Tourism Office of Chauvigny

An essential leg of your journey through la Vienne is Chauvigny, on the way to Poitiers, just twenty minutes from the Futuroscope.It is a warm-hearted city of Art with five châteaux dominating the Vienne River from the same rocky cliff, a truly unique site in Europe. Chauvigny is also an important site for Roman architecture with the Saint Pierre Collegiate Church (12th C) famous for its sculptured chapels and painted columns, the Notre-Dame Church (12th C) and the Saint-Pierre-des-Eglises with its pre-Romanesque murals. The Donjon de Gouzon(11th & 13th C ) provides a panoramic view and also houses examples of local industrial production through the ages (stone quarries, porcelain, mills and limestone ovens, a steam wheel, etc). The Archaeological and Ethnological Museum retraces two thousand years of daily city life (Gallo-Roman artefacts, tools and head dresses). In the upper part of the town, the high ruins of the Baronnial Château become the setting of The Giants of the Sky a flying bird show with birds from all over the world skimming over you at break neck speed. (Every day up to 30 th September). Chauvigny is also the birth-place of the Poitou-Charentes porcelain industry which is world-renowned and found in many of the most prestigious restaurants. Chauvigny is also known for its stone which can be found in many principal monuments such as: the Opéra Garnier in Paris, the Louvre and in the bridges spanning the Loire. Nearby : discover the countryside around Chauvigny by taking a 9km return rail-bike ride on the abandoned railway track. On site accommodation : hotels, camp site, gîtes and guest rooms. The tourist information office offers individual guided tours throughout July and August. Take advantage of our Pass Découverte to visit three sites for the price of two: the two Chauvigny museums , the Giants of the Sky show and the rail-bike coarse. Guided tours of the Medieval town with a professional guide can be organised throughout the year. The horse-drawn taxis, which set off from the medieval centre, also allow you to visit the city from a different perpective. Interesting local Saturday market and also on Tuesday and Thursday - Fair every second tuesday of the month.

See also:
Activities - Chauvigny