Travel Guide Chauvigny

Chauvigny limestone, with its fine, even grain, has long been appreciated far beyond the region's borders. With its "Plus beaux détours de France" label, this small Town of Art and History has seen no fewer than five fortified castles rise from its rocky promontory to dominate the Vienne River. Some of them have suffered the ravages of various battles, but you'll be able to see them from afar. Visit the Goujon keep and take time to stroll around the surrounding Romanesque treasures, such as the12th-century collegiate church of Saint-Pierre, the church of Notre-Dame or the church of Saint-Pierre-les-Eglises, with its magnificent Carolingian paintings. Crafts have always played an important role in the village. Many have set up shop here: illustration, confectionery, porcelain, illumination, pottery, stone sculpture, painting... Take a stroll along the cobbled streets and alleys of the medieval town to meet the artists and craftspeople. Every second Sunday of the month, second-hand dealers set up shop in the main square. The Tèrra Aventura trail offers a different way to visit the town. A little further afield, the Mareuil forest is home to three signposted trails. To meet the producers, reserve your Saturday morning. Around 130 exhibitors come to the market square every week. They're the reason for the diversity and charm of the event. In fact, it's been voted the most beautiful market in the Vienne for three years running (2022-2024)!