What to do and see in Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine: The Best Historic Sites

The Merovingian necropolis in Civaux has been occupied from Antiquity up to the present day. Exceptional! It has been used for over 1700 years. According to XVIIIth century drawings, the necropolis was 3 or 4 times bigger than the one you see today. It covered between 3 and 4 hectares. The number of tombs here has been estimated at between 7 000 and 15 000, which has no relation to the population of Civaux at the time. The walls are made from sarcophagi lids arranged like standing stones. They were probably put up in the Middle Ages, towards the 12th or 15th centuries, when the cemetery was made smaller. The part not used as a cemetery became a stone quarry. The sarcophagi caskets and lids were then used as troughs, watering places, stair steps, floor slabs or simply building stones. Before entering the necropolis, study the sarcophagus lid to the left of the gate.It is decorated with three crossbars, a typical Poitou Merovingian design between 500 and 800 A.D.

For the first time open to the general public, an abbey from the Middle Ages wakes up and tells her story. Unforgettable visits and activities. Between Poitiers, Angouleme and Niort, in France.

Nestlings in the cliffs at Saint-Rémy-sur-Creuse in the Vienne, the troglodyte village of Ethni'Cité looks out over the Creuse Valley. Its rich history evokes weavers, the middle ages and Richard the Lionheart. Entry fees: Self-guided tour: 4,00 € / (- de 16 ans) 3,00 € Tour with audioguide (in English): 5,00 € / (-de 16 ans) 3,50 € Guided Tour (on reservation): 6,50 € / moins de 16 ans 4,50 € Tour and Visit Free for under 7s. Special opening on Mondays/Tuesdays that fall on a public holiday. Park in the 'mairie' car park, then walk to the site following the signposts.