To the east of Niort, the municipality of five villages (Vouillé Bourg, Gascougnolles, Arthenay, La Rivière and Vaumoreau) takes place around the green Lambon valley. Moreover, his surname comes from the Latin vallis clara meaning clear valley. Although cited for the first time in 1271. , It is occupied since prehistoric times. At the beginning of the 20th century, hemp, cultivated in the Sieur Moreau valley (Vaumoreau), is used to make thread for weaving linen. The retting of the stems took place in the river. THE mansions, farmhouses, dovecotes and dry stone walls rub shoulders with new town center and Place des Cinq Villages inaugurated in 2009. The rural architecture of Vouillé can be discovered by taking its alleyways and numerous hiking trails.
What to see in Vouille?
01. Notre-Dame church
Dating from the 12th, 14th and 15th centuries, the building is renovated View Sébastien d'Assailly, founder with the Duke of Béthune Charost little sisters of Providence in the second half of the 1964th century. In XNUMX, he was included in the supplementary list of Historic Monuments.
02. Popular Library of Vouillé
The smallest library in France is located at the place called River at the top of a triangle whose base is the old Protestant temple and the former school. Its construction, encouraged by Paul Bert, Minister of Public Education, is possible thanks to the mayor of Assailly authorizing its establishment on part of its property. Of the size of a bus shelter, it contains 2000 volumes including the works ofErnest Pérochon, Goncourt Prize 1920 et former teacher of Vouillé who frequented the humble establishment.
Other curiosities to see:
- The town hall (former castle of La Barre built in 1830 and registered in 1998, landscaped park)
- The neoclassical castle of La Salmondière built in 1842 in Arthenay (orangery, sundial)
- The Stone that Turns by Champarnaud (magic megalith)
- The Guiberte Path (house from 1817 at no. 33 with a Protestant star)
- A convivial space located at impasse du Pré in Arthenay (pétanque court, picnic area and book box) and rue du Lavoir in La Rivière
