The Village and Surroundings

The Village

The village of Marillac Le Franc is a peaceful community but with much to recommend it. It has the commune Marie, Xana Saveurs bar and restaurant recently modernised, a primary school, a 12^th century Romanesque church, a salle de fete used by the many local clubs and for commune events. It also has a stade for football and other sports as well as tennis courts and club.

In the summer the committee de fete organises activites including the popular fortnightly pannier partege on Wednesday evenings . Here you can take along your food and wine, or buy from local suppliers and enjoy the evenings cooked dish, sharing what you bring with friends and other villagers if you choose to do so.

There is an annual fair and bric a brac as well as other events throughout the year. The bar is open most lunches and evenings but closed on Mondays, with a lunch time prix fixe menu and a la carte meals should you want one.

There are many walks through the countryside and surrounding woods and along the bye ways which are also good for cycling. You can cycle the few kilometres to La Rochefoucauld along a flat mostly shaded bye way following the Ligonne the stream that has its source above Marillac and flows down to join the Tardoire. Although the village is peaceful its proximity to La Rochefoucauld means you have a major supermarket, butchers, bakers, bars and restaurants, sports facilities and much more within minutes.

The whole area is steeped in man’s early history with many prehistoric cave dwellings. In the village itself an archaeological dig took place, where an old course of the Ligonne formed a cave, uncovering the secrets of a Neanderthal hunting camp commemorated by the statue of Marillac Man and fountain in the church square.

SURROUNDINGS

La Rochefoucauld

With its glorious chateau and the river Tardoire flowing through it La Rochefoucauld provides the local shops, restaurants and entertainment. With two large supermarkets, bakers, butchers, wine cave, chocolatiers, pharmacies, large diy and garden centre, and a Saturday produce market and large monthly rmarket as well as numerous other shops La Rochefoucauld provides most of your daily needs. Other civic amenities include the medical centre, school, swimming pool and the town hall. The Convent du Carmes hosts musical events throughout the summer and has a year round program of other activities. In the ancient Halle des Graines the cinema and exhibition space is located. In addition the modern Espace Tardoire hosts other events, shows and local activities. There are numerous clubs and associations.

For all other shopping needs there is the department capital Angouleme with its wall art and ramparts, museums and other historic buildings just 24 kilometres and fewer minutes away along a dual carriageway.

Around Marillac

St Sornin provides us with a wine co-operative selling wine by the box and bottle or you can take your own container to fill up en vrac. It also has a some excellent independent growers whose wines are more than good enough to be listed in the local gourmet restaurants. In nearby Vilhonneur with its prehistoric caves and stone mill a lovely cool picnic spot down by the river is a favourite for hot summer days.

Nearby Montbron is full of history and more restaurants and boasts the tastiest ice cream and sorbets in the area. Every year it holds a night market in August which attracts people from miles around. The river Tardoire flows through Montbron and you can take full advantage of it at the Maison du Canoe and paddle your way along the river navigating the weirs through canoe shutes. A favourite is to combine a night canoe with the night market.

To the south past Montbron is the Dordogne department, the nearest town is Piegut Pluviers with the biggest local market on Wednesdays, and it is big! On the way you’ll pass a swimming lake at St Estephe with a circular walk to enjoy.

To the west of Marillac the Lacs du Haut Charente provide popular swimming beaches, life guarded in the summer season, and pleasant grassy areas, a Base Nautic for sailing and windsurfing and other water activities as well as restaurant and bars. Further on lies the city of Limoges with its many attractions.

To the east of Marillac lies Angouleme and past this the road leads to Cognac or Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast and is mostly dual carriageway or motorway. You can be in the bay of Arcachon or south of here on the long sandy beaches in about 2 hours.

For sporting activities besides the tennis club and football stade in the village there is a 18 golf course in nearby Rouzede, sailing on the Lacs, canoeing on the Tardoire and Vienne with white water sections, rock climbing, cycling including mountain biking, many walking clubs for all standards, a local shooting club , a bouleodrome for the classic French game and many clubs and associations to join and meet people through.

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