Deux Sèvres
North of Charente and west of Vienne, is the region of the Deux Sèvres.
The main characteristic of the Deux Sevres is the very mild climate of the area, similar to that of Aquitaine.
As with the Charente and the Vienna, the Deux Sèvres has a rich historical heritage: the department has plenty of old churches to visit. The town of Parthenay is the best examples of the Deux-Sevres’ rich historical legacy, being a medieval town with many half-timbered properties.
The Deux Sèvres is also rich in gourmet food, with lots of rustic local dishes which you will love, amongst which the famous Chabichou goat cheese, Tourteau Fromagé cake, Angelica Liqueur and the worldwide famous Echiré butter.
Deux Sevres is famous with tourists for the Marais Poitevin, a humid marsh located on the west of Niort. The goat farms are also a great attraction for families. Parthenay and Oiron are two great places to visit if you are fond of history and architecture.
The department of the Deux Sèvres has a very relaxed lifestyle, deeply rooted in the French way of life. To get a taste of the local lifestyle, you can enjoy the ambience of the market during weekday mornings, or take part in the many cultural and musical festivals organized in the area.
The transport links are very good, with five international airports being less than 2 hours from Deux Sevres by car. The TGV (high-speed train) stops in Niort, the main town of the department, and reaches Paris in 2 hours, to Bordeaux in 1h30 and to Toulouse in 4h30. Another asset of the department is the very good motorway links linking it to Bordeaux, Nantes and Tours in 1h30 and to Paris in 4hrs.
Sauze-Vaussais
Sauze Vaussais is located in the South of Deux-Sevres, on the axis Nantes/Limoges (D948), near the axis Paris/Bordeaux. Its geographical location allows it to have an important economic life, many services and it has a popular tourist complex. This complex is based in a park of 11 hectares, it offers a lodging of 15 houses including one accessible for people with reduced mobility and is open all the year. There is also a campsite, swimming pool and other sporting facilities. A couple of interesting features in the town are the Pigionnier and the old clock tower. If one wants to relax one can find the tranquillity of the “Plan D’Eau’ which is a popular picnic/ fishing spot.
Chef-Boutonne
The market town of Chef-Boutonne is located at 80 km from Poitiers, 100 km from the La Rochelle, 40 km from Niort and 60 km from Angouleme. This small country town is named after the river Boutonne. In fact the source of the river is found in the middle of the town under the old lavoir. The current population of the town is 2,200. It is a commune with a long history. Several historic remains such as Gallo-Roman dwellings at Javarzay and Le Pouzac and a Merovingian burial site, where a terracotta jewel box, coins and pottery were found.
Niort
Niort is a large town situated on the Sèvre river about half way between Poitiers and La Rochelle in the Poitou-Charentes region of Western France. It is the capital of the Deux Sevres department. Niort has an interesting historical centre, with houses dating from the medieval and renaissance eras and also several monuments of interest to discover, as well as a substantial amount of more recent development. The old and new parts of central Niort are separated by the large Place de la Breche. It is the historical centre that is of interest to visitors. Start your visit perhaps with a stroll across the bridge in the centre of Niort, which gives nice views across the town and the church as well as the donjon. The town is not far from the “Green Venice” or the Poitevin Marsh Inter-regional Park, which is a haven of peace to discover by foot, bicycle, boat or canoe.
Melle
Melle is famous for its Mines d'Argent (Silver mines) and its religious heritage indeed the city shelters three churches of international repute. Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Savinien. The town is also on a route of Saint-Jacques-of-Compostelle. The route of discovery around the town takes you off the beaten track and gives you a chance to see some of the historical buildings as well as a diversity of plants and trees.
Lezay
Lezay is an attractive market town in the south of Deux-Sevres. The town itself has all main commerce including bars and restaurants as well as a campsite, swimming pool, fishing lake and a great market on a Tuesday morning, where you can buy everything from fruit and vegetables to meat, clothing, plants and flowers and even live chickens. It also has a famous livestock market. It is only 40km from Niort which has a large retail park and historic quarters, less than an hour from the airport at Poitiers, and just an hour and a half by car from the coast and La Rochelle.
