Perched on a rocky promontory, above a meander of the Thouet, the town of Art and History of Thouars has a rich built heritage.
Overlooking the valley from the top of its long Louis XIII-style façade, the Castle of the Dukes of Trémoille, a listed Historic Monument, was built in the 17th century at the request of Marie de La Tour d'Auvergne, wife of Duke Henri III de La Trémoïlle. This imposing building, covered with freestone and slate, now houses a public college, the inside of which can be visited during the Heritage Days, on the third weekend in September. Adjoining the castle, the Holy Chapel of Our Lady, dating from the early 16th century, has a splendid Flamboyant Gothic façade with a Renaissance gallery.
The tour of the town carries on towards the Church of St. Medard, a beautiful building from the 12th and 15th centuries, remarkable for its western façade, in the Poitevin Romanesque style, and its north gate, adorned with a multilobed arch influenced by the Mozarabic style! Around Place Saint-Médard stand picturesque old half-timbered houses, including the House of Artists dating from the 15th century.
Other sites to see in the streets of the historic centre include: the 12th-century Prince of Wales Tower, a relic of the medieval fortifications, which was used as a grain storehouse then a prison for salt smugglers; the Porte au Prévost Tower, through which Du Guesclin's army passed in 1372; the Neo-Gothic Chapel of Joan of Arc, converted into an art centre; and the old Abbey of St. Laon, whose convent buildings now house Thouars Town Hall.
The Henri Barré Museum, based in the Neo-Gothic mansion of Doctor Barré, contains French and foreign earthenware, paintings from the 16th to the 19th century, furniture from the Empire, and many objects and documents relating to the history of the Thouars area.
Thouars:
Labeled City of Art and History, Thouars is nestled on a rocky promontory overlooking the valley of Thouet. The town takes place in New Aquitaine, in the department of Deux-Sevres, not far from Bressuire, Saumur, Loudun or Parthenay.
Populated for over 5,000 years, the territory of the town really took shape in the seventh century. Known to be one of the strongest fortresses in the region, the city of Thouars was the scene of many battles between France and England, especially at the time of the Hundred Years War. Industrial city in the nineteenth century, it has now become flagship tourism Deux-Sevres. The city has indeed many vestiges of its centuries of history, allowing to dive in the past time for a walk in the medieval or Renaissance lanes.
Sainte-Radegonde:
The appellation of Sainte-Radegonde des Pommiers appeared as of 1785. During the revolutionary period, it took the name of apple trees.
Thouars:
Today home to the college of Marie-de-la-Tour-d'Auvergne, the castle of the Dukes of Trémoïlle dates from the seventeenth century. Installed on a natural promontory, it takes place on the remains of an old castle of the eighth century. Listed as an historic monument, it still presents an orangery having served as a model for that of Versailles, a chapel, stables or a beautiful courtyard.
One can still admire several vestiges of the old ramparts classified as Historical Monuments. Built between the twelfth and thirteenth century, they present today the Prince of Wales tower, the tower door Prévost contiguous to a Plantagenêt style tower, and Porte Maillot.
Several mansions are visible in the city, like that of the president Tindeau of the end of the XVth century and registered with the Historical Monuments, that of the Three Kings of the same time, or the House of the Artists. Former abbey rebuilt in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the city hall is also worth a visit.
Listed as a historic monument, the church of Saint-Laon dates from the twelfth century. You can admire a beautiful bell tower, colorful stained glass, and the tomb of Marguerite d'Ecosse, the first wife of Louis XI.
The Saint-Médard church, also classified as an historic monument, dates back to the 15th century. Romanesque, it reveals a portal to four archivolts, as well as beautiful stained glass windows.
There is also the Jeanne-d'Arc chapel in neo-Gothic style, which houses a cultural exhibition center, the chapel of the castle of the Dukes of Trémoïlle blending flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance style, or the Notre-Dame-du -House built in the twentieth century.
Opened in the 1920s, the Henri-Barré Museum is housed in a former neo-Gothic mansion house. You can admire very varied collections of faience, archeology, ethnography or fine arts and furniture.
The ecomuseum of the Crevant mill reveals the life of the past in the vicinity of Thouars. The regional center Resistance and Liberty pays tribute to the resistance fighters who defended the country in the region at the time of the Second World War.
Historic building, the halls are still in operation and continue to host the weekly markets of the city.
Very green, the city of Thouars also benefits from several natural areas such as the Imbert Park or allotment gardens along the Thouet. Bike paths have been developed to appreciate the local flora, as well as the architectural heritage.
Thouars:
The market is held every Tuesday and Friday morning under the halls. A Christmas market is also organized.
Terri'thouars Blues is a music festival organized between March and April.
At the beginning of June, the city celebrates Saint Médard with various animations.
Les Arts'Osés, in June, offers several concerts.
In July, we can attend the festival Atouts Arts dedicated to all the arts.
An expo fair takes place in September.
Parcours-Découverte Tourtenay, un Village Résistant
- On 28 april 2024
- RDV au Centre Régional Réstance &Liberté, Rond-Point du 19 Mars 1962
- Visit the exhibition "Maréchal, ôte toi de là !" presented by the Centre Régional Résistance & Liberté, then set off to discover Tourtenay, a troglodytic village with an exceptional past ! - This isolated village, shaped by the exploitation of its natural underground resources, boasts a unique landscape : vineyards, underground quarries and a remarkable built heritage. The Resistance seized on these assets. On two rare occasions, Tourtenay was chosen to organize clandestine parachute drops. - Follow the guide in the footsteps of the "army of shadows" and discover the mysteries of these secret missions on a 1 km walk.
Atelier de Danses Traditionnelles
- On 30 april 2024
- 6 Rue du Président Tyndo, Au conservatoire Tyndo
- The Conservatoire Tyndo and the association Trad'y Danse invite you to an evening of exchanges around traditional dance ! In a musical and festive atmosphere, you will practice couple dances (scottish, mazurkas, waltz) but also round dances (maraîchines…), avant-deux, marchoises… - It is an appointment for the lovers of the dance and also for the neophytes who wish to benefit from this moment of meetings and exchanges with the other. - In order to make you discover their bi-monthly workshop this workshop is open to all. Under the sign of conviviality and sharing, come and try and enter the round !!! - A beautiful evening to come and not to be missed at the conservatory !
Bourse aux Timbres
- On 1 may 2024
- Dans la salle des fêtes, Rue du Stade
- The club timbro-cartophile du Thouarsais celebrates its comeback with its traditional bourse for stamps, broad beans, numismatics, historical documents, etc… There will also be several exhibitions, including one on the lace work of the Vaudelnay lacemakers. - Refreshments on site.
Concert Doolin'
- On 3 may 2024
- 5 Boulevard Pierre et Marie Curie, Au théâtre
- What if the best Irish music band was French ? Over the past 10 years, Doolin ? Have established themselves as one of the most innovative Irish music groups on the international scene. Their infectious energy and the angelic voice of singer Wilfried Besse sublimate the typically Irish spirit. Steeped in contemporary sensibilities, these virtuosos break the boundaries of the genre and radiate around the world. Josselin Fournel is runner-up in the Irish bodhran championship. Today, Doolin's early Irish folk music has blended with Afro-American culture, soul, jazz, rap and their European roots, chanson and pop music, as evidenced by their latest album, Circus Boy, recorded in the USA. - Further information on Doolin : https://www.doolin.fr
Atelier Yoga au Musée Henri Barré
- On 3 may 2024
- 7 Rue Marie de la Tour d'Auvergne, Au Musée Henri Barré
- The practice of yoga will take you to a state of availability and receptivity and allow us to "enter" the Henri Barré Museum and its garden in a different way. The latter are places conducive to contemplation and meditation where everyone can let their sensibility and emotions express themselves - Participants can bring a blanket. The workshop starts in the museum garden but can start indoors in case of bad weather. The workshop then takes place inside the museum, with each participant choosing whether to sit in the living room or the dining room, facing a work or not - Workshop from 16 years old
Sortie Nature : Les Orchidées de la Vallée du Pressoir
- On 4 may 2024
- Parking de la cascade de Pommiers
- Discover wild orchids, from their botanical characteristics to their astonishing relationship with pollinating insects, on a walk through the Vallée du Pressoir sensitive natural area, in the company of a naturalist from Deux-Sèvres Nature Environnement and the site manager. - Registration required, please bring hiking boots and weather-appropriate clothing. - Find out about all outings scheduled in Thouarsais with Deux-Sèvres Nature environnement in their 2024 calendar. Leaflet available from Maison du Thouarsais (32 place Saint Médard, Thouars).
Les Samedis en Jeux à la Ludothèque
- On 4 may 2024
- Rue d'Auvergne, À la ludothèque
- Come and discover or learn a range of board games, card games and wooden games at the toy library : Carlo Crado, Trap Tartines, La Bonne paye, Croque Carottes, Docteur Maboul ? For all ages. Come and play alone or with your family !
43ème Salon Minéraux & Fossiles
- From 4 to 5 may 2024
- 5 Avenue des Martyrs de la Résistance, Orangerie du Château
- The show is an opportunity to admire magnificent minerals and crystals, in all shapes and colors, as well as fossils, genuine traces of the distant past. Collectors and novices alike will be able to discover treasures and rare pieces at the stands manned by the twenty or so exhibitors who have come from all over France to present their collections. The show will also be an opportunity to sell and trade minerals and fossils. These enthusiasts will be on hand to answer all your questions. The theme of this year's exhibition is fossil fish and crustaceans. Children under 12 will receive a free mineral or fossil. - Light refreshments on site
Spectacle Music'Halles
- On 4 may 2024
- Place de la Mairie, Salle René Cassin
- The story of "Music'halles" is the story of the life of a Parisian department store punctuated with anecdotes and funny situations in the middle of the music festival. The story begins with her and ends the following year with her… ". A musical and sung show, written from A to Z, and totally imagined in its staging, its decorations by the volunteers of the troop of Saint Patics. A beautiful evening under the sign of good humor in perspective !
Conte Musical Mumiq, Fille du Vent
- On 7 may 2024
- 6 Rue du Président Tyndo, Au conservatoire Tyndo
- Musique Lab ? Students, accompanied by an instrumental ensemble made up of conservatory teachers, present Geneviève Laloy ? S musical tale Mumiq, fille du vent at the Tyndo conservatory in Thouars. - Through narration and 9 original songs for one, two and three voices, this tale evokes the life of a tribe living in the Far North. Through words and music, the composer conjures up incredibly powerful images of an invisible people from his homeland, the Inuit. A land white with ice and blue at night, where man and animal must coexist, confront and understand each other. - Two performances : 6:30pm and 8:30pm - A wonderful evening not to be missed at the Conservatoire !