A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres

Le Tallud

by Sue Burgess

Le Tallud is a commune of the Deux Sèvres, situated just next to Parthenay and is part of the Couronne de Parthenay (greater Parthenay). There are 2033 inhabitants which puts le Tallud in 33rd place in the list of communes of the Deux Sèvres as far as its size is concerned. The towns of Parthenay, Saint Aubin le Cloud and Azay-surThouet are all close by.

The name le Tallud comes from the gallic word Talo which means an encampment built on a slope, and from the Latin Talutium which means a steep slope. The bourg or town centre is effectively built on a hill which gently rolls down to the river Thouet.

Historically Le Tallud belonged to the abbey and then to the bishopric of Luçon. The bishop of Luçon nominated the priest until the Revolution. The last priest to actually live in le Tallud moved away in 1993. The church is dedicated to Saint Saturnin. Saturnin was one of 7 men sent by Pope Sixtus II to spread the word of the gospel through Gaul in 257 – 258. Saturnin was the first bishop of Toulouse and was killed by pagans because he refused to make sacrifices to idols. He was tied to a horse and cart and then the horse and cart were driven off the Capitole in Toulouse. His relics are kept in the Basilica of Saint Sernin in Toulouse.

In 1763 all the cattle of the le Tallud area suffered from a strange disease. This disease, according to the documents of the time, only affected cattle. Originating in le Tallud, it seems to have spread to the Limoges region, and some areas around Poitiers and Confolens. Only horned animals were affected. Not all the cattle died, but all were infected. Here is the description of the disease that appeared at the time: "it was recognised by scars, cuts, tumours, puffs, pimples or puffiness that appeared above and below the tongue, two inches from the throat". After the symptoms appeared, the diseased or scarred part of the tongue had to be scraped with a spoon or a silver coin until blood came out and the hair fell off. The next

step was to take vinegar, the strongest that could be found, and mix it with salt, pepper, a lot of garlic and well-crushed pears. The diseased part was rubbed with this mixture, as was the whole tongue, which was then washed with a spoonful of vinegar. The tongue was treated twice a day until it was completely healed. Some of the street names to be found on the commune of le Tallud relate the history of the town. Rue et route d'Allonne : These roads leave from the centre bourg and cross the Thouet over a stone bridge from where the château of Péchellerie can be seen. The château is a private property.

The Avenue et impasse de la Vernière lead to the lake, to the cultural centre, and the "4 saisons" hall. The hamlet of the Vernière is found in writings dating from 1610. There was a fulling mill; (moulin à foulon) there, which belonged to the lord of la Péchellerie. The mill was also known as the moulin d'Empince (moulin «Dampoinse» and then La Varnière in 1758). The La Vernière housing estate dates from 1984. Rue et chemin de Boisseau : This street leads away from the Thouet and follows the Petit Boisseau stream out into the countryside towards the hamlet of le Boisseau. The name of le Boisseau has been around since 1450. A « boisseau » is an old measure for grains (a bushel). Rue Emile Bruneteau is near Saint-Saturnin church. This road was named in memory of Canon Bruneteau (18791941), who was the curate of le Tallud between 1923 and 1935. He taught philosophy to the noviciate in Monsoult (Oise) and in the Paris oratory. Rue et impasse du Colombier: This street links the town centre to the area called Bois Vert. The name is a reference to an old mill, moulin du Colombier which belonged to the priory of Parthenay. In 1784, the mill had two wheels and two millstones to grind rye. The mill stopped working around 1880. Rue du Rézard: The real meaning of the word Rézard is not known, but Rairart bridge existed in 1427, and Rayzard mill in 1584. Le Rézard is also the name of a stream that flows into the Viette.

La Péchellerie

La Péchellerie is the chateau of le Tallud. The first written evidence of the chateau dates from the end of the XVth century. The chateau which was built around a square courtyard, had four towers with pointed roofs. The two remaining towers were made shorter in 1929. The first lord was Guillaume Pain (1488-1502), the lord of Chauray and la Péchellerie, lieutenant of the Bailli of the Gâtine. The chateau later belonged to Louis de Linax, then to Pierre de Meulles (1619). The latter sold the domain to Jacques Pineau (1681-1723), squire and lord of Viennay, councillor in the parliament of Paris and lord of la Trébesse, where the chapel of la Peschellerie was to be found. The chateau

remained in the hands of this family until the middle of the XIXth century. The chateau is privately owned and is private property today.

The small town has several shops and businesses. A baker, a butchers and delicatessen, a grocers with local produce, a tobacconists, a bar and restaurant, a beauticians, a market gardener, a hairdressers, a post office, chemist, doctors and osteopath.

There is a weekly market on a Saturday morning. The market sets up on the square near the local businesses and shops. There is a fishmonger and a pizza van. On the first Saturday of the month, a local beekeeper sets up a stall and sells honey.

A voir / Must see

Saint Saturnin church

The church has not changed much since the XIIth century. The church is a typical Romanesque church of the Gâtine. There is a choir with a flat east end which is lit by a large Gothic bay window and there is just one nave. The bell tower is octagonal like that of Parthenay-le-Vieux, Secondigny, Fenioux and Allonne. The west door is protected by a porch built in typical Deux Sèvres "balet" style. The porch was rebuilt in the middle of the XIXth century and is made from stone with two arcades on each side of the doorway. Along with the granite used in the building, these features are typical of Gâtine churches. The floor of the church slopes on the “talus” down towards the valley. The inside of the church is slightly asymmetrical which gives it a certain charm.

Two ancient stone bridges

The bridge on the route d'Allonne

The bridge of Parthenay-le-Vieux at the edge of the commune when you go towards Pathenay, near the lake and the municipal camp site.