The museum Niort Dungeon is housed in what remains the testimony of the military fortress built in the twelfth century by Henry Plantagenet, Count of Anjou became king of England and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Vast and austere building, the castle was remodeled in the fourteenth century to be more comfortable then it loses its military vocation.
It is restored in its current form in 1751, the rest of the fortress has undergone yet many seats being destroyed (the ultimate walls will be in 1820).
From this period date the diamond vaults of the ground floor, said lower rooms.
A time as a prison, the Dungeon is historical monument in 1840. It was then inhabited by municipal employees and houses the archives. Finally, in 1896, are highlighted and presented collections Poitevin costumes, marking the creation of the Museum of Ethnography.
To date, labeled "Museum of France", the establishment has five rooms a permanent exhibition entitled "The Dungeon, 1,000 years of history."
Dotted 3D animations, it offers first in the old baronial hall a slide show on the city of Niort and explanations of evolution. The second room then explains the main stages of the history of the site and the city (tactile model, urban organization, objects from excavations).
A 3D film on the architectural evolution of the Donjon is projected into the third room, and this theme is detailed further in the next room including carved stones and inscriptions by pirates imprisoned in the eighteenth century.
The fifth proposes a focus on other buildings designed by the Plantagenet dynasty and showcases the remains of an ancient sanctuary (with sculptures) unearthed in 2018.
Moreover, the ethnographic map, the museum presents a Poitevin reconstructed interior and local furniture.
Temporary exhibitions are also regularly scheduled. We will not forget during a visit to the museum to enjoy the breathtaking panorama offered from the terraces of the tower.
Open Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on 1 May, 1 November, 25 December and 1 January. Price: 4 and 5 euros (supplement for guided tours, free the first Sunday of the month). Information +33 5 49 28 14 28.
