The Plantagenet donjon
The city’s emblematic landmark, the Niort donjon, around thirty metres high, raises its twin towers above the Old Bridges. Built in the 12th century under Henry II of England, it now houses an archaeology and ethnography museum. From the top, the view sweeps over the Sèvre valley and the ochre roofs of the centre: an obvious setting for a curious, history-filled date.
Niort Halles and Pilori
A few steps away, the Baltard-style covered market, in cast iron and glass, overflows with produce from Poitou: chabichou cheese, mojette beans, Niort angelica. On Saturday morning, it is the real beating heart of the city. Right next door, the Pilori, the Renaissance former town hall, hosts exhibitions and concerts. A coffee on Place de la Brèche rounds off an airy circuit.
Along the Sèvre
The green corridor follows the Sèvre Niortaise between Pont Main and Port Boinot, a former tannery converted into a cultural space by the water. People picnic, run and board a flat-bottomed boat to enter the nearby Marais Poitevin. On Lyad, people from Niort share their favourite walks; a chance to find someone to follow the river with.
Date ideas
- Niort Donjon
- Niort Halles
- Pilori
- Notre-Dame Church
- Green corridor
- Old Bridges
- Place de la Brèche
- Sèvre Niortaise
