Chassenon is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. The ancient name of the village was Cassinomagus. Situated on the Aggrippan Way (Lyon – Saintes), Cassinomagus was, in the Roman times, important enough to be mentioned on the mediaeval Peutinger map as one of the two secondary towns between Limoges and Saintes.
The remains of this Gallo-Roman town lay on about 300 hectares and include a sanctuary of about 25 hectares. This sanctuary consisted of several monuments: a big temple, two small ones, a theatre and thermal baths. The baths are very well preserved and are well worth a visit!
Rochechouart is a town in the Haute-Vienne department of Limousin, not far from Limoges. The town labels itself as ‘the countryside of the meteorite’, because 214 million years ago, an enormous six billion tonne meteorite smashed into this spot – probably one of the largest meteorites ever to hit the earth – although little evidence now remains of this catastrophic event.
Assuming that you are not concerned about ‘lightning striking the same place twice’ and you visit Rochechouart today, you will find a pretty walled town and an attractive castle.
The Château de Rochechouart dates its origins to the 13th century, but was much modified in later centuries to create a more comfortable living environment.
The Château is now home to the interesting Museum of Modern Art, both indoors and in the surrounding gardens. An unexpected highlight of the town, the museum has a large collection of modern art & installations and also has frequent temporary exhibitions.
One other interesting edifice in Rochechouart is the
Church of Saint-Sauveur. This Roman-style church
dates from the 11th century, although the clocktower was not added until the 15th century.
Of particular interest is the spire, added later still (in the 18th century), with a twisting octagonal design that is very unusual.
The town of Saint-Junien is in the west of the Haute-Vienne department of Limousin, a short distance north-east of Rochechouart. Since the 15th century, the town has been an important centre for glove production, and even today the town is a major producer and exporter of gloves, although Saint-Junien is now better known as one of the official ‘entry towns’ to the Perigord-Limousin Regional Natural Park. Saint-Junien, renowned for its tanning, is home to a magnificent granite collegiate church of Romanesque style. This religious building of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries contains the finely-carved tomb of Saint Junien, ancient frescoes, as well as a statue of the Entombment of Christ dating from the 16th century.
The Perigord-Limousin Regional Natural Park is in
south-west France, between Angouleme to the west
and Limoges to the east. The park is within two
different French departments: the northern part of the Dordogne, between Nontron and Jumilhac-le-Grand, and the Haute-Vienne department of Limousin to the south of Rochechouart. It covers a region of almost 2000 square kilometres. You will enjoy the diversity of the countryside with a large amount of woodlands and forests, lots of lakes and streams and also a substantial amount of open moorland type scenery. The roads in particular are ideal for cycling, being very quiet and generally not too hilly.
Limoges is a petite and pretty city in southwest-central France. It’s known for its decorated porcelain, much of which is on display at the Musée National Adrien Dubouché. In the historic center, medieval timber-frame houses line Rue de la Boucherie.
Set in the former Episcopal Palace, the Musée des Beaux-Arts showcases the history of the city’s medieval enamel. The Gothic Cathédrale St-Étienne de Limoges took 6 centuries to complete.
The Charente region is rich in cultural heritage, with picturesque villages and local markets just a short drive away. Enjoy exploring the charming towns of Angoulême and Cognac, where you can indulge in local specialties and wines. The area also offers fantastic outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and kayaking, catering to all adventure enthusiasts!
The tiny hamlet of Machat, in the heart of the French countryside, is on the borders of Charente and Limousin.
The nearest village is Chassenon. It is halfway between Chabanais and Rochechouart, where you can find supermarkets and shops with everything that you could require. The area is rich in history and has many interesting places to visit. It is close to
the famous Roman ruins of Cassinomagus.
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