All at North of Vienna, a tower watches among the clouds on its rocky spur. This is the Marmande Tower, motionless sentinel of the castle of the same name. Marmande means border, like its location between three regions: the Poitou, the Touraine and Anjou.
Below the tower, the small village of Vellèches flourishes in the middle of woods and waterways, proud of the richness of its fauna and flora. regular entertainment,pond communal as well as the bakery-pastry shop, the butcher's-delicatessen and the snack bar bring joy to the 352 inhabitants.
Today, I decided to introduce Vellèches to you in three stages, thanks to meetings with three leading women from the village.
1• The Heritage stage
Marmande Castle
Mentioned as early as the year 800, this place has been through the wars and wanderings of French history.
In 1730, the Count of Argenson, Minister of War of Louis XV, bought the castle. He demolished the noble part which he transformed into a stone quarry to build his property at Les Ormes. Only the medieval part remains.
Here, it is the stones that tell the stories. In the rooms of the tower, drawings, graffiti and inscriptions allow us to understand the life of the building. This is what the current owner transmits during her visits.
Director of scientific films for Arte and France Télévision, Véronique Kleiner grew up in Lorraine. She would come on holiday to her grandparents' house, on the farm of the Château de Marmande. Her favourite activity at the time: games of hide-and-seek in the underground passages!
In 2014, Véronique became the last heir to the estate. Her first decision was to have the castle listed as a Historic Monument. Then she set about the emergency work recommended by the architect of the Bâtiments de France: removing the roof of the main tower and that of the watchtower and saving the walls.
And since 2016, the association La Tour de Marmande has been offering eclectic activities, on heritage and history but also on the environment, science, etc. The latest addition: the graffiti workshop! Indeed, Marmande has become a pilot site for the study of medieval graffiti. A first in France! Archaeologists have listed 242 inscriptions from the Middle Ages there.
Another female figure appears in the history of Marmande: Mélusine, nicknamed the builder fairy. According to medieval legend, she built the castle alone at night, like several other monuments in Poitou.
Marmande Castle
Open for visits from early July until mid-September, from Thursday to Sunday
Prices: €10/adult, free for under 18s, €8 for 18-25s
https://latourdemarmande.com/
Word from a resident
When she inherited the castle of Marmande, Veronique Kleiner decided to come and live there with his partner Didier Deleskiewicz and to base their company Picta Productions there.
His good tips in Vellèches:
- Vegetables from organic market gardener Daniel Maillet, on sale on Thursday evenings at the Achenault Fountain farm
- Cakes from the village bakery and pastry shop, The Arlettine (closed Sunday afternoon and Monday)
Wild orchids, moths… Here the fauna and flora are incredibly rich. I like to walk around the area and admire the views of the village.
2• The Terroir stage
The Manoir de la Blonerie
A bit like the fairy Mélusine, Marie-France Pasquinet has superpowers! Alone at the head of her farm, she manages the feat of juggling:
• an organic farm of 53 hectares including 2 hectares of orchard (apples and pears) and a flock of 120 sheep
• 5 guest rooms including an unusual one in a former dovecote, a gîte for 10 people with the Tourism and Handicap label and a reception room for 50 people. Green Key and GreenGo labels.
• And with a ferme-auberge, the last one in the department! In her pretty home in the 18the century with tastefully found decoration, Marie-France concocts homemade dishes, inspired by grandmothers' recipes and made with products from the farm or from local farmers. And this pleasure is not limited to guests of the rooms and gîtes. Everyone can reserve a table in the warm room with a view of the park. Black pudding with apples, lamb navarin with dried fruits, pear crumble... Simple and authentic flavors.
The table of the Manoir de la Blonnerie
By reservation all year round on Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime.
Every evening in July and August (except Wednesday)
From €25 for the aperitif + main course + dessert formula
Tel: +06 80 47 03 32 XNUMX
https://manoir-blonnerie.com/
3• The Craft stage
Pacou's Workshop
In another life, Pascale Marcelino was a professional pianist and then director of the circus school in Châtellerault. In 2017 she retrained to become a soap maker. And in 2021, the Belgian native set up Pacou's Workshop in Vellèches.
To compose its cold soaps, solid shampoos and natural creams, Pacou uses clays, dried flowers, essential oils and vegetable oils. The manufacturing is 100% artisanal, ecological and ethical. Everything we love!
The artisan regularly organizes educational visits (€3) and workshops during which the public learns how to make their own treatments and cosmetics (from €15 to €25).
Pacou’s Workshop 6 place called Marmande in Vellèches
Open Wednesday from 14:30 p.m. to 17 p.m., Thursday from 18 p.m. to 19:30 p.m., Saturday from 15:30 p.m. to 18 p.m.
Soaps from €3,15
Products also on sale at the Tourist Office shop in Châtellerault
https://www.latelierdepacou.org/
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