"Les Deux Sevres, Rural & Peaceful Region, Rolling Landscape, Pretty riverside market towns, The "Green Venice": Le Marais Poitevin "...
About the Deux Sevres
The translation of les Deux Sevres is the “Two Sevres”, two rivers (Sevre Nantaise and Sevre Niortaise), which have their sources in the department. Located in West France, in the Poitou Charentes region, the Deux Sevres benefits from a pleasant temperate climate with mild winters and warm summers (not too hot though). It is said to be the second sunniest region in France.
The Deux Sevres offers varied landscape including:
- Le Bocage (northwest): Fields and orchards surrounded by thick hedges. Isolated farmhouses and hamlets usually built close to ponds and rivers.
- La Gâtine (centre): Hilly and wooded area. A stockbreeding (ovine and bovine) and fodder-growing region.
- The plains (north east & south): Region with larger market towns, and vineyards
- Le Marais Poitevin (southwest): a large area of marshland with to the west (towards the sea) dry marshland used for farming and cattle and to the east wet marshes with picturesque canals very popular with tourists
It is a region mainly dedicated to agriculture and well known throughout France for the quality of its meat (Parthenay cattle.)
Throughout Deux-Sèvres the traditional architecture has been well preserved and makes this department an ideal location for those who are interested to explore its cultural heritage including imposing Tumuli, Romanesque churches, beautiful châteaux, and many museums.
Several Deux Sevres towns and villages have been given the label of “Villes et Pays d’Art et d’Histoire” (Parthenay, Thouars and Melle) and “Petite Cité “in the north of the Deux-Sèvres (Melle and St Loup-sur-Thouet) in recognition of their first class architectural, environmental and cultural heritage.
The historic towns of Parthenay and Thouars are worth a visit. Parthenay is an old fortified town set on the banks off the River Thouet. Nearby Thouars with its imposing 17th century Château des Ducs de La Trémoïlle also lies on the old pilgrim route.
The pretty riverside market town of Niort with its stone and half-timbered houses is situated on the southern edge of the Marais Poitévin region, another highlight of the Deux Sevres.
The Marais Poitevin with its hundreds of canals and waterways is also known as the "Green Venice". It is a large nature reserve and is home to a wide range of birds and animals. Ideal location for hiking, punting, cycling or just relaxing.
There are lots of other things to do and see in Deux-Sèvres: Pretty riverside towns, churches, and castles to visit. If you are looking for outdoor activities, you will not be disappointed: horseback riding, swimming, boating, hot-air ballooning, golf, tennis and fishing. Don’t miss the Deux Sevres colourful markets selling locally grown produce (fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and cheese including lots of goat cheese.)
Gastronomy
Lots of delicious local rustic dishes made with local quality produce including lamb, beef & snails. For dessert, some excellent goat cheese (Le Chabichou) & fruits from the local orchards to be washed down with a good “ vin du Thouarsais.”
All in all, Deux Sevres is a pretty region with lakes, forests, historic market towns, traditional villages with colourful markets. The Deux Sevres features many festivals, fetes and events over the summer months.
How to get there
Flights to Angouleme, La Rochelle, Limoges, Nantes & Poitiers from various UK & Ireland airports
Motorways to Paris, Brittany (St Malo and Roscoff ferry ports).
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