A delightful and peaceful little department of France, Deux-Sevres has still has much to offer in the way of history, culture, culinary delights and pleasant pastoral surroundings.
Cities
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Map of Deux-Sèvres
- 1 Niort, the main city, is a good-looking market town with a defensive keep and twin-steepled church.
- 2 Argenton Chateau — a pretty town perched on a rocky outcrop around which 2 rivers snake. The town centre has a small market every Thursday, and a ruined chateau and chapel. The views from the town square over the surrounding countryside are lovely on a clear day and the town retains a pleasant pace of life. There is an art school run from a beautifully refurbished building in the town centre with courses offered throughout the year.
- 3 Bressuire
— around fifty hiking trails crisscross the area, where old railway lines have been converted into “greenways” - 4 Cerizay
- 5 Melle —has three interesting Romanesque churches
- 6 Parthenay — has remains of its old castle and many remains of the medieval wall
- 7 Prissé-la-Charrière – The Neolithic necropolis of Péré, dating from the Neolithic period, includes a tumulus 100 m long and 20 m wide. An untouched burial chamber, containing skeletons and pottery, was discovered there in 2004.
- 8 Saint Maixent l’École — many of the town's buildings date from 15th to early 19th century, a large abbey dominates the skyline
- 9 Thouars, a small city which was gave its name to the Toarcian age due to its palaeontologic sites. Already inhabited 5000 years ago, it became the strongest city in the whole Aquitaine region during the 8th century. It features many medieval artifacts such the city walls and Roman churches. The Château des Ducs de La Trémoille, built in 1638, has a 110-m-high facade dominating the Thouet river and Pont des Chouans. A street market is held every Tuesday and Friday morning in the historic "Halles" building.
Other destinations
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1 Marais Poitevin 
(shared with the department of Vendée) – The interior of the land is full of riches, the Marais Poitevin offers a unique range of green.
Understand
[edit]Get in
[edit]By train
[edit]Niort TGV station is on the Paris-Montparnasse - La Rochelle line.
By car
[edit]A10 Paris-Bordeaux motorway
By plane
[edit]The nearest airports are in Poitiers and La Rochelle, 60 km away.