Saint-Savin Abbey

Guided tour of Saint-Savin Abbey with a tour guide or self-guided tour with accompanying leaflet (abbey church, monastic buildings, scenographic tour), duration 1 hour. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, Saint Savin Abbey is home to the largest collection of Romanesque wall paintings in Europe. Freshly restored, come and rediscover them in their brand new presentation: fibre-optic lighting, wrought-iron chandeliers and renovated stained-glass windows. The 17th-century monastic building is the setting for the scenographic tour: films, models, a touch terminal with 3D images, slide shows and multimedia benches give visitors a fun, interactive way to explore the site and the paintings, placing them in turn in their historical, religious and artistic context.

This masterpiece of Romanesque art is a must-see for anyone wishing to discover the Poitou Romanesque region and experience a thrilling moment. Also worth a visit: the Vallée des Fresques itinerary, between Saint-Savin and Saulgé along the Gartempe river, links a number of monuments decorated with murals. From the 11th to the 16th centuries, artists of the past exercised their talents on the walls of churches, chapels and châteaux, commissioned by monks and lords. The tradition of wall decoration was revived in the 19th century.

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