Discover l'isle-jourdain city

L'Isle-Jourdain, formerly the Island or Isla loses its origin in the mists of time.

The city partly owes its name because of the rock small island which is in the center of the Vienna river. In the course of time, a bridge goes set up of share and the other of the small island and to serve d' to him; support.

The Jourdain lord resides in his castle of the island, today disappeared, and toll of the bridge saw. Its name supplements the toponym which becomes L'Isle-Jourdain around the year 1000.

The Saint-Sylvain bridge on Vienne is quoted in the Middle Ages like essential passage between Walk and Poitou. It was a long time the only bridge between Châtellerault and St-Germain-of-Confolens after the destruction of the bridges of Chauvigny, Lussac-les-Chtx and Availles-Limouzine during the One hundred year old wars.

With its stone piles attested since XIe S., its description in 1746 confers the same structure today: 11 arches, 10 piles and 2 abutments. Length 143,60 m, restored of 1823 to 1829, it underwent two widenings in 1875 and 1964 and presents its current aspect. The bridge owes its name with the statue of Sylvain saint, set up in an installation of the parapet in 1876.

The church Saint-Gervais and Saint-Protais of Romance style is dedicated to the saints Milanese martyrs of which the worship is widespread as a Gaulle as the year 386. Part of the walls and the base of the bell-tower date from XI and XII centuries. A statue of the Sacred Heart, of 400 kg, overhangs the bell-tower notched since May 31, 1905.

Not to miss the panorama from the square and the old working of the castle of the Lease.

The Notre-Dame church of Saint-Paixent dates from XI and XII centuries, in Romance style, with a multifoil gate of the inspiration limousine.

In the interior, is a Virgin with Child, out of carved stone, of XIV century. Saint-Paixent is an important district of L'Isle-Jourdain

The Viaduct is a splendid work dof the stone art size. It spans the valley of its 20 arches, of 12 m d' opening to a height of 40,25 Mr. Its overall length is of 304 Mr. It was carried out from March 1882 to October 1884 for the rail traffic which is stopped in 1969.

This way of railroad, inaugurated in 1891 for passenger transport and of the cattle, contributed to the rural development of all the canton.

L'Isle-Jourdain knew the apogee of its industrial rise with the construction of the three stopping-factories on Vienna for the production of electricity: La Roche-Millac in 1921; Chardes-Isle-Jourdain in 1926; Jousseau-Millac in 1928.