Pond Circuit

1. The old Petit Mairat station that served the town was located on this square. At the start of the walk, a plaque explains the history of the steam train that ran, from 1912, on the Angoulême-Confolens line and which transported passengers and goods. Cross the Rue du Bourg, follow the Chemin de la Cure to reach the valley, passing in front of the fully restored old presbytery.
Upon arriving in the Valley, walkers can settle on the terraces blended into nature and admire the hall, the playground, and the community orchard. Continue straight ahead.
2. Cross the field to reach the Maine Joizeau road. Follow the road to the bus shelter on the left, then take the path towards Rigalloux.
3. At Rigalloux, a 300m detour to the left can lead to the village of Tartassonne where André Thévet lived, a tobacco importer in France in the 16th century, and allows viewing his Renaissance-style family home with mullioned windows on the street named after him.
Return towards the Temple by retracing your steps. The presence, in the Middle Ages, of a Knights Templar commandery in this village gave the hamlet its name. A plaque recalls the history of this village.
At the edge of the village, at the end of the road, climb the small woodland path up to the D91 and cross it.
4. Continue on the white path and turn immediately left onto the old railway line - which once led to the Verrières station located at the bottom of the village. The small train used to refill water here thanks to a well that still exists. Turn right then immediately left. Follow the trail to the washhouse.
5. There used to be a pond covering 6,800 m2 here. This pond belonged to the Nesmond seigneury whose history is told on a plaque at the entrance to the village opposite the cemetery. After the Revolution, it was partially drained and turned into pasture. Hemp grown in the many hemp fields bordering this place was retted here. Today, only a small pond surrounded by gardens remains.
Upon reaching the Brebions road, turn left to reach the church.
6. Saint-Médard Church was built between the 11th and 12th centuries; it is one of about twenty witnesses to the beginnings of Romanesque architecture in the former Angoulême diocese. By taking the very steep bell tower passage next to the church, you can discover a panoramic view of the town and church bell tower. A plaque on the façade explains the history of this building. Three other plaques under the hall recount the history of Brie, the library, and the old tools museum.
Return to the starting point by following the primary school on the right.