town has a bridge dating perhaps from the 12th century, a fairly characteristic and well-known limestone bent bridge, called Petit Pont and one from the 18th century known as the Pont de bois or Pont de Bouet. These two bridges cross the two main arms of the Charente.

Since its founding in the 11th century and until today, this great Benedictine site has gone through a thousand years of history now written in stone. Gothic, baroque and classical styles coexist harmoniously, recalling the alternation of painful episodes and glorious moments. The abbey is a place of spirituality dedicated to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and is therefore the ideal setting for recharging your batteries and meditating.