Find here soon all the cultural points around today's stage.
In the meantime,you can return to the stage page to discover all the tourism information about the start and arrival cities of the stage!
Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region
Departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Corrèze, Creuse, Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, Haute-Vienne.
Population: 5.9 million
Prefecture: Bordeaux
Surface area: 2,011 km2
Specialities: Bordeaux wines, Cognac, Armagnac, Espelette chilli pepper, Périgord walnuts, Marmande tomatoes, oysters from the Arcachon basin, Salers meat, blond cow from Aquitaine, Bayonne ham, Pauillac lamb, Bordeaux canelés. Goose, duck, Sarlat potatoes, poulet in Basque sauce, garbure, lamprey. Black truffles.
Sports clubs: Girondins de Bordeaux (football), Stade montois, Union sportive dacquoise, Aviron bayonnais, Union Bordeaux Bègles Atlantique, Stade rochelais, CA Brive Corrèze Limousin, Section paloise, Biarritz olympique, SU Agen (rugby), Elan Béarnais Pau-Orthez, CSP Limoges (basketball).
Competitions: Tour de France, surfing at Lacanau (Lacanau Pro) and Biarritz. Tour du Limousin.
Festivals: Bayonne festival, Dax festival, Madeleine festival in Mont-de-Marsan, Francofolies festival in La Rochelle, Angoulême comic book festival, Brive book fair, Nuits de Nacre in Tulle, Grand Pavois in La Rochelle, Garorock in Marmande, Cognac crime film festival.
Economy: Bordeaux, Cognac and Armagnac wines, aerospace industry, biotechnologies, chemicals, scientific research. Image and digital industry. Food industry. Port of Bordeaux. Tourism. Universities.
Tourist attractions: Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, La Rochelle, Biarritz, Bassin d'Arcachon, Dune du Pilat, Lascaux caves, Futuroscope Poitiers, Lacanau beaches, Biarritz, Biscarosse, Hourtin, Carcans, Soulac-sur-Mer, mouth of the Gironde, Bordeaux vineyards, Dordogne châteaux, Pau châteaux, Pyrenees, Ile d'Oléron, Ile de Ré.
Websites and social networks: www.nouvelle-aquitaine.fr
VIENNE (86)
Population: 431,248
Prefecture: Poitiers
Sub-prefectures: Châtellerault / Montmorillon
Surface area: 6,990 km²
Specialities: Broyé du Poitou, Haut-Poitou melon, black truffle, farci poitevin, Montmorillon macaroons, snails, tourteau fromager (cake), Haut-Poitou wine (AOC)
Sports clubs: Poitou Charentes Futuroscope 86 (women's cycling team), Stade Poitevin Volley Beach (league A), Poitiers Basket 86 (Pro B), TTACC table tennis (Pro A), Motoball Neuville-de-Poitou (1st division), Stade Poitevin Féminin Triathlon (1st division)
Competitions: Poitiers-Futuroscope Marathon, Vienne International Women's Tennis Tournament, Poitou-Charentes Cycling Tour, Poitiers National Athletics Meeting, French Hot Air Balloon Championships.
Festivals: Les Heures Vagabondes (free concerts), Soirées Lyriques de Sanxay, Au Fil du Son Festival, Mr Haydn Holidays, Polychromies in Notre Dame la Grande, Gamers Assembly, Jazzellerault.
Economy: Tourism (Futuroscope, Vallée des Singes, La Roche-Posay thermal spa, Center Parcs, etc.), aeronautics, automotive subcontracting, viticulture/agriculture, food industry.
Notable sites: Saint Savin Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Websites / FB / Twitter: https//www.lavienne86.fr / @departement86 / @ATV86 / https//www.facebook.com/departement86 / https//www.facebook.com/tourismevienne.melusine86 / https//www.dailymotion.com/departement86
Km 2.8
Dissay (see stage 4)
Km 8.3
Saint-Georges-lès-Baillargeaux (see stage 4)
Km 23.8
Bonnes (Pop : 1,690)
Bonnes has two major châteaux, Château de Touffou, owned by advertising executive David Ogilvy until 1999, and Château de Loubressay, listed as a historic monument in 1993.
Touffou Castle
Construction: 12th and 15th centuries.
Style: Medieval and Renaissance.
History: the castle occupies a dominant position on a terrace on the left bank of the Vienne. The first Romanesque keep dates from the 12th century. The residential keep was extended in the 15th century, at the same time as the round towers were built. Visitors will still be able to contemplate the defensive quadrilateral layout. The castle's Renaissance-style dwelling and fittings are the work of Jean III Chasteigner de la Roche-Posay, chamberlain to François I, and his wife Claude de Montléon, lady of Touffou. The Chasteigner family owned the château until 1821, when it was bought by the de Vergie family, who occupied it until 1966 and continued the tradition of hunting with hounds. During the Second World War, Bonnes, which had already been taking in refugees from Moselle since September 1939, was also forced to house 200 German soldiers, who were billeted at Château de Touffou.
Trivia : Château de Touffou was bought in 1966 by British advertising executive David Ogilvy (1991-1999), head of the world's largest advertising group, who died there in 1999. It is still owned by his family, who give weekend tours from April to September.
Listed as : Historic Monument in 1923 and 1994. Remarkable Gardens.
Km 29.3
Chauvigny (Pop: 7,040)
A town of art and a member of the Most Beautiful Detours in France, its five châteaux situated on the same promontory overlooking the Vienne make it a unique site in Europe. As you stroll through the upper town, you'll discover its charming little streets and beautiful buildings that bear witness to centuries gone by. These include the 12th-century Romanesque collegiate church with its splendid carved capitals, and the five fortified castles: the baronial castle, the Harcourt castle, the Gouzon keep, the Flins tower and the Montléon castle. Near the collegiate church of Saint-Pierre is the Museum of Popular Traditions and Archaeology, which houses a collection of archaeological finds, a reconstruction of a Poitevin interior and an exhibition of old objects, headdresses and clothes. The Industrial Archaeology Space, housed in the Gouzon dungeon, is a museum dedicated to the history of the industrial heritage of the Chauvigny region. From the top of the keep, there is a magnificent panoramic view over the roofs of the medieval town and the surrounding countryside. In 1992, Chauvigny was the finish line for a stage of the women’s Tour that started in Tours and was won by Leontien van Moorsel. The town has also frequently hosted stages of the Tour du Poitou-Charentes and the Tour de la Vienne, as well as two stages of the Tour de l'Avenir.
Baronial castle
Construction: 11th and 15th centuries.
Style: medieval.
History: the baronial castle or bishop castle was built in the 11th century by the bishops of Poitiers, then lords of Chauvigny. From 1397, Ithier de Marreuil, Bishop of Poitiers between 1394 and 1405, added a second keep to his castle.
Characteristics: this complex building is 80-m long and 50-m wide. It was frequently damaged and altered. By the end of the 17th century, it had almost been abandoned. You can see the first wall with the original 11th-century entrance, a powerful 12th-century keep, the ruins of the new castle dating from the 1400s, of which an impressive section of wall showing two storeys of flats remains, and the chapel of Saint-Michel with its chapter house above. The castle's current state of ruin is the result of its sale as national property during the French Revolution.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1840.
Harcourt Castle
Construction: 13th to 15th centuries.
Style: medieval.
History: built between the 13th and 15th centuries, it is the best preserved of the Chauvigny castles. In the 13th century, one of the members of the illustrious Norman Harcourt family married the Viscountess of Châtellerault, who owned the fiefdom. It remained in the possession of this family for two centuries before becoming the property of the bishops of Poitiers in 1447.
Characteristics: the enclosure is roughly rectangular. It consists of high curtain walls, once crenelated, flanked by solid cylindrical turrets. It measures 38 m by 25 m and dates from the 13th century. The entrance is defended by a châtelet with a knocker and portcullis. There is no drawbridge. The rectangular keep with its flat buttresses was refurbished in the 14th century. On the ground floor, there is a vaulted prison, still in use in the 19th century, whose external span allows it to block the dungeon when open. Adjacent to the keep, the much-remodelled dwelling now houses exhibition rooms.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1840.
Gouzon keep
Construction: 12th and 12th centuries.
Style: medieval.
History and characteristics: the keep is a vestige of Gouzon castle. A first, neat building with rectangular buttresses from the 12th century was raised and extended westwards in the 13th century. The work was of mediocre quality. The upper part of the keep, with a rare type of archway with offset crossbars, dates from the 14th century. To the east, a destroyed dwelling adjoins the rue Saint-Pierre. The towers, doors and fireplaces are still visible. The castle first belonged to the de Beaumont family from Poitou, then to the de Gouzon family, , originally from the Bourbonnais region. The bishop of Poitiers, Fort d'Aux, acquired the castle in the 14th century.
Today, it houses a museum, the Industrial Archaeology Space, which opened in 1991. The purpose of this museum is to showcase and present the industries of the Chauvigny region.
Listed as: historic monument in 1889.
Collegiate church of Saint-Pierre
Construction: 12th, 12th and 19th centuries.
Style: Romanesque.
History: its origins are not well known. The existence of a chapter of 10 canons is attested in the first quarter of the 11th century. There was therefore a first building at this time, some of whose sculpted stones are used in the chevet of the current church. Saint-Pierre church was built in the first half of the 12th century, starting with the choir. The bell tower was built in the early 13th century. It was the seat of an archpriesthood under the Ancien Régime. Abandoned during the Revolution, it was returned to worship in 1804. Saint-Pierre was then the seat of the deanery until the early 20th century. It was then transferred to Notre-Dame church in the lower town. Severely damaged during the Wars of Religion (in 1569) and the Fronde (in 1652), and deprived of maintenance during the Revolutionary period, the building underwent several restoration campaigns in the 19th century and thereafter. The polychrome decoration of the interior dates from 1856.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1846.
Km 49.5
Jouhet (Pop: 510)
Near the church is a former 15th century funeral chapel, listed as a Historic Monument in 1908. It contains 16th century paintings. Above the altar, Christ in majesty is surrounded by angels and the symbols of the evangelists. On the right-hand wall, paintings depict Christ's childhood, the resurrection of the dead and the adoration of the Magi. The left wall features a mural depicting three young gentlemen being called to a cemetery by three dead men, who remind them of the brevity of life and the importance of saving the soul. This wall is also decorated with a representation of the creation of Adam and Eve. On either side of the door, the donors, Jean de Moussy and his wife have been painted.
Km 60.7
Journet (Pop: 370)
Villesalem Priory
Built in the 12th century.
Order: Fontevrault.
History: the Romanesque priory of Villesalem (12th century) belonged to Fontevrault Abbey. During the French Revolution, the priory was declared national property and sold to a wealthy owner. He used the church as a stable and storage area for half a century. After becoming the owner in 1962, the State restored the church and convent building, while the Friends of Villesalem association brought the place to life with concerts.
Characteristics: the abbey church of Notre-Dame de la Paix was built between 1130 and 1140, using irregular medium-grained limestone, tinted tawny in places. It has a layout that is very common in the Poitou region: a triple nave with a Latin cross floor plan and a chevet consisting of a raised apse and two apsidioles. The transept crossing is enhanced by the stump of a bell tower that no longer exists.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1914 and again in 1995.
Km 80.4
Coulonges
The village boasts an attractive 13th-century fortified castle, Château du Pin, which was listed as a Historic Monument in 2002. The dwelling, flanked on the front by two round towers, stands at the end of a rectangular courtyard bordered by outbuildings set against the enclosing wall. A square tower at the rear of the dwelling is dated 1405. It is privately owned.
HAUTE-VIENNE (87)
Population: 374,426
Prefecture: Limoges
Sub-prefectures: Bellac and Rochechouart
Surface area: 5,520.1 km²
Specialities: Limousin cattle (veal reared in the mother's womb), Cul Noir pork, Baronet lamb, madeleines, marzipan (almond paste biscuits made since the 19th century), burgou (traditional chestnut cake), feuillardier (chestnut liqueur).
Sports clubs: Limoges CSP (basketball), USAL (rugby), Limoges Handball 87, Limoges Football Club, ROC ASSJ HB87
Competitions: Tour du Limousin (cycling), Course nature des gendarmes et des voleurs de temps (trail), Randonnez-vous en Haute-Vienne (walking in Haute-Vienne)
Festivals : Culture au grand jour ; La Route du Sirque ; Graines de Rues ; Urbaka ; Les Bandafolie's ; 1001 notes ; Bellac National Festival; Haut-Limousin Festival; Nuits musicales de Cieux ; Rochechouart Maze of Voices; Saint-Yrieix Music Festival; Cuivres en fêtes ; Mont-Gargan Festival; Paroles de conteurs ; Francophonies en Limousin ;Saint-Just-le-Martel Carcature and Press Cartoon International Festival; Biennale Danse émoi ; Eclats d'émail Economy: agriculture (cattle and sheep farming), porcelain industry, European ceramics cluster, Elopsys high-tech competitiveness cluster, wood and paper industry, skills such as enamelling, leather, "Made in France" clothing (Smuggler, Weston, Broussaud, Parallèle), electricity and home automation (Legrand).
Websites / FB / Twitter: https://www.haute-vienne.fr / https://www.chalucet.com / https://www.facebook.com/departementhautevienne / https://www.youtube.com/user/conseilgeneral87/videos / http://www.dailymotion.com/user/conseilgeneral87/1/ https://plus.google.com/+D%C3%A9partementHauteVienne
Km 90.1
Jouac (Pop: 190)
The Bernardan uranium mine was located in this commune. It opened in 1977 and closed in 2001 due to insufficient profitability. It was the last uranium mine in France.
Km 98.1
Saint-Sulpice-les-Feuilles (Pop; 1,200)
A professional from 1927 to 1932, Louis-André Schaffner, a child of the village, took part in the 1927 Tour de France, where he was a team-mate of the Pélissier brothers.
CREUSE
Population: 115,702
Prefecture: Guéret.
Sub-prefecture: Aubusson.
Surface area: 5,565km2
Specialities: flognarde (clafoutis), gâteau creusois, pâté de pomme de terre, fondu creusois.
Major sports clubs: Rugby club guéretois, ES Guéret (football), Aubusson basket club.
Major competitions: Trail du Loup Blanc, Mornay Festival, Critérium cycliste de Dun-le-Palestel, 10 heures de Vassivière (paddle)
Tourist attractions: Lac de Vassivière. Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson, château de Jouillat, château de Boussac, château de Crozant, Gargilesse, Evau-les-Bains (spa), giant labyrinth in Guéret.
Economy: agriculture (livestock), forestry, crafts (Aubusson tapestry). Green tourism.
Websites and social networks: www.creuse.fr, www.tourisme-creuse.com
Km 106.2
Vareilles (Pop: 320)
Montlebeau castle
Built in the 15th century.
History: this fief was first mentioned in 1497, its first owner being a Sieur de la Marche. The dwelling was probably built in the second half of the 15th century. A confession of 1526 describes the dwelling with a courtyard, a chapel (in ruins in 1674), an oven and various outbuildings, all surrounded by a small wall. There were farms near the castle. The castle has not been inhabited since the French Revolution. Around 1890, the owner, Hippolyte Sigaud, converted it into a hunting lodge by repairing the roofs on the south side and the stair tower. After being abandoned, the château was restored by its current owner.
Characteristics: this manor house had a pond, which has now been filled in. The layout is that of a classic Marchois castle, with two rooms on each level, two corner towers and a spiral staircase tower dividing the main facade into two. It is one of the few remaining noble residences of the vassals of the Viscounty of Bridiers.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 2003.
Km 115.8
Saint-Germain-Beaupré (Pop: 360)
The castle was devastated in 1580 by the Catholics of Marshal d'Aumont. The Poitevin Protestants were led by Gaspard Foucault, Lord of Saint-Germain-Beaupré, who pillaged the abbey of Grandmont. In 1605, Henry IV stopped off at Saint-Germain castle on his way back from Limoges, and in 1666, Mademoiselle de Montpensier, the Grande Mademoiselle, also visited. The seigneury was made a marquisate in 1645. The Foucault de Saint-Germain-Beaupré family were governors of La Marche from 1585 to 1752. The village is a stopover for pilgrims on the Via Lemovicensis pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.
Château de Saint-Germain-Beaupré
Construction: 16th and 17th centuries.
Style: Renaissance.
History: the château was built in the 16th century on the site of a 12th-century fortress for Gabriel Foucault, Lord of Saint-Germain-Beaupré. On the night of 24-25 October 1605, Henri IV, accompanied by 60 guests, spent the night at the château. In 1652, the Grande Mademoiselle, daughter of Gaston d'Orléans, was exiled to Saint-Germain-Beaupré by royal order. In 1768, Anne-Françoise Foucault de Saint-Germain-Beaupré sold the château to Anne-Nicolas Doublet, Master of Requests, who sold it just before 1789 to Jean-Baptiste Martin-Ducouret, whose family kept it until 1840. A succession of wealthy owners completed the restoration of the château. It now belongs to an American owner.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1946.
Km 126.8
Dun-le-Palestel (pop. 1,100)
Near Dun-le-Palestel, there are medieval ruins (which can be visited in Crozant), the artists' village of Fresselines featuring the confluence of the two Creuses, a site painted by Claude Monet among others. In 2022, the village hosted a stage of the Paris-Nice race, won by Mads Pedersen.