River Vienne

One of the most important rivers of South West France, the River Vienne, rises in the Millevaches Plateau flowing westwards through Limoges and north to Confolens before joining the rivers Creuse and Clain in the department which bears its name.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, produce bound for the Atlantic Ocean was carried along the river in flat-bottomed barges.

There is now little commercial traffic above the confluence with the Creuse making the waterway ideal for leisure pursuits such as swimming from river beaches, canoeing and kayaking at places like the centre at Moussac-sur-Vienne.

The Outdoor Recreation Centre at Lussac-les-Chateaux (open all year) has launching places for canoes and kayaks, fishing areas accessible for the handicapped, and picnic and children’s play areas. Canoeing along the Vienne from Moussac to Gouex Poitiers is a lovely way to observe the changing countryside of this picturesque valley including the tower of Messelliere and pretty village of Queaux.

For those with more energy to spare, the river has stretches of racing water which offer opportunities for white water rafting and radelage - both requiring skill and fitness. From La Tourelle, you can take a trip on a traditional flat bottomed barge where the Vienne Boatmen Association takes you back in time on the ‘Catherine Caille’.

Tel: (00 33) 6 33 58 33 45 for more details.

River Gartempe

The River Gartempe flows from south to north towards the River Loire emptying into the River Creuse in the department of Vienne. The river’s green and fertile valley shows signs of human habitation since pre-historic times.

Caves here date from the Magdelanian period (11,000 - 17,000 years ago) when man began to have enough leisure time to make decorative art. There are also Gallo-Roman and Merovingian sites along the river. ‘The Valley of the Frescoes’ is a famous tourist route of Romanesque architecture, including churches in Saint-Germain, Antigny, Jouhet and Montmorillon and the chateaux of Bois-Morand and Pruniers.

The Gartempe Valley is ideal for Green tourism, loved by canoeists and popular with walkers. You can enjoy swimming, canoeing and kayaking at places such as Lathus-St-Remy, and the Banks of the Gartempe Outdoor Recreation Centre at Nalliers is a great place to fish, stroll by the river, picnic or enjoy a game of boules.

River Anglin

The little River Anglin flows south of the Brenne Regional Natural Park joining the River Gartempe near the picturesque floral village of Angles-sur-l’Anglin. Like the Gartempe, it is popular for canoeing and white-water rafting. Water levels on the river can vary surprisingly in spring and autumn. Tel: (00 33) 2 54 37 77 99 for details of canoe hire at Anglin and discovery boat trips from Merigny in neighbouring Indre to Angles-sur-l’Anglin.

As in the Gartempe Valley, there are Magdalanian caves on the banks of the Anglin showing artistic evidence of pre-historic man. Visit the new interpretation centre at Angles-sur-l’Anglin to find out more about archaeological research and see a replica of the Magdalanian sculpture found there in 1950.

Mouliere Forest

The 4,000 hectare Mouliere Forest between the Vienne and Clain rivers is a place of ancient oak trees and a wonderful variety of fauna and flora.

You can see birds, stags and the occasional wild boar along with carnivorous aquatic plants, orchids and gentians in the Pinail Nature Reserve - an area including thousands of ponds made by former millstone quarrying - on the edge of the forest which is open to the public all year. Tel: (00 33) 5 49 02 33 47.

 Find details of walking, horse riding and cycle trails in Mouliere Forest at the visitor centre which also has refreshments and exhibitions.