Ranton stretches along a hillside above the Dive valley. The ground is riddled with numerous galleries. These are former tuff quarries that served as cave dwellings for a long time.
Those choosing Ranton as a travel destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
Culture and History
The Château de Ranton played an important role during the Hundred Years’ War. Its towers and fortification walls are remnants of the fortifications begun around 1340 by Guillaume de Gourmont. The privately owned château is surrounded by dry moats and has eight towers connected by a curtain wall, as well as two tall towers flanking the entrance gate, with machicolations.
A former parish chapel is located near the municipal cemetery, 800 metres west of the village. Two washhouses outside the village bear witness to the work of women over many years.
The canal flowing through the Dive valley was opened to navigation in 1834. In the past, it transported local wine, grain and peat via the Thouet to the Loire.
Sacred Sites
The present-day Marian shrine replaced an earlier Marian pilgrimage site in 1871 and remains a pilgrimage destination known throughout the Loudunais region.
The Chapelle Saint-Martin is a noteworthy architectural monument in Ranton. The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pitié is also a noteworthy architectural monument in Ranton.
Trails
The Sentier de la Reine Blanche is an 18.5-kilometre circular walking route with a stated duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes. It passes through lanes cut into tuff, vineyards, cave dwellings, châteaux and chapels, as well as along the Canal de la Dive.
The Chemin de Ligugé: Saint-Martin is a 170-kilometre trail between Ligugé and Candes-Saint-Martin, with a loop extending to Ranton. The trail bears the “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” designation.
