Randonnée Aux portes du Marais poitevin à Bessines
Route details
Description
You will discover a marsh village between hillside and marsh, developed around the former estate of Bassinius, a wealthy Gallo-Roman landowner, Bessines is located at the crossroads of Aunis and Poitou.
Happy hiking and remember that you are not alone on the trails you are about to travel. We therefore invite you to respect nature: avoid picking flowers and plants, do not leave any trash behind, respect inhabited places, stay on the trails, keep dogs on a leash.
Your itinerary
Step 1
A village developed around the ancient domain of Bassinius, a rich Gallo-Roman landowner, Bessines is located at the crossroads of Aunis and Poitou. Bordered by the Jaron reach and the Vieille Sèvre, this rural commune is nestled on the side of a hill which dominated the former Gulf of Pictons. Its marsh is classified as a Biotope and Natural Area of ecological, fauna and flora interest. The suburban village is one of the rare communes in Deux-Sèvres where angelica, the emblematic plant of Niort and the Marais Poitevin, is grown. Moreover, it is honored in May during the Angelique Festival.
Step 2
Formerly covered with vines, the southern and highest part of Bessines belonged to Aunis, and to the north, its lower, marshy part, to Poitou. A car park, at the entrance to the “communal port” of Bessines, once the heart of village life, stretches out at the foot of a limestone hillside. You can notice this characteristic alignment of pollarded ash and poplar trees.
Step 3
The Saint-Caprais church is here on the heights, as well as the presbytery which is private. Located a little outside the village, the church of Bessines, a Romanesque building from the 11th century, belonged to the abbey of Saint Liguaire. The monks of the Priory enjoyed all the lordly income owed by the inhabitants and even the tithes taken from lambs and wool. Before the Revolution, the church served as a “common house”. At that time, the ringing of the bell announced the meeting of the assembly and at the end of the parish mass, the main decisions concerning the commune were taken there.
Step 4
Overlooking the church square, this small building called the “New Boudrie” was after the Revolution the premises where important assemblies were held at the exit of the church. During these meetings, royal ordinances were announced to the inhabitants, the proclamation of victories, peace treaties and other births and marriages.
Step 5
Pollarded trees are the result of a widespread tree pruning and exploitation technique. In fact, these trees regularly undergo topping. Regular pruning causes a bulge at the top of the trunk, which gives them a very particular shape. The tree species that can be used are willows, poplars, ash, oaks or lime trees. Hardwood species, such as ash or oak, are found on roadsides. Those with soft wood are generally in humid areas. They contribute to hydraulic regulation and demarcate grassland plots.
Step 6
The building of the Pierre Levée, from the Latin name “Petra longa” raised stone, designated a place close to a dolmen, possibly a menhir. Since the 1921th century, several noble families have lived in this house. Then in 92 it was the birthplace of Jean Richard, he was the actor who notably played Commissioner Maigret in 1980 episodes, he was passionate about the circus, he bought PINDER and received the national circus grand prize in XNUMX.
Step 7
Private property: On the height as you turn towards the marsh you may be able to see the pruneau dovecote which is now in poor condition. Old square dovecote porch tower partly destroyed, the face of this dovecote is decorated above the porch with a shield on which is inscribed a motto in Latin “veritas omnia vincit” (truth triumphs over all) and a date 1631.