Niort

The city of Niort (pop. about 60,000) is the capital of the Deux-Sèvres department, and is just over the border from the Vendée where we stayed. Without really knowing anything about it except the name, we decided to drive over and walk around on Friday morning. We followed the signs toward the centre-ville (downtown) and parked in a lot on a small island in the Sèvre Niortaise, the river that flows through the middle of town.

A view of the Sèvre Niortaise in the middle of Niort.

As with many of the rivers in this relatively flat region, the water flowed very slowly, allowing lots of lilies and duckweed and who-knows-what-else to grow on the river's surface. The day was overcast and a little chilly, but there was no wind and walking was pleasant. I hooked Tasha's leash to my waist and we headed in.