Culture
The Saint-Pierre Abbey Church is a significant Romanesque building in Poitou. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross with an ambulatory and radially arranged chapels, as is typical of pilgrimage churches along the routes to Santiago de Compostela. Its furnishings include a mechanical cylinder organ; it is one of fewer than ten instruments of this kind known in France. The Saint-Pierre Abbey Church is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with free admission. Six groups of buildings have survived from the Ancienne abbaye Saint-Pierre, including the Cuvier, the prison, the chapel, the cellars with the abbot’s residence, and the monumental gate.
The Musée Municipal Jacques Guidez has been housed since 1975 in the abbey building of a former abbey; its gardens are freely accessible all year round. The Vieux Château preserves elements of 13th-century military architecture, including defensive walls, a chemin de ronde, and loopholes. The Château d'Airvault is partly listed as a Monument historique and partly classified as a Monument historique.
The market halls of Airvault were built from the late Middle Ages onwards and acquired their present form in 1846. In 1846–1847, they were rebuilt in stone in the Neoclassical style. The market halls host a weekly market on Saturday mornings. Airvault has officially held the distinction of “Petite Cité de Caractère” since 15 June 2011.
Under the Place Saint-Pierre lies Airvault’s underground spring. Its watercourse runs underground through the town centre to the Thouet.
Circular Walks
The Chemins d’Aldéarde are circular walks for discovering the heritage, leading to Airvault’s historic sights.
Nature
There are two type I ZNIEFF areas within the municipal territory of Airvault. The ZNIEFF Bois des Cheintres lies between the Château de Vernay and the campsite and is home to three regionally protected orchid species: monkey orchid, Müller’s Epipactis, and small-leaved Epipactis. Along the Thouet in Deux-Sèvres, a 120-kilometre cycling route runs through the varied landscapes of the Gâtine and Thouarsais regions.
Anyone planning a stay in Airvault may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
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