Activities
Château de Saint-Loup sur Thouet is located at the border between the Pays de Loire and New Aquitaine, at the very North of the Département des DEUX-SEVRES, half-way between the North and South of France. An ideal stopover for any person interested in French Architecture, History, and sensitive to the aesthetic, balance and authenticity of a real Château, protected by law as a Historic Monument.
Each year, works of restoration are undertaken for the upkeep of this entity aswell as specific efforts to return it to its original glow and to allow visitors to enjoy it from the inside as guests during a vacation or an event.
At the village entrance, it is possible to access by foot to restaurants and shops. To relax you can go for a promenade in the Park and Gardens of the adjoining Orangerie or enjoy a picnic at the Pavilion on the canal by the river Thouet. For fishermen, the wooden pier will be the ideal place to set a few lines and tickle pike or carp in the canal.
Each season, the whole world meets in the little village of Saint-Loup sur Thouet, nestled in its valley adjoining the river Thouet and close to the Cébron lake. A privileged location in the midst of preserved nature, rolling countryside, picturesque landscapes used by the pilgrims of St Jacques de Compostelle or the cyclists of Vélo Francette.
Whether you are an adept of farniente or of lazy mornings or quite the contrary a sportive person in quest of challenges, a globe-trotter eager to discover, the surrounding countryside has many environmental assets :
In particular the Abbeys of Airvault, Saint-Jouin de Marnes, Melle, St Pierre de Chauvigny in the heart of the eponymous medieval city, Saint-Savin high up on the list of UNESCO World Heritage and finally Fontevraud where lie the bodies of Alienor d’Aquitaine and Richard Lionheart.
In order to vary pleasures, also visit the handsome Château de Saumur so beautifully illustrated in the collection of illuminations called “The very rich hours of the Duke de Berry”, attend the shows of the Cadre Noir for those who love horse riding, or see the Châteaux of Angers, Azay-le-Rideau, Ussé, Villandry, Langeais if you travel North towards the Loire.
Ideally these beautiful outings should be interspersed with visits of caves or vineyards along the Loire valley; a good Chinon as Château de La Grille belongs to safe values. Smaller vineyards as Domaine du Belvédere are places to discover.
According to preferences and travelling in family, the good idea is to drop baggage at Saint-Loup for a few days and to visit the FUTUROSCOPE in Poitiers; then the next day to discover the Grand Parc of PUY DU FOU and the famous show that traces the History of the Vendée.
You can rest the following day enjoying the gardens and reading to your children the tale of Puss in Boots…
Did you know that the XVII th. c. Château was built by the Gouffier family who bore the title of Marquis de Carabas ?
For outdoor but potentially more restful activities, a canoe or pedalo ride on the Thouet can be advised ; in season you can rent these crafts from a short distance away from the Château entrance.
The Cébron lake located one and a half miles away is a relaxing destination for a walk and for bird watching: il will bring you peace and serenity in Nature. The more sporting elements will choose a visit to the lake of Moncontour where water activities of different sorts are available.
The expectations of Golf lovers will be fulfilled by the golf courses at Mazières en Gâtine in the direction of Parthenay, or Golf des Forges in the direction of St Maixent or yet again that of Bressuire, a thirty minutes drive to the West. Different Festivals echo from a long distance: they come from far those who partake in the Flip at Parthenay, the Dream of the Aborigen in Airvault or the Festival of Paintings and Sculptures in Saint-loup sur Thouet.