The Rochechouart-Chassenon astrobleme was formed by the impact of a meteorite approximately 210 million years ago. Impactite stones were used in the construction of the Château de Rochechouart. The château preserves architectural elements from the 13th and 15th centuries, including the keep and a Renaissance gallery. It stands on a rocky promontory overlooking the valleys of the Graine and the Vayres.
Culture and History
The Église Saint-Sauveur is an exceptional example of 11th-century Romanesque art and features a distinctive spiral-shaped steeple roof dating from 1767 to 1774.
The Église Saint-Julien is a former monastery church built in the 11th century by monks from Charroux Abbey in Poitou; it preserves a large part of its original fabric.
The Musée d’Art Contemporain in Rochechouart houses more than 300 works of contemporary art. The Musée départemental d’art contemporain de Rochechouart is permanently open to the public.
Nature and Trails
The Réserve Naturelle de l’astroblème Rochechouart-Chassenon extends across five municipalities in the Haute-Vienne and Charente departments. It is currently the only known astrobleme in France and the fifth-largest impact structure in Europe.
The Sentier d’interprétation de l’astroblème is a 2 km circular route around the Château de Rochechouart and through the town, with five stations explaining the meteorite event.
The Circuit de la météorite connects Babaudus, the lake and the centre of Rochechouart, offering numerous panoramic views along the way.
The Plan d’eau de Boischenu offers a walking path, a picnic table and play equipment for children.
Local Life and Discoveries
The Espace Météorite Paul Pellas is a permanent exhibition on impactism that is open all year round. The Rochechouart market takes place every Friday and Saturday morning and offers fruit, vegetables and regional products.
The “L’Astroquête” geocache takes visitors through Rochechouart’s historic centre.
Tèrra Aventura: L’astroquête leads from the Romanesque church with its twisted steeple roof to the 13th-century Château de Rochechouart, combining contemporary art with the Middle Ages along the way.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Rochechouart can choose this type of accommodation for their stay.
Other places: Bellac, Saint-Amand-Le-Petit, Pensol, Lussac-Les-Églises, Rouffignac, Saint-Hilaire-la-Treille, Lavignac, Saint-Sornin-Leulac
