Niort (pop. 56,661), chief town of the département of Deux-Sèvres, lies on the Sèvre Niortaise. All that remains of a castle built by Henry II of England and Richard Coeur-de- Lion is the keep, consisting of two massive square towers, which now houses a museum of folk art and traditions. Other features of interest are the old half- timbered houses in and around Rue St-Jean; the former Town Hall (16th C.), on a triangular plan, now containing the Musée du Pilori, an archeological museum; the church of Notre-Dame, in the west of the town, with an elegant tower and Aubusson tapestries; the Natural History Museum; and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (tapestries, French, Italian, Flemish and Dutch paintings, etc.).
The magnificent Château of Dampierre was begun in 1550 by the Duc de Luynes and rebuilt between 1675 and 1683 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart.
Two gardens are to be found at this 17th C. house. The first is a design of the famous Andre Le Notre, and provides a central vista from the chateau that features wonderfully laid pools, parterres and lime alleys. The second garden is a very recent one, having been built in 1978, and is an attractive woodland garden.
Address: Dampierre Château, F-17470 Dampierre sur Boutonne, France
Hours:
March 15 to May 31: 2pm-5pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
June 1 to September 30: 10am-6:30pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
October 1 to November 15: 2pm-5pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.