Loudun

I decided to end my quest through France in a very small charming town called Loudun. I left Poitiers in the afternoon and started off on route D347. Loudun is about 54.2 km away from Poitiers, taking this route. It took me about 57 minutes to get to my destination. The population of this town is about 7,707. It's a town of charming old streets, old buildings, and beautiful views. 

Le Ricordeau 

As soon as I got into town I decided to first check into my hotel. I checked into the Le Ricordeau hotel located at 6 Place Boeuffeterie. The property was absolutely gorgeous! I decided to just let this day be a relaxing one for me. I hung around the garden and reflected on my journey as well as went swimming in the pool. The nice thing about going to this little town, is it doesn't attract many tourists so I have the ability to relax and enjoy the town without the busy hustle and bustle. Later that night, I ate at Le Ricordeau, my hotel. It is rated one of the best restaurants in Loudun. They have excellent food and it's presentation was beautiful.

Le Ricordeau

The next day, I was all ready for some exploring. Loudun has quite a few castles, so I decided to go check some out. I first went to La Bonnetiere Castle. Afterwards, I visited Coussay Castle. It's a beautiful Renaissance castle and has a nearby recreational park. I decided to visit one last castle for the day. So last stop was the Ternay Castle. This castle dates back to the 11th, 15th, and 17th centuries. This was probably my favorite castle to visit. Here, I did wine and cheese tasting, it was fabulous!

La Bonnetiere Castle

Coussay Castle

Ternay Castle

The very next day I went to the Saint - Hilaire Church. It's a very interesting 12th century church. The walls are decorated with painted murals. Loudun has quite a few museums in their town. I first visited the Acadian Museum. This museum follows Loudunais families who came in the 17th century to start a farming colony in "New France." Lastly, I visited the Romanesque Art Centre. This place has amazing carvings from the 12th century originating from the town of Loudun. This place shows how Loudun's architecture was influenced by the Romanesque Style.

Saint - Hilaire Church

Acadian Museum

Romanesque Art Centre

The very next day I visited the Loudun Aquarium. I never imagined there would be one in such a small town. Here, you can see many fresh-water exotic fish from Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania. They also have an outside pool where you can see the breeding tanks and the nursery tanks.

Loudun Aquarium

Following the museum, I did a nice afternoon hike in the Forest of Scévolles. This forest was named after a 16th century French poet,  Scévole de Sainte Marthe. It was such a pretty hike. I got to see a beautiful lake as well as some wildlife. 

Forest of Scévolles

I never imagined there would be so much to do and see in such a small town. This was definitely a great idea to come and visit Loudun, learn its interesting history, and see it's beautiful buildings and surroundings!



Resources: 
http://www.planetware.com/france/loudun-f-pc-lou.htm 
http://jcraymond.free.fr/Histoire/Lieux/L/Loudun/Tour/Tour.php
http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g616117-d1884491-Le_Ricordeau-Loudun_Poitou_Charentes.html
http://en.tourisme-vienne.com/chateau/chaussee-la/131/la-bonnetiere-castle-chaussee-la

Poitiers

The Notre Dame in Poitier
http://www.flickr.com/groups/historyantiquities/discuss/72157604604019816/page2/

Yesterday I left Niort and my next stop is Poitiers! It is 76.7 km away and takes just about an hour to get there. Poitiers is a country town with a lot of charm! It sits on top of a hill and overlooks two rivers. Poitiers has a lot of popular cafés, a lively outdoor culture, and a busy food and clothes market. I definitely think this is my kind of place! 

Lobby of Le Grand Hotel

When I arrived I first decided to check into my hotel. Because Poitiers does not have any luxury hotels, I decided to stay at a hotel that I found the best reviews on, Le Grand Hotel located at 28 Rue Carnot. It wasn't anything special but I hear they have good breakfast so I'll have to try it out in the morning! 

I was a little hungry so I had lunch at Le St Nicholas. It's a nice decently priced restaurant serving traditional food. I was able to sit outside and enjoy my food peacefully!

After lunch I went to Notre Dame la Grande! Oh la la! This church was absolutely stunning! I was intrigued with all the detail. I spent so much time studying the detail of the Notre Dame that I was already ready for dinner. I went to Alain Bouti a restaurant on rue Carnot that serves regional dishes such as cailles au pineau, which is quails cooked in a brandy liquor. It was actually very delicious despite my picky tastes. 

http://culinarylab.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

The next day I went to the Cathédrale St-Pierre. Now this was beautiful. This church started in 1162 but was not finished until 1379. It has a mix of styles including medieval, roman, transitional, and gothic. There are lots of neat carvings and beautiful stained glass. This was probably my favorite place to visit in Poitiers. 

Afterwards, I went to lunch at Bleu Sel. They serve delicious sandwiches and salads at a very reasonable price. Lots of students come here for lunch. I then went to the church of St-Hilaire-le-Grande. It was cool, but I enjoyed Cathédrale St-Pierre much more. This church was built in the 11th century over a Roman graveyard. 

Resources:

http://france-for-visitors.com/atlantic/poitiers/index.html

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/poitiers-notre-dame-la-grande

http://www.francebalade.com/poitou/poitieregl.htm

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/poitiers-cathedral

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/poitiers-st-hilaire-le-grand