Property Poitou-Charentes - Deux-Sèvres, France

Deux-Sèvres, Poitou-Charentes France

The Poitou-Charentes region is made up of four Départements, which are the French equivalents of English counties. Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Vienne (86), Deux-Sevres (79)

The Department of Deux-Sèvres:

Literally meaning "two Sèvres" - the Sèvre Nantaise and the Sèvre Niortaise - two rivers that have their sources in the department. It lies to the North West of the Poitou Charentes and is a peaceful rural department, famous for the Poitevin marshes to the West, a stretch of fens and swampy marshes, known as the 'Green Venice', with a similar in character to the Norfolk Broads. Les Deux-Sevres is a department of woodland and small fields, enclosed by hedges and trees.

Main Towns of Deux-Sèvres

Niort

Niort - the department's capital city. Its latin name was Novio Rito. Based on the banks of the Sèvre Niortaise River and lying some 6 km from the Marais. An impressive 'Donjon' or keep dating from the 12th Century is now one of the two main museums in the town. There is also a 17th Century gate and a covered market dating from the 19th Century as well as the usual selection of Romanesque churches.

Niort is maybe best known as the centre of the herb angelica cultivation in France.

Parthenay

Parthenay - Situated on a rocky promontory surrounded by the River Thouet. It was once an important stopover for pilgrims en route to Compostela but is now famed for its beef cattle market which takes place every Wednesday. Sheep, apples and local dairy produce are also sold here in abundance. The medieval quarter is worth a foray with the cobbled streets of rue la Vau-St-Jacques leading up to 13th-century ramparts and Pont and Porte St-Jacques - a narrow bridge which joins a drawbridge with tall, twin towers.

Nowadays Parthenay takes part in 20th-century by hosting numerous aeronautical, mechanical and electronics trade fairs in its splendid Palais des Congres. Art exhibitions and concerts are also held here. Close by is Parthenay-le-Vieux, with its beautiful Romanesque church and 16th-century Chateau d'Oiron.

Bressuirie

Bressuirie - The town is situated on the Dolo, a tributary of the Argenton River. It is the centre of a cattle-rearing and agricultural region and has important markets. There is also trade in wooden and woollen goods. It is an old cathedral town, well supplied with beautiful and architecturally interesting buildings. The ruined castle of Bressuire is a 'must see' if you are in the town, as it is considered to constitute the finest collection of feudal ruins in the Poitou Charente.

A modern château stands within the grounds these days, but there is still much of the original castle left to view. Bressuire is exceptionally well placed for excursions, as it is within easy reach of the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic coast, as well as man made attractions. Horse-riding, swimming and many other activities are available in or nearby.

Gites, Hotels and Tourist Accommodation in Deux-Sèvres

This increase in tourism, especially since it is fuelled to some degree by the increase in low cost air fares, opens opportunities for those wishing to start or run a business in France.

Many people find converting an old barn or outhouse to a gite enables them to earn a useful supplementary income from those looking for a French gite holiday. Rural gite holidays are increasingly popular and a 'gite to rent' or 'gite louer' could be how you enjoy life without working in the rat race.

House & Property Prices in Deux-Sèvres

The average price of a 4 bedroom house in Deux Sevres will cost between 210,000 and 250,000 euros which is very good value considering its sunny climate and proximity to the Atlantic coast. Many fairly cheap country properties can be found in this rural department including renovation projects.

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