|
ST GAULTIER
St Gaultier, which
was once a fortified city, is on the north banks of the River Creuse
and takes its name from Gaultier, abbot of the Abbey of Lesterps in
Charente.
 The
remains of the walls can still be seen in the gardens banking the River
Creuse. Several other remains of the past can be found in this
picturesque town: towers of ancient castles, remains of city gates and
old streets (including the rue du Cheval Blanc, presumably in memory of
the passage of King Henry IV in March 1589.)
In 1040, The Comte
de la Marche and the Seigneur de Chabanais looted and burned the Abbey
of Lesterps. Father Gaultier, absent at the time, complained to the
Pontiff who excommunicated the two criminals.
As a remedy, the
Comte de la Marche was charged with the expense of rebuilding the Abbey.
The Seigneur de Chabanais, had to donate land that he owned that
extended to both sides of the River Creuse. Left bank was known as
Rivarennes. The right bank is, at this time, was a land without a name,
inhabited by only a few farmers.
It was decided at
the end of the 11th century that on this ground a church was to be
built, dedicated to the abbot Gaultier who died in 1070 and was
canonized three years later. There has been much in the way of
alteration to the church over the centuries but today,
the church has been completely renovated and stands proud in the centre
of this small picturesque town on the edge of the Brenne National Park (Parc
Naturel Régional de la Brenne).
TOWN MAP - INDRE (36)
 |
ST GAULTIER - OVERVIEW
Situation:
10km to the west
of Argenton sur Creuse and 28km to the East of La Blanc. 9km from the
A20 Vierzon to Brive Autoroute.
Inhabitants:
2000+
Market Day:
Friday till Noon
Supermarkets:
CHAMPION
Rue Remparts 36800
Leisure Facilities:
CAMPING:
l'Oasis du Berry, Rue Pierre Plate,
36800 Saint Gaultier
02 54 47 17 04
Marché de Noel (Xmas Market)
Early December Bi-annually
Artists Born in St Gaultier
Pierre Lardeau b.1948
Poets associated with St Gaultier
Ginette Gillet
Famous People from St Gaultier
None found so far
What's On in St Gaultier
EXPOSITIONS
(Exhibitions) 2008
End July early August. Paula Marchant
Bijoux, (Hand sculptured jewellery) and Paintings by Abi in the Salle
D'Expositions, Town Centre. Free Entry. Dates TBC.
|
|
The animal and nature reserve of Haute-Touche
is the largest zoo in France. Located in a forest of 500 hectares in
the Brenne National park, Indre, it has over a hundred hectares open
to the public, home to more than 1,000 animals with more than 100
species from five continents.
This zoo is not like the average
commercial zoo. Yes, Beauval is a great day out, very colourful and
full of places to eat, drink etc, but La Haute Touche is very
different. It is calm, non-commercial (although they do have a
restaurant/café and a place to buy ice creams!). La Haute Touche is
much more about seeing the animals in a more natural environment.
When you arrive, you pay a very
reasonable entry fee of 8€ per person (5€ OAP and children) and for
the first 20 minutes of your visit you drive VERY slowly along a
safari trail, with animals left and right. You can take some brilliant
photos on this part of your trip. Then you park up in the
middle. Here you can picnic or eat in the restaurant. Then from the
centre you can venture out on foot (this is flat and suitable for
pushchairs etc) and explore may trails and see the animals in wide
open spaces. There are no cages here! Just large enclosures.
Open: Every day from 10h-18h.
Individual Rate: 8.00 €
Reductions for Children, Groups and
Elderly.
***** RECOMMENDED
|
|
