Aulnay: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Culture

Only the keep tower remains of the former château of the Lords of Aulnay. The surviving keep tower is partially protected as a historic monument. Today, the tower houses a permanent exhibition about the Roman military camp of Aulnay.

The Église Saint-Pierre d’Aulnay was built in the 12th century. The Celtic-inspired temple in Aulnay dates from the 1st century BC; Le Temple Celtique is considered one of the most important temples in Roman Aquitaine. The Gallo-Roman sanctuary in Aulnay was prepared for visits in 2013. A wooden walkway allows visitors to explore an archaeological site in Aulnay that remains underground for preservation reasons.

Renting a holiday apartment in Aulnay is an independent accommodation option.

History

The Église Saint-Pierre d’Aulnay is listed as part of the French Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It lies on the Via Turonensis between Melle and Saint-Jean-d’Angély. The Hosanna cross in the churchyard dates from the 14th century and has been listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 1926.

Le Colombier is a dovecote dating from the 15th or 16th century and belonging to the municipality. A recent restoration has preserved a large part of Le Colombier. The Jardin Médiéval contains vegetable and medicinal plants.

Local Life

At Aulnay market, oysters can be opened and enjoyed on the terraces of the local cafés. Local traders offer, among other things, fruit, vegetables, organic bread, cold meats, cheese, fish, meat and seasonal flowers. Leatherworking has been part of Aulnay’s traditional craftsmanship for many years.

Les Voix d’Aulnay features summer evenings of a cappella singing inside the Église Saint-Pierre.

Getting Around

Aulnay can be reached via the A10 motorway, using exits 33 or 34, as well as via the RN 150 and the D 950. There is a pilgrims’ station for walkers in the centre of Aulnay. Tèrra Aventura offers a geocaching walk of several kilometres in Aulnay. The Tèrra Aventura circuit leads via riddles at picturesque locations to Aulnay’s local heritage and anecdotes.

More local pages: Clion, Saint-Hilaire-De-Villefranche, Foulerot, Contré, Chassiron, Arces-Sur-Gironde, Grand-Village-Plage, Pessines

To the main travel overview: Charente-Maritime.