Travel
The historical road of the Plantagenet Kings
You don’t know what to do this Spring and you love history what about a trip to France?
The Deux-Sèvres department is one among many departments with a connection to the Plantagenets’ history. There are some cities and major sites on this road to be discovered and not to be missed. While doing so, you will be following the footsteps of the kings, who once dominated the Poitou region during the Middle Ages.
There are five historical sites from the North to the South, going from Thouars to Bressuire, passing through Parthenay and Echiré and finally ending in Niort.
Parthenay citadel and fortifications – credits Vivamost
Don’t go through the department without stopping in the medieval city of Parthenay to see the citadel and its fortifications. Walk along the street de la Vau St. Jacques, a famous street, passed by the pilgrims of St-Jacques of Compostelle.
Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II of Plantagenet, Richard the Lion King and Jean sans Terre are popular figures of the 12th and 13th centuries, who played a major role in the history of the Deux-Sèvres. Other Plantagenet kings also fought hard to keep the Poitou region under their control. From 1154 until 1259, when they lost the Poitou, the kings of England built and financed castles, fortresses, and ramparts. They influenced French architecture such as churches, building their famous bulging-rib vaults, also called Dominican (vaults shaped like a dome).
Plan some stops for sightseeing in:
- Thouars: check out the Prevots Gate and the Prince of Galle Tower, built by the Plantagenets. Feel the influence of the Plantagenets in the St. Laon church. Learn more about the Vicomtes of Thouars, friends of the Plantagenets.
- Bressuire: check out the ruins of the castle, a historical monument since 1996. Learn about the Seigneurs of Beaumont. Notice the influence Gothic Plantagenet in the construction of the Church of Notre-Dame.
Niort dungeon – credits Vivamost
- Parthenay: visit the citadel and fortifications left by the English kings. Admire the Plantagenet style vaults in the St. Croix church. The Seigneurs of Parthenay were the allied of the Plantagenet kings.
- Coudray Salbart: take a guided tour of the medieval fortress built for the Plantagenets.
- Niort: walk to the dungeon and castle built by Henry II. Visit the church of St. André with the Plantagenet rib vaults.
The Deux-Sèvres department offer many interesting guided tours about the Plantagenet’s road.
