Romanesque art and winemaking heritage
Set at the crossroads of Saint-Jean d’Angély to Saintes and Matha to Saint-Savinien-sur-Charente, Saint-Hilaire-de-Villefranche is a major departure point for discovering Romanesque art as it is situated on the Way of St James of Compostella. Winemaking and its heritage are important too and offer interesting discoveries and encounters.
The unmissable pilgrim itinerary
Visit the chapel of Saint-Martin and Saint-Hilaire and the La Frédière church, on its own but peaceful. Don’t forget to visit the church at Juicq, on the hillside. A pilgrim seeking renewal will find serenity and peacefulness.
Getting around by bike or on foot
A wide range of waymarked circuits are on offer enabling the visitor to appreciate a variety of natural scenery: valleys, woods, fields of cereals and plots of vines. Don’t forget the delightful villages of Saintongeais stone and the Bramerit stream that will accompany you throughout your trip.
Winemaking activity is still very present
The local villages, such as Sainte-Même and Chagnon share a wealth of authentic architecture linked to winemaking; many of the remarkable properties date from the 18th and 19th centuries. You’ll find homes built with rubble and dressed stone, aging cellars and distilleries that are the identity of the southern countryside of Vals de Saintonge.
Do find time to meet our producers and understand how Pineau and cognac are made. Taste our local products – a true awakening of the senses.
