Vienne

The department of Vienne, situated between Paris and Bordeaux, in central western France, offers the best of rural France with its stunning scenery, medieval fortresses and historical sites such as the Royal Abbey of Réau and the castle of Monthoiron.

In the heart of the department, known as a city of art and history, is Poitiers. The city boasts many museums and notable sites including the Saint-Pierre cathedral and former palace of the Counts of Poitou, Dukes of Aquitaine, home to former Queen of England and France, Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Located in the north of the Poitou-Charentes region, part of Nouvelle Aquitaine, the Vienne is blessed with many picturesque and medieval villages, many situated along the region’s main river, the Vienne. Between Poitiers and Chatellerault, the Pinail national nature reserve is home to a unique biodiversity heritage, recognised worldwide. The medieval town of La Roche-Posay known for its healing spa waters is a must-see along with the pretty villages of Chauvigny, Saint-Savin, Angles dur l’Anglin and the prehistoric rock carvings of ‘Witches Rock’ nearby.

The Vienne offers something for everyone, from the UNESCO world heritage site ‘Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe’, to animal parks such as Monkey’s Valley in Romagne and Crocodile Planet in Civaux. The region is also famed for one of France’s most popular theme parks, Futuroscope.