La Souterraine Creuse- Pays Ouest Creuse -
La Souterraine Creuse is an attractive and popular medieval town. With 5000 inhabitants, it is the largest town in Western Creuse. Head for the market place (you can park here) and you can't miss Notre Dame Church. Construction of the church started in the eleventh century and continued for another two hundred years. It is one of the stops on the Saint Jacques de Compostella route. Over the last couple of years it has been undergoing extensive works but if it is open it is well worth a visit. The crypt, at the rear of the church, precedes the construction of the church. Ancient burial vaults and rooms dating from medieval times have been preserved here in the underground. The crypt is used for exhibitions, usually during the summer.
Heading down the hill from the church, don't miss the trompe d'oeil on the side of the building just before you pass under the Porte Saint Jean. This Porte dates from the thirteenth century and was part of the ramparts around La Souterraine. It was used as a prison until 1860. Nowadays you can visit for a much better reason - the views from the top overlooking the town are fabulous. You can borrow the key to get in from the Bar du Marche, in the corner of the market place. Continuing downhill will take you to the main shopping area. There is a good selection of local businesses offering a variety of goods and services, restaurants, cafes and hotels.
Going back up to the church and continuing uphill, you will come to the narrow backstreets of the town with many buildings dating from the thirteenth century. On the Rue du Portails is another remnant of the ramparts - the fifteenth century Porte du Puycharraud. NEW! La Cirque VALDI - a giant animated model circus. Opening times: Daily from 2pm during school holidays and throughout July and August. Rest of the year - Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2pm. Entrance fees: Adults 8€, children 4 - 11 years 5€, Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) 22€ Market days: Thursday and Saturday. Monthly markets: 12th and 27th. Tourist office near the railway station - open all year. Annual events: Jazz Festival, Medieval Weekend, Xmas market
On the outskirts of the town (follow the signs for Camping Suisse Ocean) is the Etang du Cheix - a lake with a small beach, where you can swim or fish. Swimming is supervised in July and August. If you want to try a spot of fishing, you will need a permit. These are available from the campsite, Suisse Ocean (open all year), or from the shop Chasse-Peche near the Tourist Office. There are also picnic areas and a children's playground at the lake.
In the next village after the campsite you will see Bridiers Tower, the remains of a fortified castle built in the 13th century. Open all year, the tower has recently been restored and a medieval garden laid out. It now provides a stunning backdrop for the highlight of the annual medieval weekend in La Souterraine. The Fresque Medievale brings together over 350 actors in stories from bygone days with light shows beamed onto the walls of the tower. Taking place mid-August you can choose to sample the medieval fayre or just come and watch. It is not to be missed.
Not far away is the pretty village of Noth with, unusually, a fortified church. In the centre of the village is a preserved washhouse and here are some interesting statues dotted around. Cazine Lake is nearby where there is a children's playground and walks around the lake and in the surrounding woodland. In the opposite direction from La Souterraine, near Azerables, is La Chaume Lake where there is sailing in summer, a children's playground and a bird observatory. Or just sit on the bar terrace and admire the scenery!
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