Saint-Hippolyte is a commune of Charente-Maritime, in the Aquitaine region, south-east of Rochefort which it borders.
Nearly half of the 2328 hectares of the commune's territory are made up of marshes, formed after an old stretch of sea was cut off from the Atlantic Ocean at the beginning of the first millennium.
Long under the domination of the lords of Taulnay (whose fief will become the town of Tonnay-Charente), north, Saint-Hippolyte is the theater in the eighth century battles between Franks and Saracens then faces the incursions of Scandinavian pirates. In the thirteenth century, after the Hundred Years War, some lands near the marshes are cultivated.
But the drying up of part of these lands difficult to cultivate are accelerated by Vauban in the seventeenth century and the development of a main canal completed in the nineteenth.
The typical natural environment of the town which has preserved its rural character, on the left bank of the Charente, as well as its historical heritage, make Saint-Hippolyte (about 1450 inhabitants) a stage of interest for the amateurs of green tourism.
Erected at the end of the 12th century by the lord of Taulnay as a fee for not having gone on a crusade, the church of the village, obviously dedicated to Saint-Hippolyte, can be the starting point for a discovery of the historical heritage of the locality, before then to apprehend its singular natural environment.
Frequented from the outset by pilgrims earning Compostela from Brittany, the church has retained its original Romanesque facade, beautifully ornamented, but was remodeled in a Gothic style after the Wars of Religion and even fortified. Note that the bell tower is later.
Besides the facade, some capitals are to distinguish, one in the form of cobweb and two others where an angel and a demon face each other.
Also to be seen, at the option of a walk, the locks Biard: formed of four doors operated by winches, they were installed in 1784 and demonstrate how the control of water was paramount in the region. They have been disabled and replaced by more modern mechanisms nearby.
See also, the suspension bridge over the Charente de Tonnay-Charente: 623 m long, its central apron is 204 m. It connects to a masonry structure of 416 m and the access viaduct is entirely built on the left bank of the river, in the municipality of Saint-Hippolyte. The viaduct is supported by 51 arcades of ogival style. Dating back to 1842, this bridge has been recently renovated.
We will also linger at the old manor house La Rigaudière, once surrounded by a moat, where you can still see a well enclosed in a Renaissance building. Five pillars adorned with capitals support a dome, and the whole is surmounted by a sundial.
Finally, we will not forget the remains of the chateau de la Bergerie, an old feudal castle on the edge of the neighboring town of La Vallée.
As if to make the connection with the natural heritage of the town, the small bridge of the Gardette is finally to be observed, since it allowed formerly access to "pits masts", pits filled with salt water in which the engineers of the arsenal of Rochefort soaked the masts of the ships under construction. Salt had to protect them from insects...
It is then time to walk through this unique marsh landscape, dotted with hamlets and small heritage along the 65 km of canals that cross the town, not to mention the left bank of the Charente. The opportunity to discover a unique ecosystem.
For hiking or mountain biking from the village or including Saint-Hippolyte, documentation and information on +33 5 46 99 08 60 or from the local club, +33 5 46 84 19 59.
We can prefer the horse. Three equestrian centers are located on the locality for learning in the arena or guided walks. Contact the Cavaliers des Granges at +33 6 84 07 31 32 or the stables of Saint-Hippolyte at +33 6 84 11 36 72. As for the breeding of gods, it is more specialized in equestrian shows.
Finally, for fishing enthusiasts, check with the local association for regulations and sites adapted to +33 5 46 83 80 96.
