Chauvigny

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Chauvigny is 23 kilometres east of Poitiers, in the Vienne department of Poitou-Charentes.

Chauvigny is on the banks of the Vienne River. It originally derived its wealth from the porcelain industry, and porcelain manufacture continues here still on a small scale.

The town is overlooked by a hill with five ruined castles along its ridge - the 'Château des Eveques (‘baronial chateau'), the 'Chateau d'Harcourt', the 'donjon de gouzon', and the chateau de Montleon. You can enter the Château d’Harcourt for free to admire the architecture and see an exhibition of spices.

In the summer you can also watch an impressive display of birds of prey (les Géants du Ciel) inside the grounds. There is an exhibition of industrial architecture in the donjon and even if this doesn’t take your fancy walk up the steps to the entrance to get a close up view of the gorgeous round rooves of the Collegiale St Pierre (church of St Pierre). There are good views of the town from the donjon.

The Church St Pierre is a strange mix of styles on the outside and it is even stranger inside. Be sure to enter. The church is extremely light inside, unlike most churches and there are amazing carvings on the pillars showing a selection of extraordinarily gruesome scenes.

The town below is a thriving market town which seems curiously unrelated to the medieval town above though it is an attractive enough town and would be a pleasant base for visiting the area.

Market day is Saturday in Chauvigny, and this is the best and liveliest day to visit the town.

If you feel like a bit of exercise try the 'velo-rail' - carriages that you pedal and they travel along old railway lines. You enjoy the countryside and the children sit between you happy that they aren't joining in. You can be assured that old rail tracks don't go up and down steep hills!

Near to Chauvigny is the Abbey of St Savin which is listed as a World Heritage Site with UNESCO.

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Chauvigny Hotels (or nearby)

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