Nanteuil-en-Vallee

Visit Nanteuil-en-Vallee, Poitou-Charentes

Nanteuil-en-Vallee is situated east of Ruffec in the north-west of the Charente department (Poitou-Charentes region) of France.

Exploring Nanteuil-en-Vallee

Nanteuil is an attractive village to explore, with a mix of traditional houses - mostly in stone and some half-timbered - dating back at least to the 12th century. The main highlight here is the the Nanteuil Abbey and Treasury (see below).

You can also see a couple of interesting churches: the Church of Saint John the Baptist and the Church of Saint-John de Tusson, both 15th century. The church, entered through a decorative stone doorway, is a well proportioned roman style structure containing a traditional baptismal font, some 15th century stalls and various carvings.

The impressive manor house (the Manoir de Aizecq) near the church dates from the 16th century (although with substantial 19th century modifications) while the traditional village washhouse and bread oven and a small stone fountain can also be seen in Nanteuil-en-Vallée.

There is also a pretty garden to enjoy on the banks of the river Argentor, based around the water and an arboretum, and very pleasant to stroll around on a hot day.

Nanteuil Abbey and Treasury

The remains of the 12th century benedictine Abbey of Notre-Dame de Nanteuil are the main monument in the village. This abbey was built on the site of an earlier, 8th century abbey, founded here by Charlemagne.

At one time a very substantial abbey, you can now see the sturdy Treasury building with walls inset with high arches. Although the building is called the treasury, its most likely historical use, it is apparently not completely certain that its original function was to store objects of value.

Little remains of the other main abbey buildings, but there are enough ruins to clearly see part of the original layout. Certain houses in Nanteuil-en-Vallee feature surprisingly ornate decorative features - some of these were sourced from the remains of the abbey.

Note: photo of Nanteuil-en-Vallee is copyright

See Poitou-Charentes and Charente (the region and department for Nanteuil-en-Vallee) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Nanteuil-en-Vallee: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*;

Suggested places to visit near Nanteuil-en-Vallee, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Confolens 27km; Saint-Germain-de-Confolens 28km; La Rochefoucauld 29km; Angouleme 39km; Brigueuil 42km; Rochechouart 43km; Melle 44km; Marthon 44km; Torsac 49km;

Nanteuil-en-Vallee tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Parc et jardin de l’Abrègement - remarkable garden (5km) : Eglise de Saint André (Ruffec) - religious monument (10km) : Eglise de Saint Pierre (Chatain) - religious monument (11km) : Eglise de Genouillé (Genouille) - religious monument (12km) : Eglise de Saint Nicolas (Civray) - religious monument (16km) : Abbey Saint-Sauveur de Charroux - national monument (17km) : Abbaye Bénédictine (Charroux) - religious monument (17km) : Eglise de Saint Pierre (Saint-Pierre-d'Exideuil) - religious monument (17km) :

See more places and a map at places near Nanteuil-en-Vallee