Chaussée de l'Etang ou digue
MonumentHidden Treasure
Chaussée de l'Etang ou digue, located in Saint-Benoît-du-Sault (Indre), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Saint-Benoît-du-Sault, Indre, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 46.4378, 1.3888
- Mérimée Reference
- PA36000029
An impressive medieval causeway spanning the pond at Saint-Benoît-du-Sault, this remarkable hydraulic structure bears witness to the genius of the builders of Berry and still shapes the hilly landscape of the Creuse today.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
Perched above the peaceful waters of the Creuse valley, the causeway of the Étang de Saint-Benoît-du-Sault is one of those discreet but fundamental structures that have structured the Berry region for centuries. This dyke, integrated into the landscape as if it had always been part of it, is much more than a simple civil engineering structure: it is the reflection of a mastery of water inherited from the monks and lords of the Middle Ages. Saint-Benoît-du-Sault is one of the most beautiful medieval bastides in Berry, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, and the causeway is an integral part of this picturesque setting. Overlooking the pond from its crest, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of the perched village's lauze roofs, Romanesque bell towers and the Creuse forest stretching to the horizon. The structure offers an exceptional vantage point that few hydraulic structures can claim. A walk along the dyke is an experience in itself. The pond, formed by holding back the waters of a tributary of the Creuse, provides a natural mirror in which to reflect the silhouettes of the village and the clouds of the Berrichon sky. Depending on the season, the reeds rustle in the breeze, grey herons venture out and the golden hues of autumn transform the site into a living tableau. Far from the tourist crowds of the great Loire châteaux, the chaussée de l'Étang invites you to take a contemplative break, ideal for lovers of authentic rural heritage, landscape photographers and walkers in search of serenity in deep Berry.
Architecture
The chaussée de l'Étang is part of the large family of medieval dyke-roads, a type of structure that was very common in Berry and Marche, where the topography of plateaux cut by valleys favoured the creation of bodies of water simply by diking across them. The structure is built of local granite and sandstone masonry, characteristic stones of the Creuse Berrichonne subsoil, assembled with lime mortar. The structure has a trapezoidal profile with a flat top to allow pedestrian traffic and, historically, the passage of horse-drawn carriages. The width of the roadway crest, estimated at several metres, is sufficient to serve as a communication route, which was one of the secondary functions of these structures: to link two banks of a valley without taking a diversion via the valley floor. The slightly sloping downstream face dissipates the energy of the water during emptying or flooding, while the more vertical upstream face retains the mass of water in the pond. An overflow system, probably made of ashlar, regulates the level of the pond and protects the dyke from overflow. The building materials and techniques used are perfectly in keeping with local custom: no bricks, little elaborate mortar, but particular care taken with the choice and setting of the stones. The patina of the granite, covered in golden lichen and moss, gives the whole structure an organic appearance that blends harmoniously with the surrounding vegetation.
Related Figures
Les moines bénédictins du prieuré de Saint-Benoît — fondateurs présumés de l'étang et premiers gestionnaires de la retenue d'eauLes seigneurs de Saint-Benoît-du-Sault — responsables de l'entretien et de l'exploitation piscicole de l'étang aux époques médiévale et moderneLes maçons et tacherons berrichons — artisans anonymes qui construisirent et consolidèrent l'ouvrage aux XVIIe et XVIIIe sièclesLa communauté villageoise de Saint-Benoît-du-Sault — gestionnaire de la digue depuis la Révolution française
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Chaussée de l'Etang ou digue located?
Chaussée de l'Etang ou digue is located in Saint-Benoît-du-Sault, Indre department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Chaussée de l'Etang ou digue built?
Chaussée de l'Etang ou digue dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Chaussée de l'Etang ou digue open to visitors?
Chaussée de l'Etang ou digue is currently closed to visitors.