Travel Guide Châtellerault

The fruit of ten centuries of history, Châtellerault has many assets. The first castle was founded around 952 by the lord of Airaud. A stopover on the road to Santiago de Compostela, home to Clément Jannequin and René Descartes, the town boasts a rich and varied historical heritage. The Vienne sub-prefecture was long associated with its arms factory, founded in 1819 and closed in 1968. The Manu site has been transformed. The site has preserved its rich industrial and technical heritage, while modernizing and offering a wide range of activities. Its architecture and history are a bridge between past, present and future.But the town also boasts many other assets, including architectural highlights such as the 19th-century Blossac theater and the early17th-century Renaissance Henri IV bridge. In the town center, Rue Bourbon is the main shopping street, along with the Halles on Place Dupleix. Don't miss the gardens of the château's media library, Maison Descartes, Hôtel Sully, the contemporary art center, Boulevard Blossac and the Alaman site. Take a stroll along the banks of the river Vienne, where the quays have been rehabilitated. For strolls, there's also the lake (with its La Cabane du Lac media library and summer beach) and the nearby forest.On the cultural front, in June jazz resounds in town with the Jazzelerault festival. Ici l'été offers free entertainment. In September, ManUrban gets the Manu moving, and Gravel Fever lets you pedal your way through the region. Get moving!