The charming towns and villages are a major asset to Poitou, but they are far from the only tourist attractions. Poitiers, the capital of Poitou, has a rich heritage for architecture enthusiasts, including the impressive Romanesque church of Notre-Dame-la-Grande. From one town to the next, it is the frescoes of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, the medieval town of Parthenay, that of Chauvigny with its 5 castles or the 3 Romanesque churches of Melle.

The route does not have much landscape relief; intimate parts, such as the bocage landscape of Gätine, between Poitiers and Parthenay. Beautiful views, alternating with rivers and forests can be found in the southern part of Poitou.

The route starts in St.-Savin-sur-Gartempe. Here, the abbey church of St.-Savin, surrounded by green meadows, preserves a Romanesque treasure. The 11th-century church houses the best quality wall paintings in all of Romanesque France. They were painted on the walls around 1100 in black, white, green and with red and yellow ochres. Some have withstood the ravages of time very well. In the nave, you will find images on the theme of Creation and in the crypt various saints and the Evangelists. The narthex is dedicated to the Book of Revelations.

You cross the new one, with a view of the old Romanesque bridge to the village of Saint-Germain to refuel and soon turn north to follow the lovely river to Angles-sur-l'Anglin with all the assets for nature and heritage lovers. Especially after the bridge over the Anglin a real pleasure!

Passing a cave dwelling to visit in neighbouring Saint-Pierre-de-Maillé, you will drive to medieval Chauvigny, whose upper town is surrounded by ramparts. It is a remarkable medieval site with the ruins of five fortified castles dominated by the bell tower of the elegant Romanesque collegiate church of Saint-Pierre. In the lower town, a café will undoubtedly be waiting for you for a coffee.

At Chauvigny, cross the Vienne and turn right immediately. From Bonnes, follow the D6 and the D20 to St.-Georges-lès Baillargeaux. After crossing the river Clain, follow the signs to the Futuroscope film park; if you want to visit the park, continue along the route. You can easily spend an afternoon visiting this park.
Futuroscope is not only a theme park for young and old, dedicated to moving images in all their shapes and sizes, it is also a high-tech research centre.
The various cinemas prove that pleasure and research can complement each other well. You can't think of anything that isn't there: a film that seems to encompass you from ceiling to floor, a film screen that is as big as an apartment building and a hall where every action of the image is simulated by moving chairs. The latest examples of three-dimensional image technology can also be admired. The exteriors of the cinemas are futuristic: that of the Kinémax has 4000 m2 of mirrors.

For those continuing along the route, neighbouring Poitiers is the next town to visit and have lunch in.
The university city of Poitiers is undoubtedly the most beautiful city in the Poitou region. Almost every major shopping street ends at a monument, such as the Baptistère St.-Jean, an early Christian church that was restored in the 10th century. The Notre-Dame-la-Grande, whose magnificent 12th-century portal has recently been restored, is the main attraction. Inside, you will be absorbed in a serene atmosphere. Another Romanesque church is not far from the Pare de Blossac, the St.-Hilaire-le-Grand; worth a visit because in the 11th and 12th centuries it was a major pilgrimage stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

Passing Chiré-en-Montreuil, where there is a nice castle, you drive to Parthenay.
The old centre of Parthenay has retained its original medieval character. Small, winding streets such as Rue de-la-Vaux-Saint-Jacques that are so characteristic of medieval cities, beautiful half-timbered houses with original brick and Romanesque churches, it is all there. In the 13th century a castle was built in Parthenay, the remains of which are still visible today. It was built on a rock on the side of the river. The castle was owned by the lords of Parthenay. A citadel was built around it that was accessible via the Saint Jacques gate. This gate and the city walls are still largely in their original state. On the other side of the city is the Tour de l'Horloge gate. Both gates have characteristic almond-shaped towers. In total, the citadel had more than 30 defensive towers, 4 entrance gates and a defensive wall of more than 1km. Carcassonne in miniature!

After coffee, you leave Parthenay in a southerly direction until you reach the impressive castle of Coudray-Salbar. The castle consists of six high towers, connected by curtains. It was built in the 13th century by the lords of Parthenay. The castle has withstood the test of time remarkably well, because it has never had to endure heavy attacks in its long history. This makes it a beautiful example of military architecture from the Middle Ages! There are also two historic wash houses nearby.

You are approaching the end point of this trip in Melle.
The historic centre of Melle is home to three Romanesque churches, known as the "Romanesque Triad". They are open to visitors all year round. The Saint-Hilaire church, the most famous, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage and houses a contemporary choir made of white Namibian marble. The Saint-Savinien church, the oldest, was once a prison before being deconsecrated and transformed into a cultural space. In 2012, stained glass windows by the artist Remy Hysbergue were installed there. Finally, the Saint-Pierre church, classified as a Historical Monument since 1862, is also deconsecrated and hosts various cultural events.
In Melle you can also admire an old silver mine from the Carolingian period. This museum can only be visited with a guided tour. The mining took place between the beginning of the 7th and the end of the 10th century, at the time of the Frankish kings such as Dagobert and Charlemagne.
The ore extracted was silver lustre. From this miners could obtain lead and silver. The lead was used for roofing buildings, but also for pipes and dishes. The silver was used to make money. Silver Mellois coins have been archived between 768 and 1189.
After this impressive ride, it is nice to relax on the local square.