Welcome to montmorillon

Since June 2000, the old medieval of the city, renovated district, transformed, is used as framework in the City of the Writing and the Trades of the Book.

A score of shops to the colors pimpantes, such as the Middle Ages, accomodate booksellers, calligraphers, craftsmen for a voyage to the country of the Book. Training courses, animations, exposures supplement the visit of the shops.

From its moyenâgeux past, Montmorillon preserved several monuments, classified Historic buildings, which deserve a visit. The Octagone, single in Europe, the House God, with its vault the St. Lawrence, its barn of said, its to chauffoir, the Notre-Dame church which dominates Gartempe and the Old Bridge, its crypt decorated with classified frescos, the Old Palate, and many other sites to be discovered.

Montmorillon is a small (approximately 7000 inhabitants), calm, flowery town (2 flowers with national competition) and bathed by Gartempe become peaceful after its turbulences of Lathus at its entry in the department of Vienne.

Calm city but rich possibilities for varied tourism, either by its remarkable inheritance, or by the originality of its City of the Writing and the Trades of the Book or by the discoveries offered by its surroundings and the nature which surrounds it. 

The area of Montmorillon, in the borders of Vienne, Indre and High-Vienna, presents very different landscapes marrying Poitou, Berry and the Limousin. You can discover them in several ways. Excursions: Four hiking trails make it possible to traverse the countryside montmorillonnaise. For all these circuits, topo-guides very documented with precise charts are available to the Tourist office of Montmorillon.

• The path of the “Gardour” furrows the area of Montmorillon, Jouhet and Pindray and proposes thirteen loops spreading out from 2 to 13 kilometers which the majority are close to the river. You discover there various environments of the fresh underwoods in the mediums discovered and an often rare flora like the glaïeul of Illyrie or Narcisse of the poets.
• The path of the “Brandes de Fontenelles” radiates around Moulismes towards Plaisance and Saulgé through this area of brandes (heather with brushes) which testifies to the poverty of the ground. The brandes almost entirely disappeared today and those which remain are protected, in particular in the military camp of Montmorillon. This circuit offers several loops varying from 5 to 35 kilometers in an often undulating landscape.
• The path of “the aiguail of Gartempe” proposes 12 loops from 3,5 to 17 kilometers between Montmorillon, Saulgé, Lathus and Saint-Rémy. It is the possibility of discovering very picturesque sites with from the remarkable points of view (to envisage the camera) and of the castles not less interesting. Essential precision: “the aiguail” is the name poitevin of the dew. There still, the relief is sometimes broken especially in the south in the buttresses of the Limousin.
• The path “from the Roc to Saint Rô” curves through the same area as the precedent with however some alternatives. It leads “Rock of Hell” of Lathus to Saint-Rémy and its statue of Roch Saint, thanks to 9 loops from 5 to 14 kilometers. The natural sites are remarkable there, the many discoveries like the mills or the castles, and will see you otters perhaps there batifolant in Gartempe.

Spending the holidays in the rural area is an excellent occasion to devote to the activities full of nature. Montmorillonnais offers a vast range of such activities.

• Fishing: in Montmorillon in Gartempe (2nd cat.) with point fishes for handicapped people, or in Allochon (brook of 1st cat.). In Jouhet, in pond. In Borough-Archambault, in Salleron and the communal water level. In Lathus, in Gartempe. In Moulismes, in Small Blourde and the communal water level. With Pleasure in pond (surface of picnic on the edge). In Saulgé, in Gartempe.
• The farm: The Teaching Farm of Little in Lathus (140 ha) is accessible free and without reservation. The children will see the move all the animals of the farm. Stroll in carriole are possible through the farm and its surroundings, on reservation.
• Spade screws: surfaces of spade screws are available in Montmorillon, Saulgé, (these two surfaces are equipped with barbecues), Plaisance and Jouhet
• Various activities: the Center of Outdoor of Lathus offers many activities of outdoor: Climbing, canoe-kayak, rafting, veil, VTT, shooting with the arc, orientation, speleology, horsemanship, pony-club, discovered environment (trott sensory, discovered aquatic environments, discovered fauna and flora). All these activities, framed by graduate organizers of State, are done in group on reservation (at least 48 hours front) and cost 23 € for some 3 hours meetings. Only the orientation is done, if it is wished, freely, free and without reservation.

How to spend an afternoon of holidays in Montmorillonnais? It is simple. Here three circuits which are proposed to you and will make you discover some of the richnesses or curiosities of the area. You will be able to appreciate the diversity of the landscapes to the wire of the kilometers at the same time.

• Moulismes - Pleasure - Saulgé

In Moulismes, one will see in the church a very curious baptismal tank and a cross hosannière in the cemetery. With Pleasure, it is the church of XIIème S. which will hold the attention, with its tomb stones and its miraculous statue of the Virgin who attracted several kings de France. In the cemetery, the cross hosannière and her steeping vats. At three km, a dolmen in perfect state. Finally in Saulgé, you will see the castle of Beaupuy, the remainders of the castle of Lenest (keep and ramparts), the low-relief of the church and the old buildings of the brewery of Montmorillon.

• Borough-Archambault - Lathus - Saint-Remy cheese

With a few km on this road, to see the field of Moussac and the Romance vault with its cross hosannière. A little further, not to miss the visit of the castle of Lalande, then, in Borough-Archambault, that of the splendid castle surrounded by ditches and preceded by a châtelet with its four turns. In the church of XII century. a polychrome “Pieta” of XV century. Then you move towards Lathus where one will see a dolmen, several castles and a river much more stirring up that in Montmorillon. Lastly, direction Saint-Remy cheese there to see the polychrome statue (XV century.) of Roch Saint and to go until the “Jump of Slab” where Gartempe is wild.

• Jouhet - Pindray

On the road of Saint-Savin, a halt is essential on Jouhet after having seen, the passing, the castle of Plum trees which dominates Gartempe. In Jouhet, to see the funerary vault and its murals (XV century.). The castle of Contour, the mill of Rock and the dovecote of Cadrie will supplement the visit. While returning by Pindray, you will find the castle of Plum trees (XII and XV century), its dovecote, its vault and its mill.