Airvault

ocated on the River Thouet.

Located on the River Thouet, inhabitants of Airvault are the Airvaudais and the Airvaudaises.

A Romanesque bridge over the Thouet leads into the town. The Saint Pierre church in the center of town was built circa 975 AD by Aldéarde, the wife of viscount Herbert I of Thouars.

Rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries, the church was used as a stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. An underground fountain is located under the square in front of the church.

One block from the church is the abbey which houses a museum of traditional arts and crafts. In the vicinity of the church, timber-framed houses border narrow medieval streets.

Château d’Airvault

A medieval castle, the Château d’Airvault, overlooks the church. Château d’Airvault is considered by the historian Henri Bodin as “one of the rare remaining specimens of military architecture of the 11th century”.

From this time, there remains the enceinte with its two uncrowned towers and its keep whose well-preserved silhouette marks the urban landscape.

The 14th- and 15th-century buildings inside the enceinte replaced in the original buildings.

According to Bodin, the castle was built on the site of the former Gallic oppidum and the builders of the castle were inspired by the square towers of this old oppidum and the way to put them on the ramparts.

It is this peculiarity of construction which makes it possible to date the castle of Airvault at least to the 11th century.