Champagne-Mouton is a commune in the Charente department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, 20 km east of Ruffec.
Its territory of 22 km² is located on the borders of Poitou, on a slightly hilly plateau, which presents a predominantly rural and green landscape. It is covered with grasslands (33% of its area), forests (28%) and agricultural land (33%).
The village developed in the Middle Ages as the seat of a prosperous lordship. From the 14th century, it was owned by the powerful La Rochefoucauld family. Later, erected into a barony, the seigniory passed into the La Chambre family.
Nowadays, the locality which has preserved a heritage of interest has some 900 inhabitants. Agriculture (breeding and polyculture) remains the main activity there. Green tourism enthusiasts will however appreciate the richness of the bucolic and varied landscapes of Champagne-Mouton that the Silver and Gold courses cross to form the Argentor. A small paradise for hikers!
In terms of heritage, in the town, the parish church of Saint-Martin that we know today is none other than the heiress of the old castle chapel. Its bases date from the 12th century: the portal dates from this period. Statues of the primitive building have also been unearthed but are no longer kept in the church. This one, which had suffered during the Wars of Religion, was restored in the 19th century.
Away from the village, the remains of an oppidum and a Roman camp in the hamlet of Embournet and, to the south-east, the Château de Juyers are worth a look. The latter was raised in the 15th century on the foundations of an earlier building. The current three-storey main building is erected on semicircular vaulted cellars. Forming a courtyard, a pavilion and outbuildings complete the set. We notice nearby, near the river, two leveled towers connected by a wall.
Back in the town, the Château de Champagne has retained some major elements. It dates from the 15th century, built after a first castle was destroyed during the Hundred Years War. Formerly surrounded by a moat and equipped with an entrance gatehouse with a drawbridge, there are still parts of two main buildings (modified until the 18th century) now shared between different owners. The towers have been leveled. The whole was owned by the La Rochefoucaulds until the Revolution. Only the exteriors of the former seat of the barony of Champagne-Mouton are visible.
Other testimonies of the noble local history, a half-timbered house, the seneschal's house nearby (which once had a round tower but which has preserved beautiful openings) and the Duvignaud mansion: dating from the 18th century, with a park, and forming a "U", it is considered a fine example of civil architecture in Charente from this period.
In another genre, attesting to the agricultural prosperity and the rich hydrography of the locality, a number of washhouses, wells and mills with sometimes old bases mark out the territory, as well as bridges (some rebuilt in the 19th century but existing from long time).
During a stage, we will also appreciate that the town has several sports facilities (football field, multi-sports area, tennis courts, bowling alley): inquire at the town hall on +33 5 45 31 80 48. In addition, In the village, several parks are perfect for walking or taking a shady break in fine weather: let's mention the Green Garden, on rue du Maquis-Foch, or the small park of the church, adjoining rue de la Vilatte.
Finally, in the town itself, many hiking trails are marked out which allow you to understand the heritage elements far from the village itself and especially the banks with the astonishing ecological richness of the rivers (valleys of Gold and Silver dug into the limestone plateau). Guides are available at the town hall. In addition, larger loops have been traced by the inter-municipal tourist office comprising incursions into neighboring localities but all having Champagne-Mouton as a starting point. Sections of these 7 to 47 km long routes are also accessible to mountain bikers. Maps and information on +33 5 45 65 26 69.
