Parthenay is the Pays de Gatine capital and is located in the Deux-Sèvres department (Nouvelle Aquitaine region). This town was extended through the Middle-Age and became a reinforce citadel and a stay place for Santiago de Compostela pilgrims. Unfortunately, a part of the citadel was destroyed during the Hundred years’ and the religions’ wars.
Access
Activities
In Parthenay you could enjoy parks, public gardens and backpacking tracks. In addition to the Pentecost festivity with trade far and cavalcade, there are 3 main festivals organised: “De bouche a oreille” with new traditional music, “Ah? Dans la rue” which is a street theatre event and the “Festival des jeux” which is the world bigger game festival planned for kids and adults. This event runs 12 days during the summer. This year it will take place from 4th to 14th July with evening games.
Parthenay has to be visited for its historical capital such as the Pathernay-le-Vieux church (1846), Notre Dame de Couldre (1862), medieval relics and the St Jacques gate (1885). The medieval Bonnivet Castle, which one part has been destroyed, has interesting vestiges like the powder tower, Harcourt tower, Richemont Bastille and the artillery room. In the centre of the town you could look up to medieval style house and enjoy the markets. The Atemporelle association do some guided tour and touristic animations. They will explain you the most important historical periods: Middle-Age, French Revolution and the industrial revolution with the development of tannery, metalworking and food industry in the town. Moreover, in Parthenay there is an aquatic centre and sport facilities.
Food and drinks
In this French area close to the sea, lots of specialities are seafood such as Oleron oyster and mussels but you could find Cagouille snails, goat cheese and the famous limousine cow. There are lot of alcohol specialities with 3 kind of wine (Pineau des Charentes, Haut-Poitou and Pays Charentais), 6 Cognac vineyards and the Angelique liqueur with Cognac, sugar, distilled water and the Angelique (plant cultivated in this area).
Restaurants
- Bar l’Estaminet, 6 rue de la Vau Saint Jacques, +33(0)5 49 71 00 46
- Le fin Gourmet, 28 rue Ganne, +33 (0)5 49 64 04 53, from €19
Sextant properties can put you in touch with a local bi-lingual estate agent (immoblier) who can suggest suitable properties in the area and who will accompany you on visits. This is a lovely area for families, but there is something for everyone, whether they want a small modern town house or rolling acres and a water mill and whether this is to be a holiday home or a permanent move. So I wish you happy house hunting in Deux Sèvres.