Send Gift Baskets to Niort, France

Donjon de Niort

When Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine, he built spectacular castles to protect his new lands. A fortified district with gardens, houses, and parade grounds once surrounded what you see now.

Musée Bernard d’Agesci

Located in a former girls’ school, the attraction was named in his honor and includes fine art, natural history, and education galleries.

Old Niort

Niort’s old streets scamper up the two hills, and now and then, you’ll see an impressive old building worth photographing. An itinerary is available of all the “hôtels particuliers” and timber-framed houses in the city, such as the sensational Maison de la Vierge, named after its sculpture of the Virgin and Child.

Le Pilori

This eye-catching trapezoidal hall lies in the middle of Old Niort, where the medieval pillory once stood. Its current Renaissance design dates to the 1500s, while the belfry above is from the next century.

Château du Coudray-Salbart

Located less than 10 kilometers from Niort, this castle is in ruins. To guard the crossing of the Sèvre Niortaise River, the Lords of Parthenay deployed the Château du Coudray-Salbart in the 1200s.

Marais Poitevin

Here, you’ll find the wettest part of the marshes, the Marais Mouillés, dubbed Venise Verte (Green Venice). You’ll discover canals, wooden footbridges, new ash, alder, and poplar forests, and charming stone cottages lining the streets here.

Maison du Marais Poitevin

You can explore the Marais Poitevin ecosystem, industries, and customs in Coulon, close to Niort. This historic house has five exhibition rooms, including a “Maraiscope,” which has animated projections explaining the history of the Marais.

La Coulée Verte

Located in the city’s center, the Coulée Verte is a 15-hectare belt of quays, banks, river islands, and bridges on the Sèvre Niortaise. Foliage is abundant here, making it a charming place for walks by the water, crossing bridges with evocative names like Le Pont des Arts or Eax Vives (White Waters).

Coulon

Often referred to as Venise Verte’s capital, the village is also listed as one of France’s “plus beaux villages.” It’s the place to be if you’re looking for a flat-bottomed boat cruise, referred to here as a “basis.”

Les Halles de Niort

French cities are always recommended for indoor markets, but Niort’s is one of the liveliest. There are more than 100 traders in the exquisite metal and glass hall from 1869, right next to the Donjon.