Escape to Angles-sur-l'Anglin, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France
Ideas for stays, The unmissable
With its vestiges and its bucolic setting, Angles-sur-l'Anglin has all the assets to seduce nature and heritage lovers. We follow a young family newly settled in the Vienne who discovers for the first time small medieval village with picturesque charm, great essential of the Vienne.
Living in the Vienne For the past few months, we have often been told about this must-see village: Angles-sur-l'Anglin. Embarkation with the whole family for a “holiday” day just 1 hour from our house.
A journey from prehistory to the present day in Angles sur l'Anglin
Angles-sur-l'Anglin is part of the network of the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Feudal castle with panoramic view of the valley, flower-lined streets and medieval houses, we are in love! The village is home to the workshops of many craftsmen : decoration, old lace, painting….
We go to the Tourist Office to discover what has made Angles-sur-l'Anglin famous: Days of Angles, a embroidery technique invented in the village and which supported, in the 1950s, more than 300 workers.
Meet at the Fortress, central square of Angles-sur-l'Anglin
Our adventure led us to the majestic 12th century fortressth century which proudly dominates this little medieval pearl, 40 meters above the Anglin.
As soon as we arrived, history began to intertwine with the present, transporting my children and I to a world where legends come to life. The fortress of Angles-sur-l’Anglin, proud sentinel of time, opened its doors to us for a captivating dive into the past.
From the heights, the panoramic view of the Anglin valley was breathtaking, offering us a spectacle that will remain engraved in our memories. The children were able to run and get some fresh air in the huge open space, and in the ruins of the old castle.
Did you know that houses in the village were previously built with stones in these places? One even recovered a royal fireplace… how lucky!
We also learned that every year in July, the fortress organizes a medieval festival. It's noted in our diary for next year!
Well-deserved gourmet break
A morning to cross so many centuries, it's boring! Head to one of the city's restaurants. The weather is nice, we settle down on the terrace with view …burgers for some, gourmet salads for others…
We won't say more to leave you with the surprise of the discovery, but any foodie who reads these lines now knows where to go. eat in Angles-sur-l’Anglin.
Unmissable stopover: the Roc aux Sorciers Interpretation Center
Our walk then takes us from the banks of the Anglin, the river from which the name of the village comes, to a world-famous site: the Roc-aux-Sorciers . To protect this exceptional heritage, the original site is closed to the public. We then go to interpretation center which is dedicated to him in the village, where we discover restitution of prehistoric sculptures dating back 15 years !
The representations of animals, ibexes, bison, horses, follow one another before our eyes amazed by so much genius. It also seems that the Roc-aux Sorciers is to sculpture what Lascaux is to prehistoric painting, that is to say ! Thanks to a frieze to touch, all our senses are awakened. Magic works on everyone.
Angles sur l’Anglin: starting point for lovely hikes
After such a meal, two options: a nap in the shade of the trees at the water's edge or a hike to continue stretching your legs. We opt for the balade which allows you to make a loop from and to Angles-sur-l'Anglin. We left for about ten kilometers.
We first follow the Anglin then the Gartempe, in their landscapes of cliffs and rocks. We are almost arrived at Saint-Pierre-de-Maillé when we see some troglodyte dwellings.
The end of the day is approaching, and we would have liked it to last longer to stay in this pretty bucolic village, which takes us back in time. Certainly, Angles-sur-l’Anglin is one of our favorite visits!
We will certainly come back to explore the places differently with application Tèrra Aventura and the journey “The Days of Angles are told“. No doubt, the village of Angles deserves its place among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and only one hour from Poitiers!