European Heritage Days in and around Poitiers

Game: The Secret of Notre-Dame-la-Grande

Church of Our Lady of the Great

Step into the shoes of a church builder! Manage your resources to contribute to the construction of this masterpiece of Romanesque art! Designed by students of the Nelson Mandela High School in Poitiers, this game is free and open to all!

The perfect opportunity to discover this iconic place in the city of a hundred bell towers! 

Escape game: the café of curiosities

Science Hotel in Poitiers

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the scientific collections at the University of Poitiers. Behind a captivating setting blending mysterious objects, specimens in jars, and antique instruments, lies a unique escape game. Observe, analyze, communicate: your ability to reason as a team will be the key to unlocking the secrets of the Café. The experience then continues with a special discussion to explore the history of the objects around you.

• Total duration : 1h (30 min escape game + 30 min cultural mediation)
• Team : 2 to 6 people
• age: Ages 8 and up

Game “Explorers, the Town Hall”

Poitiers Town Hall

The Poitiers Town Hall is a remarkable 19th-century architectural achievement, rich in symbols celebrating the city and municipal power.
Using an activity booklet, children can explore the building in a fun way and uncover all its secrets.

Practical
Free
Booklet available at the Town Hall reception

History at its source! 

Sunday, September 20

The Archives at the Source of Our History

Come visit the Departmental Archives building from 11am to 12pm and from 14pm to 16pm and discover the spaces which are usually closed to the public.

Important information:

• Tours depart every 30 minutes
• Duration: 45 min

Threat to the Archives!

Embark on a surprising escape game! Professor Triangolini, a disgraced archivist, has gone completely mad and wants to destroy all the archives of Poitou! You have 45 minutes to prevent this destruction by discovering the professor's identity and sending it to the members of Bureau 500 of the FIAT (International Federation of Temperate Archivists). We can't deprive the people of Poitou of their history, after all…

Important information:

• Duration: 45 min
• Group limited to 5 people per session
• Ages 16 and up
• Registration required before September 18th

Archival History(ies)

Another activity: a role-playing game offered by the role-playing association “La Guilde – Foyer du Porteau”. 
This role-playing game immerses you in the heart of the Archives and gives free rein to your imagination to create your own stories from an original archival document.

Important information:

• Duration: 2h30
• Ages 8 and up
• Registration required before September 18th

European Heritage Days across Greater Poitiers

Discover the program for the European Heritage Days throughout Greater Poitiers! 

European Heritage Days at Marmande Castle

Velches

Workshop: Discovering Medieval Illumination

Step into the Middle Ages and discover the art of illumination!

During this 2.5-hour workshop, let yourself be guided by two illuminators who graduated from ISEEM. Bird feathers, precious pigments, brushes, and gold leaf: discover the secrets of this ancestral art and leave with your own creation.

Accessible to all (from age 8) – no drawing skills required!
All inclusive: art supplies and snacks included. Price: €55
⚠️ Limited places – By reservation only.
📩 Info & booking: info@latourdemarmande.com

How old is the Tower? 

Become an archaeologist for the duration of a visit and reconstruct the history of the Marmande Tower!
Observation, deduction, and comparison are essential for playfully deciphering traces of the past! 

Entrance: 3 €
Free for under 18s and people with disabilities
Refreshment and catering on site
Average duration: 1h30

Treasure hunt "The 6 Golden Calves"

Civaux Archaeological Museum

Roman legend: The Treasure of the Golden Calves
Faced with the threat of Visigoth warriors, a wealthy Roman once hid his treasure in Civaux: six mysterious statuettes of calves made of solid gold…

Dive into an immersive family adventure! To find these precious objects, you'll need to solve captivating puzzles, overcome skillful challenges, and participate in themed craft activities. A fun and creative experience that will delight the whole family.

Practical
€2 per family. Registration required.

Guided tour “Nouaillé Abbey at night”

Abbey of Nouaille-Maupertuis

Exceptional evening events: Following in the footsteps of 18th-century monks

Experience a unique journey into the heart of the abbey! For these two exclusive evenings, the monks' wing opens its doors to you by candlelight. Let the family who owns the abbey guide you through its richly furnished rooms. A complete and privileged immersion into the daily life of an abbey at its peak, just before the turmoil of the French Revolution.

• Format : Guided tour in small groups (max. 40 people per time slot).
• Price: Free, with voluntary contribution.
• Accessibility: Not accessible to people with reduced mobility (PRM).

Discovery bike rally

Mirandes Towers Archaeological Site

Discover Saint-Martin-la-Pallu with a tourist bike rally! Solve riddles, take on team challenges, and enjoy a truly fun and friendly adventure, accessible to all. Heritage, nature, and discoveries await you, with a tasting for the brave at the finish line! 

Practical
Free. Limited to 25 people. Reservation required. Bring your own bike and personal safety equipment.

Guided tour of Ternay Castle

Chateau de Ternay

Immerse yourself in the daily life of the knight Bertrand de Beauvau and discover a place steeped in history during a guided tour led by the owner, punctuated with fascinating stories and anecdotes. Admire the richly sculpted inner courtyard, the remarkable Gothic chapel, the magnificently preserved period salons, and the 45-hectare park planted with centuries-old trees.

Practical
Reservations required. Limited places (50 per session).

Immersion at the source of the La Roche-Posay brand 

La Roche-Posay Thermal Center

Presentation of the resource (thermal water trail), of the thermal center, visit to the treatment center, presentation of support treatments.

Practical
Groups of 15 to 20 people maximum per session.
No dogs allowed
Visits to the Thermal Baths and the Pink Pavilion are only available on Sundays: registration required. 

The doors of the Roche-Posay thermal center are open!

Sign up for a 1.5-hour guided tour with spa attendants who will share their expertise. You'll learn all about its thermal water, the filament showers, the affusion massages, and the sprays.

Important information:

• Visits between 10am and 16:30pm
• Duration: 1h30
• Free 
• Registration required

Singing walk in Châtellerault

Departure from the Manu site 

What if you rediscovered Châtellerault… through music? This unique 2km experience blends history, heritage, and songs during a friendly stroll through the city streets. Each location highlights a facet of Châtellerault's history, from working-class life to the memory of the factory, not forgetting iconic landmarks like the Pont Henri IV! 

Limited to 50 people
See you on September 20, 2026 at 9:45 am – Departure at 10 am.
Arrival: Taupanne community cultural center, Châtellerault.
Information: payschatelleraudais@jmfrance.org, 06 20 12 20 41

The Fabulous Menagerie of Mr. de la Fontaine

Abbey Church of Saint-Savin

You are probably familiar with Jean de la Fontaine. The show “The Fabulous Menagerie of Mr. de la Fontaine”, performed according to the rules of the 17th century, immerses us in the atmosphere of the salons of that era, where the animals of our fabulist will surprise you with their modernity, their humor and their impertinence.

Practical
Upon reservation.
Limited places: 80 max.

Treasure hunt at Villesalem Priory

Journal

Discover the Priory of Villesalem as a family with a unique treasure hunt! You are now searching for the lost tool of Guilhem the sculptor… Can you help him find his precious tool?

Practical
Ages 7 and up
Free – no reservation required.

Guided tour of the Château du Fou

Vouneuil-sur-Vienne

Let us tell you the story of the Château du Fou! Follow the guide through its parks and gardens for an immersion in the heart of an exceptional estate, punctuated by the secrets and anecdotes that have shaped its places.

Free – no reservation required.

Find all the information about the European Heritage Days on their official website