Things to Do in Niort

A medieval dungeon tower from the 12th century, now housing the municipal tourist office. Climb the spiral staircase for panoramic views over the old town and Sèvre Niortaise river.

🕐 Mon-Sat 10:00-12:30, 14:00-18:00; Sun 14:00-18:00

💡 The tower closes for lunch 12:30-14:00. Go just before noon to avoid the queue and get the best light for photos.

A twin-towered medieval keep from the 12th century, now a museum of local history. Exhibits cover the city's role in the salt trade and the medieval textile industry. The rooftop offers views over the Marais Poitevin.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-12:30, 14:00-17:30; closed Mon

💡 Entrance costs €5 (€3.50 for students). The audioguide is worth the extra €1—it explains how the towers shifted 30cm during a 17th-century earthquake. Skip the dungeon if you're claustrophobic.

The main square of Niort, lined with plane trees and 17th-century arcaded houses. A lively meeting point with outdoor cafés, a weekly market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, and a large fountain.

🕐 24/7 open public space; market Wed & Sat 7:00-13:00

💡 The Saturday market is the best—arrive by 9am for fresh charentais melon and goat cheese from local farms. Grab a chair at Café de l'Avenue for people-watching.

A large, well-maintained English-style park with a lake, flowerbeds, and a playground. Popular for picnics and jogging along the river. The gardens include a small aviary and a bandstand.

🕐 Open dawn to dusk daily

💡 Bring bread for the ducks on the lake, but skip the overpriced snack bar—walk 3 minutes to Rue du Petit Pavillon for a proper bakery.

A municipal museum combining fine arts, natural history, and decorative arts in a former 19th-century boarding school. Highlights include Delacroix sketches and a taxidermy collection of local wildlife.

🕐 Tue-Sat 10:00-12:30, 14:00-18:00; Sun 14:00-18:00; closed Mon

💡 Free entry on the first Sunday of each month (other days €5). Check the temporary exhibitions in the lower gallery—they often feature local contemporary artists.