Massignac is a commune in the Charente department, 19 km southeast of Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure.
Its territory of nearly 24 km², bordering Haute-Vienne to the south-east, is crossed by the RD 13 which links Angoulême to Limoges via Rochechouart.
Its rich hydrography is one of the specificities of the locality. In addition to several secondary streams and a number of ponds, it has always been "watered" by the courses of the Charente, on its "eastern" part, and the Moulde, in the center. Since the end of the 20th century, it has also been located alongside the reservoirs developed for agricultural irrigation purposes upstream of the town on the river and its tributary.
Bodies of water have thus also become synonymous with new leisure centers.
Tourist assets which complement an economic activity that until now was essentially agricultural: meadows dedicated to livestock cover 46% of its surface area, and there are also 25% of agricultural land and 14% of forests…
Seat of a lordship dependent on the county of La Rochefoucauld under the Ancien Régime, Massignac was also a stronghold of flour milling and timber exploitation until recent times.
Its environment, which has allowed the establishment of a large luxury hotel complex, will also delight lovers of green tourism (hiking, fishing, etc.).
The village which has nearly 400 inhabitants therefore deserves attention!
In terms of heritage, several sites should be mentioned in the town.
The oldest is the Thauzat dolmen, which borders a field on the RD 13 to the west of the town. Dating from the Neolithic, the funerary monument is made up of five pillars which partially collapsed due to the weight of the covering table, 3.60 m long by 3.20 m. The dolmen which bears witness to primitive human occupation is listed in the Inventory.
In the village, to see next, the parish church of Saint-Paul, rebuilt in a neo-Gothic style and of which we note the slender bell tower with sculpted decorations.
Nearby, an old wash house with a tiled roof, with its inclined copings, its benches and its reputed miraculous fountain, adds to the character of the small village.
However, it is in the southwest that the most notable site is found. This is the Château des Etangs, mentioned as early as the 13th century and which was remodeled in a classical style in the 17th century, then belonging to the principality of Chabanais. Once a Protestant stronghold, it is mentioned in poor condition before the Revolution. The building was significantly altered in the 19th century and restored again in the 20th century. In a neo-classical style mixed with neo-Gothic references, it is made up of three main buildings forming a U, on three levels, and flanked by round towers at the corners.
With its outbuildings also restored, the castle is today the center of the Domaine des Etangs, a luxury hotel complex with a gourmet restaurant and a number of facilities dedicated to well-being and leisure. It is surrounded by 1000 hectares of forests, meadows and ponds, also hosting contemporary art exhibitions. Information on +33 5 45 61 85 00.
the Mas Chaban lake on the one hand, developed in 2000, measuring 1.7 hectares, and the 4 hectares of Lavaud lake on the other hand, to the east, filled with water in 1989.
If the developed beaches are not located in the town itself, hikers on the other hand are in the party: on foot or by mountain bike, the only tour of the Mas Chaban lake is synonymous with 14 km of walks in a natural environment full of greenery and of bucolic serenity…
Nearby, the Massignac Adventure Park has been set up, which includes an area dedicated to picnics, a treetop adventure course, offers bungee jumping, and activities for thrill-seekers, like the “quick-jump” or the “airbag jump”. Open every day in July and August and more occasionally the rest of the year. Information on +33 5 45 24 07 43.
In the southwest of the territory, it is the fishermen who are spoiled. On two ponds, "Carp Fishing France" has two ponds reserved open to specialists. Contact +33 7 49 28 77 67.
Please note that in addition to the surroundings of the lakes, other hiking trails and secure circuits for mountain bikers are available in the town, allowing you to reach the other localities bordering the plans of water but also to consider more substantial routes to reach the historic cities of Rochechouart to the east (13 km) or Chabanais to the north (10 km). All while enjoying green and discreetly hilly nature.
Maps and information on +33 5 45 65 26 69 or +33 5 45 84 22 22.