Poitou Charentes History
Le Grand Saule Bed and Breakfast Accommodation can be found in Moncontour which is in the northern tip of the Vienne on the border with Deux Sevres, in the Poitou Charentes region of France.
Poitou Charentes is a region in central west France and is made up of its four departments of Vienne, Deux Sevres, Charente and Charente Maritime. It has a population of nearly 2 million people, with Charente Maritime being the largest. The regional capital of Poitou Charentes is Poitiers, but La Rochelle is economically just as important.
The residents of Poitou Charentes are known as Picto-Charentais and a minority of natives of the region speak the regional languages of Poitevin, Limousin and Saintongeais. It is the populace from this region that in history populated part of North America in particular New Brunswick and Louisiana. Even today the twang of the Cajun dialect can still be heard in certain areas.
The Pictavi, a Gallic tribe were the regions first known inhabitants, who were later conquered by the Romans in 56 BC. The Visigoths conquered the area in 418 AD, however this was short lived and the Franks became the rulers by 507 AD. The early 8th century was a turning point for both the region and for the Christian empire - when Charles Martel halted the Muslim invasion of Western Europe. The Battle of Poitiers which took place between Poitiers and Tours will no doubt have spilt over into the surrounding area of Moncontour.
The region continued to be the centre of rebellion, insurrection and revolt during the centuries that followed. Battles, skirmishes, pillaging and terrible atrocities will have taken place around the villages and war weary soldiers as well as the gargantuan generals and their rustic royals will all have put in an appearance from time to time. Battles between French, and English; Catholics and Huguenots; French and French (during the revolution); and latterly French and German have all taken place in the region. In the town of Thouars can be found the Resistance museum and around this region and leading upto Saumur and Chinon can be found many plaques relating to those who lost their lives in the second World War.
Le Grand Saule Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in Vienne is ideally suited for touring the area which has many museums and geological /nature sites. During the wars of religion 1569 over 20,000 soldiers lost their lives on the plains around Moncontour and close to Le Grand Saule Bed and Breakfast Accommodation.
More information will continue to be gathered and relayed to this site on a regular basis including information on the towns visited so far on this site. So watch this space as they say......
Anji and Keith Weston
Le Grand Saule Chambre d'Hote / Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Moncontour, Vienne
Poitou charentes.
