La Barde: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

La Barde is particularly notable for two specific places: the marked circular hiking trail No. 3, “Les Calvaires”, starts at the square by the church and town hall, while Notre-Dame Church preserves its own series of architectural and historical details.

Those who choose La Barde as a holiday destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment there.

Culture

Notre-Dame Church in La Barde is a modern building. It was built between 1871 and 1873 on a hill near the former Romanesque church, which has completely disappeared. The square bell tower forms a porch in front of the nave. Behind it is a three-bay nave beneath a slate roof with a pointed barrel vault. Traces of older painted decoration can be seen on the whitewashed walls.

The church’s furnishings are also part of the local history: its sacristy contains an 18th-century chalice. The chalice in Notre-Dame Church was listed as a protected cultural object on 23 October 1991.

Another historical detail can be found in Le Bonnin, a small hamlet in the municipality of La Barde. The hamlet is considered the last village with half-timbered houses and half-timbered barns; some of these buildings date from the 15th and 17th centuries. The wattle-and-daub technique used in half-timbered structures dates back to the Middle Ages.

Nature

The municipality of La Barde includes the type 2 ZNIEFF “Vallées de la Nizonne, de la Tude et de la Dronne en Poitou-Charentes”. In addition, the Natura 2000 site “Vallée de la Dronne de Brantôme à sa confluence avec l’Isle” protects habitats covering 3% of the municipal area of La Barde.

The “Bassin de la Dordogne” biosphere reserve zone, in its transition area, covers approximately 100% of the municipal area of La Barde.

Hiking

The marked circular hiking trail No. 3, “Les Calvaires”, is 9.48 kilometres long and accessible year-round. Its starting point is at the square by the church and town hall in La Barde.

Other destinations: Souméras, Montguyon, Saint-Savinien, Guitinières, Ozillac, Saint-Porchaire, Saint-Denis-Du-Pin, Saint-Léger

For the broader travel overview: Charente-Maritime.