Between charm and nature, south of Surgères in the town of Saint Pierre la Noue, the village of Saint-Germain de Marencennes is revealed. Crossed by the small Gères river and several canals, the water is never far away.
Bucolic stroll
Stop in this village where the blue "sky" dominates. A quiet village, which also offers a path of discovery, with many sports and leisure facilities. Among the curiosities of Saint-Germain de Marencennes, we note the tercentenary oak of Pré Bègue, one of the oldest oaks in the region, about 2 meters in diameter, which would have known the reign of Louis XIV!
Then set off on our small country roads by bike, taking the Coulée Verte circuit. A walk that will make you appreciate the bucolic charm of the Surgéienne countryside...
A bit of history….
Marencennes is one of the oldest villages in Aunis. Its name comes from “mare antiquum”, that is to say “ancient sea”, a name probably due to the periods when the sea occupied the vast plains of Charente-Maritime. It is separated from Saint Germain by a tributary of the Devise which runs as far as the Charras canal: the Gères.
Until the French Revolution, the families of the village lived mainly from the cultivation of hemp. It was at this time that the village was renamed “Germain-la-Rondée”. In 1850, Saint Germain and many hamlets were attached to Marencennes to form the village of Saint Germain de Marencennes, today in the commune of Saint Pierre la Noue.
The opinion of the local counter
After having taken advantage of the charm of the town center with its old stones, its waterways and its many hollyhocks, we love spending a moment "in the green" at the Pré Bègue and why not, a sporting moment on its equipment!
