Places you must visit

The Maison du Marais Poitevin in Coulon

“La Maison du Marais Poitevin is the must, to find out about and understand the Marais poitevin : A 1.30h visit over more than 700 m², 5 exhibition halls, maraiscope (projection about the history of the Marais), interesting and enthralling guides, shop and bookshop"

The Bird reserve "Les Oiseaux du Marais Poitevin" at St-Hilaire-La-Palud. 

300 birds from over 70 different species are waiting to meet you in this 8 hectare park in the heart of the wild marshes. They live here in their natural habitat amongst 30 varieties of plants and trees with domestic animals that have been bred in the Poitou region.

Welcome in the donkey world

Discovery of the asinerie, the craft soap factory, the baptism and the donkey ride. A playful visit for all the family.

Du Coq à l'Ane
12, rue du Moulin
79210 SAINT-GEORGES-DE-REX
Tel. : 05.49.35.06.28.
www.ducoqalane.com

Niort Keep

For a thousand years, with the river Sèvre Niortaise flowing past its feet, this double Romanesque keep was the first building in Niort to be listed as an historical monument. It was built by Henry II Plantagenet and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine. The history of this keep is the history of the meeting of England and France. If you climb up to the terrace, you will get a unique view over Niort and the Marais Poitevin.

Coudray Salbart Castle, Echiré

Impressive 13th century fortress attributed to the legendary Fairy Melusine, in the heart of fights between kings of France and England. It controlled the crossing of the river Sèvre Niortaise, south border of the lords of Parthenay-Larchevêque.

The Bernard d'Agesci museum in Niort

Taking its name from the first curator of Niort's museum, this 3-in-1 museum in the walls of an old 19th century high school, offers a collection of fine arts, a Natural History collection and an exhibition and collection about schools and teaching. The museum also houses the Inter-regional Centre for Painting Restoration and Conservation. It is one of the few painting restoration workshops in France.