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Walking route: From the church to the Charente-Seudre Canal 3.1 mi
in Échillais
5.8
km
1h 40min
Easy
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Combining natural and historical heritage: discover a masterpiece of Saintonge Romanesque art, the Church of Notre-Dame d’Échillais, and the Charente-Seudre Canal, as you walk along the Bois du Chay. Follow in the footsteps of the famous traveller and writer Pierre Loti!
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Along the way, you will see:
- Notre-Dame d'Échillais Church: Built in the 12th century on the remains of a 9th-century structure, the building is one of the masterpieces of Saintonge Romanesque architecture. It features a richly decorated façade, including the ‘Grand Goule’, a motif typical of Saintonge Romanesque style, which appears to swallow the column shaft.
- the European Otter: The Charente-Seudre Canal was dug at the end of the 18th century to link two rivers: the Charente and the...Along the way, you will see:
- Notre-Dame d'Échillais Church: Built in the 12th century on the remains of a 9th-century structure, the building is one of the masterpieces of Saintonge Romanesque architecture. It features a richly decorated façade, including the ‘Grand Goule’, a motif typical of Saintonge Romanesque style, which appears to swallow the column shaft.
- the European Otter: The Charente-Seudre Canal was dug at the end of the 18th century to link two rivers: the Charente and the Seudre, and to supply the Marais de Brouage with fresh water. It is a major route for wildlife, particularly for a semi-aquatic mammal of the mustelid family: the European otter. It was long hunted for its soft, warm and waterproof fur, to the extent that by the 1990s it had virtually disappeared. Protected in France since the 1976 Nature Protection Act, the population is now doing much better. You can spot its droppings, clearly visible at the water’s edge, recognisable by the fish or crustacean scales they contain.
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- Points of interest
1
Notre-Dame d'Echillais Church
- 27 meters of difference in height
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- Start altitude : 10 m
- End altitude : 10 m
- Maximum altitude : 14 m
- Minimum altitude : 3 m
- Total positive elevation : 27 m
- Total negative elevation : -27 m
- Max positive elevation : 7 m
- Min positive elevation : -10 m
