Attractions and Places To See around Rouillac - Top 16

HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF HINE In 1791, Thomas Hine (1775-1822), then aged 16, left his native land on the south coast of England to go to France… in the middle of the French Revolution. He went to Jarnac, Charente, where he was hired as a clerk in the Ranson et Delamain trading house, which produced his father’s favourite cognac. James Delamain (1738-1800), a Huguenot who had emigrated from Ireland, founded the trading house in 1763 with his father-in-law Jean-Isaac Ranson. On 3 October 1797 (13 Brumaire Year VI), Thomas Hine married Françoise Élisabeth Delamain, daughter of James Delamain and Marie Ranson. In 1817, the Ranson et Delamain house was liquidated, the heirs having been unable to agree on the succession. The eponymous son-in-law founded Thomas Hine & Co, and his cousins Paul Roullet and Henri Delamain (James' grandson) founded the Maison Roullet et Delamain seven years later, which would become Delamain et Cie. The links between the two Protestant Jarnac families remained close, and Thomas Hine's great-granddaughter, Adrienne Hine (1850-1922) married Philippe Delamain (1847-1902) - they had sons Jacques and Robert Delamain. Today, as in Thomas Hine's time, the Hine establishments line the banks of the Charente in Jarnac. The logo is inspired by Hine's speaking arms, hind meaning doe in Old English. He is lying down, his head turned backwards, symbolically looking towards England2. In 1962, Hine was granted the Royal Warrant of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and became the official supplier of cognac to the Court of England. In 1987, the company was bought by Moët Hennessy. In 2003, it became the property of the CL Financial group, which emerged from the Angostura group. The House was bought in 2013 by the Edv company. TYPOLOGY OF HINE EAUX DE VIE The House of HINE is located on the banks of the Charente, in the heart of the Cognac region. In the cellars, which ensure the protection of the precious vintages under seal, little has changed in more than 260 years. From the neighboring quays once began the journey of HINE cognacs around the world. This house is one of the oldest in Jarnac. Cognacs exclusively from the Grande and Petite Champagne vintages, a distillation with the lees, and an aging in fine grains with a light to moderate heating. Here, every manufacturing detail will be revealed to you. > To find out more: - https://hine.com/fr - Address: 16 quai Orangerie 16200 Jarnac - 05 45 35 59 59 - Visits, Tasting and Purchases possible - Opening periods: From 01/04 to 31/12 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Excluding public holidays. Full price: from €20. Free for children under 18. (Subject to change)

The Charente in this sector is lined with many castles, the area is rich thanks to the production of Cognac and Pineau.

Castle with a fairly compact architecture, rich in details and various corbels that seem to come out of a Walt Disney story. It doesn't look very well maintained, what a pity!

Abbey of Saint-Étienne de Bassac, (Sancti Stephani de Bassaco vel Bassacensis, Bassacum): Monks of the order of Saint-Benoît, united in 1666 to the Congregation of Saint-Maur. It was founded at the beginning of the 11th century by one of the Princes of Angoulême, called Guadardus de Lorichis, in honor of St-Etienne, the first martyr, according to what is reported in the acts of the life of Grimourd (bishop of 'Angoulême), but in the history of Angoulême it is said that it was founded by Wardrard de Jarnac, and his wife Rixende. Be that as it may, the church and the regular places having been destroyed by the heretics, the Benedictines of the congregation of St Maur who were introduced there, restored everything, and had a beautiful church built. The Abbot has the collation of a few simple priories, and the appointment to a few parishes. • Foundation in the 11th century. Church rebuilt from 1247 to 1286. • Defensive works at the end of the 14th century. • Abbey burnt down by the Anglo-Saxons in 1434. • Reconstruction in the second half of the 15th century. • Abbey plundered by the Protestants between 1564 and 1569. • Maurist reform introduced in 1666 after the abbey had been abandoned for nearly a century: rehabilitation and restoration until 1746 (conventual building, guest room, etc.). • Abbey sold as national property during the Revolution. • Destruction of the Gothic cloister in 1820. • Major restoration work on the church and abbey buildings during the 19th and 20th centuries. Many times transformed over the course of congregations and historical events, it mixes Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Classical styles. Listed as a Historic Monument, the Saint-Étienne de Bassac abbey today unveils a rectangular abbey church consisting of 4 bays and a flat chevet. Gothic in style, it has however retained the bases of the original walls and has domed rib vaults. Romanesque, the bell tower is not lacking in charm, just like the apse and the 13th century chapel pierced by a bay and covered with a ribbed vault. The 17th century convent buildings are also still visible. Like several other religious sites around the world, the abbey of Saint-Étienne de Bassac had a “Gate of Mercy” in 2015-2016; door which, on the margins of the Holy Doors open every 25 years or according to the exceptions fixed by the pope during the course of the holy years or Jubilees, was established at the abbey of Saint-Étienne de Bassac following the desire of Pope Francis to see the Jubilee of Mercy spread all over the world. In short, this Door, like all the other doors of Mercy, supports the Holy Doors in their roles in the Jubilee of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016 In addition, the Saint-Étienne abbey now hosts retreats, and also has an approval to receive green classes. Opening hours: Monday: 09:00 – 18:30 • Tuesday: 09:00 – 18:30 • Wednesday: 09:00 – 18:30 • Thursday: 09:00 – 18:30 • Friday: 09:00 – 6:30 p.m. • Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. • Sunday: 9:00 a.m. -6:30 p.m.

Beautiful scenery with the bridge over the river.

Gondeville is noted in 1252, during an exchange between Jean Rot, squire, lord of Châteauneuf and Sallomon de Gondeville, knight. The lords of Gondeville have been known since the 13th century. They had the right of high, medium and low justice. In compensation for work carried out on the Charente, they had obtained the right to collect a bushel of salt on each barge of salt going up the course of the river. They came under the lordship of Bouteville. But Gondeville was not a parish and depended on that of Saint-Même. Towards the end of the 14th century, lived Foulques de Gondeville who was succeeded by his son Armand. Then came Jean Bouterouhe, whose daughter Agnès, married Guillaume de Cruc. The latter thus became lord of Gondeville and left this lordship to his heirs. His granddaughter, Magdeleine de Cruc, ceded Gondeville to Jean de La Rochebeaucourt, younger son of the house of Saint-Même and received in exchange the land of Courpignac, in Saintonge (May 10, 1590). In the early years of the 17th century, the heirs of Jean de La Rochebeaucourt sold the land of Gondeville to Samuel de Lanauve, adviser to Parliament, which was acquired in 1655 by Pierre Laisné, sieur du Chardonneaux. In 1664, he had a lawsuit with Isaac de Culant, lord of Saint Even, about the enclave of Gondreville, which he succeeded in having erected into a parish. In May 1683, he reiterated his request to King Louis XIV for a church to be built in the town. It was finally built by his son-in-law Mr de Nanclas in 1700 and thanks to a grant of 1000 pounds granted by the King. It was demolished by the storm of February 20, 1879 between 1879 and 1880 under the direction of architect Augustin Landry. New restorations took place at the beginning of the 20th century, in particular according to the plans of the architect Luis Martin.

Foundation in the 11th century. Church rebuilt from 1247 to 1286. Defensive works at the end of the 14th century. Abbey burnt down by the Anglo-Saxons in 1434. Reconstruction in the second half of the 15th century. Abbey plundered by the Protestants between 1564 and 1569. Maurist reform introduced in 1666 after the abbey had been abandoned for nearly a century: rehabilitation and restoration until 1746 (convent building, guest room, etc.). Abbey sold as national property during the Revolution. Destruction of the Gothic cloister in 1820. Major restoration work on the church and the abbey buildings during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Since its founding in the 11th century and until today, this great Benedictine site has gone through a thousand years of history now written in stone. Gothic, baroque and classical styles coexist harmoniously, recalling the alternation of painful episodes and glorious moments. The abbey is a place of spirituality dedicated to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and is therefore the ideal setting for recharging your batteries and meditating.