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Towards the central and western part of France is located the department of Vienne. It is one of the 83 departments that were created during the time of the French Revolution in 1790, from territories that belonged to the former province of Poitou. Region that now belongs to New Aquitaine since January 2016.
The city of Vienne is part of a territory of economic and cultural dynamism, located in the heart of communications with Lyon, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne. Thanks to its diverse history and richness, it has been classified as a City of Art and History; combining the vestiges of the past with a commercial and dynamic life of today.
Its prefecture or capital is Poitiers, whose attractions stand out for the architecture of museums, churches and palaces. A city with a lot of art and history, but which also looks to the future with dynamism; an example of this is the Futuroscope Theme Park, which represents the most innovative side of the city.
What is there to discover in the Vienne region?
The city of Vienne has many places to visit and get to know. Among them we have, for example, the Cathedral of Vienne, the Abbey of Saint-André-le-Bas, the Roman Circus, the Roman Theater or the Gallo-Romain Museum of Saint-Romain- en-Gal.
We also find the Musée Archéologique Saint-Pierre, the famous Jardin du 8 Mai 1945, the Cybele Archaeological Garden, the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie, the Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat, the Vienne Market, the Lyon Fountain. Jazz à Vienne, among others.
Vienne Cathedral:
The Vienne Cathedral, a national monument, is not really a cathedral. Already at the beginning of the 19th century the archdiocese of Vienne was abolished, and what can be seen today are Gothic and Romanesque styles from the 12th and 14th centuries. Although with some later additions, as the structure was damaged during the Religious Wars.
The west façade is considered a treasure, as are the 3 arches of the portal. On the right side are beautiful angels and prophets; the left side is dedicated to the Virgin Mary; and the central arch has images from both the Old and New Testaments.
Abbaye de Saint-André-le-Bas:
There is really not much information about this abbey. However, it is known that it dates back to the 5th century. In addition, it was part of the palace, the chapel of the Burgundian kings of the ninth century. It is said that at the end of that century it was in the hands and control of the Benedictines, a time when much of the current architecture was completed.
Later, in the 12th century, the cloister was built, which is the only complete Romanesque style cloister in Rhone-Alpes; the bell tower and flying buttresses are from the same period. Then, in the 13th century, the famous radiant chapels were added.
Roman theater:
This theater dates from around 40 A.D.; it remained practically hidden until 1908, despite being the largest in Roman Gaul. It is said that, for its time, it must have held at least 13,000 people or spectators.
Between 1920 and 1930 this theater was restored, and today it is still a place for different performances, with a capacity of 8,000 spectators distributed among its 46 levels; especially in summer time concerts are presented.
Gallo-Romain Museum of Saint-Romain-en-Gal:
This museum is located on the right bank of the Rhone River. In its time this area was made up of villas, warehouses and workshops; a whole residential and commercial district. Inside there is an exhibition with immense mosaics, which can be better detailed from the 1st floor.
In addition, the museum has some artifacts that were found in the area, combined with certain reconstructions so that the visitor can understand the lifestyle of that Vienne. Likewise, the museum also has 2 bath structures, of which 1 was for the wrestlers.
What places can we visit in the capital of Vienne, Poitiers?
Poitiers is a beautiful city steeped in history; with its cobblestone streets and Romanesque-style architecture it is very interesting. It also has an active student population and is a cultural and artistic beauty.
For example, we find the Church Notre-Dame-La Grande, in Romanesque style dating from the eleventh century, a jewel of the past. Likewise, there are palaces in the Angevin Gothic style, such as the Palace of the Dukes of Aquitaine, the Counts of Poitou. There is also a church that has been declared World Heritage by UNESCO: the church of Saint-Hilaire in Romanesque style.
There is also the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, dating from between 1160 and 1379, with its Gothic style. Also the views of the Clain River from the Point de Vue des Dunes, which are said to be exceptionally beautiful. But these are not the only places to see; lovers of paintings from the 14th to the 20th century, a Romanesque type of art, can visit the Musée Sainte Croix.
For more informal places, there are the flea markets of Notre-Dame-La-Grande, or attend performances of artists, whether music, dance or theater, both national and international, at the TAP-Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers, Scène Nationale.
Finally, we can visit the famous and very famous Futuroscope Theme Park, the 2nd most visited in France. It is located 20 minutes from the city. A great innovation and futuristic where it mixes multimedia technology such as simulators, audiovisual cinema systems and robotic systems; showing the not too distant future. Let’s describe this park in more detail.
The incredible Futuroscope Theme Park in Poitiers, capital of Vienne
Futuroscope, called by some the city of science, started its activities in 1987. It is located near Poitiers, towards the periphery of this city, at the level of the communes Jaunay-Clan and Chasseneuil-du-Poitou; near the ill-named Castles of the Loire.
Since its opening, visits have been increasing, reaching 40 million people in 2011. It is a park for the enjoyment of both children and adults; and what is recommended is to visit it for 2 days if you want to enjoy the whole park. That is why it is also suggested to book a hotel in this area so you can enjoy the shows, which end a little late, such as the shows on the water.
The park has 5 environments. We have the family environment, with shows and attractions for all members of the family. It also has the Strong Sensations environment, for those who like adrenaline and are more intrepid. It also has the Great Shows, with the most colorful shows.
There is the Discoveries area, the most instructive and didactic, where technology and science go hand in hand; where people learn, but also have fun. And finally, the Futuropolis area, inaugurated in 2019, for the little ones at home.
The place has been a pioneer for the numerous audiovisual rooms that are projected with IMAX technology, which is the maximum resolution and size of non-conventional images. In this way you can experience different trips feeling that you are in the projection of the screen. Phenomena such as tornadoes, free fall, space travel, planetary ecosystems, among others, are explained.
But around the park, other venues have recently been inaugurated. For example, the Futuroscope Arena, for sports and culture, hosting film screenings, concerts, dance and opera. It has a capacity of about 6,000 bleachers and opened its doors to the public in May 2022. It will also be used for sports competitions, both national and international.
Likewise, this spring saw the opening of the incredible restaurant Loop Espacial, whose particularity lies in its original decoration, since the dishes are chosen on touch screens and arrive at the table by means of a circuit of rails in the form of loops, imitating a kind of roller coaster.
To complete this pull of futuristic places, the Station Cosmos Hotel was opened at the main entrance of the park; a hotel themed as if you were in a space station, which has 76 rooms to sleep comfortably, as if you were in a spaceship. In addition, thanks to its superior category, it has the certificate of High Environmental Quality.
