Parthenay

Along the Thouet

The small town of Parthenay, located in northern Poitou-Charentes, has a population of just over ten thousand and is considered one of the most beautiful parts of the Thouet River. It used to be a popular stopover for pilgrims making their way towards Compostela. Nowadays a whole range of people are to be seen making their way here for the weekly cattle market.

Preserving the past

There’s a great deal of history waiting to be explored in the town. The highly attractive Romanesque church of St-Croix offers a splendid view over the ramparts. The council has restored many medieval houses throughout the town centre. Some of the best are to be found in the gully of St-Jacques.

Historical legecies

Some more Romanesque architecture is evident on the site of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Couldre. This was once the chapel for the castle. The castle itself has not withstood the test of time - only a few ruins are testament to what once stood here. It's well worth a trip, however, as the rocky outcrop gives fantastic views of the Thouet river winding its way through the countryside.

Much to explore

If you’ve gained a taste for Romanesque architecture then there are three more churches in the style not too far away. Twenty kilometres to the northeast there is one in the town of Airvault and then another 20 km further on you’ll discover the 16th Century Chateau d’Oiron. The third one is a mere twenty minute walk from Parthenay in Parthenay-en-Vieux. A mounted knight is one of the many sculpted images that greet you upon arrival.

How do I get there?

GB Airways, Flybe and Air France all operate flights to Nantes from Gatwick. Ryanair fly to Tours, La Rochelle and Poitiers from Stansted. British Airways fly to Nantes from Heathrow. The excellent TGV service will take you from the Channel Tunnel to Poitiers via Paris.

What are property prices like?

Property around the town remains good value for money. There are still a number of renovation properties on the market. At the time of writing we have a large country house for €185,000.

Some views of  Parthenay

If you are looking to buy a property, long term rent or sell a property, we are the agency for you. All of our staff are bilingual and we will guide you through the whole process from the initial viewing to the handing over of the keys. All of our offices are ideally located with very easy access to the number of airports serving the Poitou Charentes, along with the excellent motorways from most of the ports along the North West coast.

Le spécialiste de la maison de campagne
dans les Deux-Sèvres et la Vendée



         



Thanks to their closeness to the sea, the Deux-Sèvres and Vendée départements enjoy a gentle climate with 2,600 hours annual sunshine on average, similar to the Côte d’Azur in the south of France, but have the additional attraction of verdant countryside.