Visit Nieul-sur-l'Autise, Pays de la Loire
Nieul-sur-l'Autise is a village situated at the southernmost edge of the Vendée department near the border with Poitou-Charentes (south of Vouvant and south-east of Fontenay-le-Comte).
Exploring Neuil
Most visitors come to the village to see the Abbey of Saint Vincent, established here in the 11th century. The abbey subsequently became designated a royal abbey by Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was born in Neuil in 1122.
The abbey church itself is roman in style and origins. The abbey underwent some restoration following damage during the Wars of Religion, had significant restoration work in the 19th century, and the clocktower, added much more recently, is rather less simple in design than we might expect of a roman church. Nonetheless the abbey and associated buildings are one of the most complete ensembles of roman buildings of their type to be found in France.
The abbey has various attractive features such as carvings, sculptures and arches but for me it is the original romanesque cloisters that are the highlight, with their great multi-columned pillars and calm reflective arcades.
Other sights of note in Nieul-sur-l'Autise - classified as a 'Petite Cite de Caractere' - include a watermill, now a functioning watermill where you can watch flour being ground using traditional machinery.
The remains of a neolithic camp are also to be found at Nieul-sur-l'Autise - Le Camp Durand - with defensive ditches dating back to prehistoric times.
Close to Nieul
Enthusiast of religious monuments will also want to visit Maillezais Abbey, just a few kilometres to the south-west of Nieul-sur-l'Autise.
Note: Photo by Lundeux details & copyright
Suggested places to visit near Nieul-sur-l'Autise, France
Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.
Maillezais abbey 7km
Fontenay-le-Comte 11km
Coulon 13km
Marais Poitevin 15km
More suggestions: Vouvant 18km; Marans 27km; Surgeres 36km; Parthenay 41km; Melle 47km; La Rochelle 47km; Sanxay 52km; La Flotte-en-Re 56km; Rochefort 58km; Saint-Martin-de-Re 58km;
See these places and more on a map at places near Nieul-sur-l'Autise
Nieul-sur-l'Autise tourism: sights and attractions nearby
Abbaye Royale (Nieul-sur-l'Autise) - religious monument (0km) : Abbaye Saint Pierre et Eglise de Saint Nicolas (Maillezais) - religious monument (7km) : Eglise de Saint-Eulalie (Benet) - religious monument (9km) : Eglise de Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (Maille) - religious monument (12km) : Baie de l'Aiguillon - site of natural beauty (18km) : Eglise de Notre-Dame (Vouvant) - religious monument (18km) : Jardins du Bâtiment - remarkable garden (29km) : Jardins de Chaligny - remarkable garden (38km) :
French version: see Nieul-sur-l'Autise (Francais)
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