Essouvert is a town in Charente-Maritime, in Aquitaine region Nova, 40 km south of Niort. It was formally established in January 1, 2016 following the merger of the towns of Saint-Denis-du-Pin, its seat (738 inhabitants) The Benâte (411 inhabitants), now counting some 1,250 inhabitants.
Its territory of 30 square kilometers adjacent to the small town of Saint Jean d'Angely is in the natural area of the Vals de Saintonge, with a rural landscape, largely wooded, ensuring the transition between the coastline and mild climate it enjoys and Angoumois east and south Cognac.
The name of the new town is also reference to Essouvert forest that stretched the Middle Ages to Poitevin marshes before being cleared in part by peasants.
The preserved heritage and the environment of the locality will delight lovers of green tourism, close to major destinations like the resorts of the Atlantic coast, Cognac and of course Saint-Jean d'Angely.
In terms of heritage, besides some mansions and more modest items, but participating in the richness of the landscape, demonstrating the vitality of this land for centuries (wash houses, fountains, crosses), the most notable buildings are on St. Denis-du-Pin first, a parish church seeming modest but whose foundations date back to the eleventh century. It was then integrated with a priory founded by Viscount Aulnay when he returned in orders at the Abbey of Saint-Jean d'Angely. The abbey itself had been then assigned the land of Saint-Denis-du-Pin by King Philip the Fair in 1301 in fulfillment of bequests to the Benedictines by Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of St. Louis...
In 1305, moreover, it is in the town that Philip the Fair would have met the future Pope Clement V to alliance and decide to fight the Templars...
Today, the church still has a quadrangular tower on the south side, which dates back to the eleventh century and reveals an unusual height. This uniqueness gives its charm to the building, the other parts (nave and choir chapel adjoining) were rebuilt in the fifteenth century. We will not forget to observe some small but notable "details" carved on the walls.
In the village of La Benâte, the Saint-Mathurin church was in turn built a few years before the Revolution. Note its square tower. It replaced a medieval building which was located near the cemetery at the entrance "south" of the town.
Finally, in an obviously different architectural style as contemporary, a detour can be made to the hall of the Alliance, on the edge of the forest of Essouvert, the result of an earlier project to the merger but already common to both villages. This versatile space opened in 2009 can be transformed into theater and accommodate theatrical performances or concerts, for example, its capacity is greater than 400 spectators. Information on programming +33 5 46 32 16 18.
On the "nature" of leisure plan one step at Essouvert must include a visit to the beautiful garden of Pomona, at a place called La Fayolle. It is dedicated to edible fruits from temperate climates (hence the name which recalls the Roman goddess of fruit and orchards). The proposed route is both educational, pastoral and aesthetics, including number of planted clumps of fruit trees and bushes, while being lined with fountains and pergolas. Remarkable Garden label, also including an orangery, the site presents varieties from all continents, revealing synonymous with exoticism and... healthy appetite. Open one weekend per month from May to October and all year by appointment for groups. Price: 5 and 7 euros. Information +33 5 46 32 32 38.
The parcels always wooded forest, agricultural areas that have supplanted the vines that made the richness of these two villages until the phylloxera crisis finally prove conducive to pleasant walks, some circuits can obviously rally St. Jean d'Angely. Cards and inquire +33 5 46 32 04 72.
