Bonnat: Discover history and nature

For your trip to Bonnat, you might consider whether you’d like to focus on local history, a walk, or activities by the water. The town combines historic buildings and archaeological sites with trails and opportunities for outdoor activities. The following topics can help you plan.

Historic buildings and archaeological sites

The Château de Beauvais is privately owned, cannot be visited, and is visible from the outside. So do not plan an interior visit. The archaeological finds at Place des Arbres tell of several periods: these include remains from the High Roman Empire, some of which may date from around 30 BC to 20 AD, as well as numerous burials from the Middle Ages and the modern era. Excavations there also indicated the existence of an earlier Notre-Dame church, which was destroyed in the 19th century.

The Church of Saint-Sylvain was fortified in the 15th century by the addition of curtain walls and machicolations, with four small corner turrets. These features make the fortifications a distinctive aspect of the building. Le Pont à la Chatte is also part of Bonnat’s historic heritage: a wooden bridge was built there in the Middle Ages to cross the Petite Creuse. The village of Râteau played an important role during the French Resistance.

Another building with a history of its own is the Fontaine Saint-Sylvain. It is housed in a small stone monument built around the 1870s. Inside the monument are a statue of Saint Sylvain and a statue of the Virgin Mary. The restored Lavoir de la Planche washhouse is visible from the road. It was restored through an employment integration initiative by the Développement du Pays Bonnat-Châtelus association.

Walking and cycling

If you’d like to plan a specific walking route, the Le Pont à la Chatte circular route is a good option: it starts in Bonnat, is 5.5 kilometres long, and is rated easy. The walk takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. GPX and KML files are available for transfer to GPS devices or other navigation devices. Route details may change; check them before setting out.

There is also a dedicated option for mountain biking: marked mountain bike circuits run through the municipality of Bonnat. Walking and mountain biking are therefore two different ways to explore the surrounding area while keeping active. The municipality’s natural setting includes protected areas with forests, rivers, streams and trails, as well as diverse landscapes.

The Petite Creuse and streams

Bonnat’s proximity to the Petite Creuse and its numerous streams makes fishing and swimming possible. If you plan to swim, check local conditions and safety. This way, water activities remain dependent on the situation at the time, while fishing and swimming can be considered as two distinct interests when planning your trip.

For the overview of the wider region: Creuse.