The "Maison du Parc" (Parc Visitor Centre)

Occupying the restored buildings of a traditional farm, the "Maison du Parc" is open throughout the year : there's a choice of eight different slide shows in English, temporary exhibitions, interactive displays about birds, an information centre, a sales area with local produce and locally made articles as well as a bar where delicious local produce is served at all hours. An expert naturalist is present at weekends and everyday during the peak seasons to give information on the local fauna and flora and where and how to see it.

 

 

 

The Haute-Touche Animal Park

Within the park are not only African animals (monkeys, hyaenas, cheetahs...) but also, set in a 500 ha forest, more than a thousand animals, many part of international conservation programmes. There is also a unique collection of deer. This site allows for the discovery and understanding of the world of animals on foot or bicycle.

 

The Natural Regional Parks' "écomusée" (ecomuseum) network

Men, a landscape, a history

Within the walls of Naillac chateau, the écomusées permanent exhibition brings to life memories of past times in Brenne in an educative way. A visitor will find models, reconstructions and testimonies. A brochure explaining each part in English can be obtained at the reception desk.

 

Maison de la Pisciculture (Fish-farming Museum)

The Fish-farmig museum allows the visitor to better understand how the lakes are fished and the skills of fish rearing.

 

Maison de l'Apiculture (Bee-keeping Museum)

Discover within a glass-lined patio with living hives and bee-swarms, an exhibition on the life and work of bees and hives from the past. Honey extracting demonstrations occur during the harvesting period (July and August).

 

 

Museum of Agricultural machines, the rural Postman and the Gutenberg centre

Museum of Agricultural machines An important collection (500 items) of agricultural machines and tractors. The Rural Postman Exhibits baring whitness to the history of the post locally. The Gutenberg centre A presentation of printing techniques from the start to today, demonstrations.

 

 

 

The "Amis du Blanc" house (Friends of Le Blanc house)

A small museum of local art and traditions which concentrates on everyday life around the turn of the century.

 

Henry de Monfreid Museum - Ingrandes

A museum dedicated to Henry de Monfreid, writer-adventurer and painter

 

The Latté Gallo-Roman metal workshop - Oulches

Exibition of a copy of a mineral rendering site discovered during archeological digging and of techniques of iron production and transformation, of Gallo-Roman times.

 

 

 

Châteaux Park and gardens of Azay-le-Ferron Chateau.

The Chateau (at present closed to the public) looks over remarkable gardens and a park with many trees more than a hundred years old.

 

 

Chateau Guillaume - Lignac

An 11th century fortress built under Guillaume X, Count of Poitou and Duke of Aquitaine, restored during the 19th century. Note that the buildings of the preserved hamlet blend in harmoniously with the chateau.

 

The Bouchet Chateau - Rosnay

A fortress built during the 13th, 15th and 17th centuries on the highest "button" in Brenne. Magnificent panoramic views over the Mer Rouge lake and up to 80 km distant.

 

Naillac Chateau - Le Blanc

Dominating the Creuse, this feudal chateau, reconstructed several times, has kept a seigneurial hall. Ingrandes Chateau Medieval chateau of the 11th and 14th centuries.

 

 

 

 

Notre-Dame Abbey at Fontgombault

Pierre de l'Etoile founded a monastry in 1091 that saw its heyday during the Middle Ages. Looted several times from the 16th century onwards, sold for the nation at the time of the revolution, the ruin of the Abbey was bought by Trappist monks in the mid 19th century. Since 1948 it shelters a community of monks of the Solesmes order. With a simple yet imposing architecture, the abbeys' church is one of the largest religious constructions in Brenne.

 

Plaincourault Chapel

Small 12th century Roman chapel, decorated inside with 12th and 14th century frescos, presently being restored.

 

Méobecq church

Méobecq Abbey was, until the 11th century, one of the largest abbeys of the Bas-Berry region. Looted and burnt during the 16th century, little by little it disappeared. Today all that remains are a few houses, part of the outer wall and part of what was the imposing abbey church, now the parish church.

 

 

Saint-Sulpice chapel

In a clearing in the heart of Lancosme forest, it's a simple little construction of Brenne sandstone. Every year there is a pilgrimage in late August.

 

 

Sainte-Marie-Madeleine Church - Mézières-en-Brenne

One of the rare purely Gothic churches of Brenne. Its notoriety comes from its remarkable collection of 14th century stained-glass-windows.

 

Paulnay Church

Built in the 12th century, remarkable for its magnificent front ornated with sculptures as well as for its frescos.

 

Saint-Gaultier Church 12th century

Roman church with a noteable chancel. Lanterne des morts (Lantern of the dead) Roman constructions, usually of the 12th century, The "Lanterns des morts" were originally placed in the centre of cemeteries. They protect a light that burnt throughout the night in honnor of those burried there. The one at Ciron is of elegant simplicity.