Page 404 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

EXPERIENCE Poitou and Aquitaine and grounds of Futuroscope

The dynamic architecture,
impressive water features

8 " \ =
sirens. Look for the one that
nearby battlefield, scene of the
Futuroscope More interesting is the with monsters, sphinxes and
says Gofridus me fecit (Gofridus
great English victory at Poitiers
Nouaillé by the Black Prince in made me), with wonderfully
! C4 ⌂ Av René Monory, 1356. The view has altered little natural scenes of the Epiphany.
Chasseneuil-du-Poitou,
Jaunay-Clan £ # Hours since the 14th century. Drive Nearby is the lovely Château
vary, check website down the small road to La de Touffou, a Renaissance
∑ futuroscope.com Cardinerie (to the right off the dream on the banks of the
D142), which leads to the river Vienne, with ter races and
Exploring visual techno logy crossing at Gué de l’Omme, the hang ing gardens.
in a futuristic environment, epicentre of the battle. There is
Futuroscope’s attractions a monument commemorating Château de Touffou
evolve yearly. Such attractions the medieval battle halfway " ' ⌂ Bonnes # Apr–Sep:
include simulators, 3D and up the hill, where the heaviest 10am–noon, 2–6pm Sat & Sun
360-degree screens, and the fighting took place and where ∑ touffou.com
“magic carpet” cinema, with the French king Jean le Bon
one of its screens on the floor, was captured.
creating the sensation of flying.
11
10 Angles-sur-l’Anglin
9 Chauvigny ! D4 ⌂ Vienne n 2 rue du
Abbaye de Nouaillé- Four Banal; www.angles
Maupertuis ! C4 ⌂ Vienne @ n 5 rue suranglin.com
St-Pierre; www.tourisme-
! C4 ⌂ Vienne § 05 49 55 chauvigny.com The village of Angles lies in
35 69 # Abbey church: a stunning riverside setting,
9am–6pm (to 7pm Jul & Aug) Chauvigny, set on a steep dominated by its castle ruins.
prom ontory overlooking the Adding to the charm is an old
Within a wooded valley, on broad River Vienne, displays watermill by the slow-running
the flowering banks of the the ruins of no fewer than four River Anglin, graced by water-
River Miosson, lies the Abbaye fortified medieval castles. lilies and swaying reeds.
de Nouaillé-Maupertuis. First Stone from the local quarry
mentioned at the end of the was so plentiful that nobody
7th century, the abbey became ever bothered to demolish PICTURE PERFECT
independent in the late 700s these earlier castles for The Right Angle
and followed the Benedictine building material. Angles-sur-l’Anglin is
rule. The church was built at Nevertheless, the best thing considered one of the
the start of the 12th century in this town is the 11th- to 12th- country’s most beau-
and reconstruc ted several century Église St-Pierre, whose tiful villages. Capture
times. Behind the altar is the decorated capitals are a real its magic from the castle
11th-century sarcophagus of treasure – particularly those in ruins, where they over-
St-Junien, with three great the choir stalls. The carvings look the River Anglin.
eagles painted on the front. represent biblical scenes along
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