Senillé: Holiday apartments and houses

Les Pieds Grimaud, also known as caves de la Feue, are former underground quarries in Senillé. They were created in limestone (tuffeau) in the 19th century, repurposed as mushroom farms until the 1950s, and subsequently abandoned. The network of tunnels covers around 1,800 m and extends over approximately 4 ha.

Nature

The Carrières des Pieds Grimaud are a regionally significant wintering site for bats. Every winter, almost 800 animals take refuge there; based on the number of individuals, the site ranks fourth in the region. A total of 11 of the 22 species occurring in the Poitou-Charentes region have been observed there. The ZNIEFF “Carrière des pieds Grimaud” is located within the municipality near the town centre. Access to the cave and the nearby hunting grounds are to be preserved.

Culture

The Église Saint-André de Senillé is first mentioned in an 11th-century cartulary under the dedication to Saint Aubin. Its original structure comprised a Romanesque nave and a flat-ended choir dating from the 12th century. The reredos altar in the third arcade dates from 1767 and is made of painted and gilded wood.

In the vicinity of Senillé is the Artothèque de Grand Châtellerault Maison Descartes École d'Arts Plastiques – Centre d'art contemporain museum. The Commanderie templière church is also located nearby. Further afield in the region are the historic Abbaye de l'Étoile site and Chateau de Mondion castle.

Things to do

Place Vaudreching has play equipment for children aged 3 to 6 and three fitness machines for adults. The square also has two boules courts and benches. An accessible path connects Rue de Vaudreching on the cemetery side with the church square on Rue du Berry, enabling pedestrians and people with reduced mobility to cross the town centre safely.

The Circuit des Forts starts on Rue du Berry at the car park on Place Palousier, not far from the church. Along the Circuit des Forts, there is an opportunity to visit some local producers. Every year, on the last weekend in August, the “Sport Détente” association organises the Rando VTT des 7 Bosses.

Those choosing Senillé as their place to stay can include renting a holiday apartment in their travel plans.

Further afield in the region around Senillé are the Gyrotour viewpoint, Parc de Boussay park and Mont Saint-Savin hill.

More local pages: Chaunay, Sillars, Saint-Savin, Naintré, La Puye, Sérigny, Saix, Couhé

To the higher-level travel overview: Vienne.