Ile-de-Ré can claim two of the Most Beautiful Villages – Ars-en-Ré with its whitewashed houses and distinctive church spire, and La-Flotte-en-Ré, where narrow lanes lie behind a picturesque harbour. Heading down the mainland coast towards Royan, Mornac-sur-Seudre lies on the old salt route between Bordeaux and La Rochelle, another enchanting cluster of whitewashed houses fringed with hollyhocks. See the Romanesque church, medieval covered market and the fishing harbour, now a centre for the oyster trade.

Nearby Talmont boasts one of the most dramatic Romanesque churches in the region, perched on a cliff above the left bank of the Gironde estuary, and there’s another dramatic church in the south of the region at Aubeterre sur-Dronne.

This beautiful small village boasts houses with wooden galleries, an imposing chateau, and the largest monolithic church in France, built into the cliff in the 12th century. Galleries running along the top of the nave, more than 20 metres above ground, provide a spectacular view of the whole building.

In the west of the region, Angles-sur-l’Anglin combines a ruined fortress, ancient watermill, and a wealth of quaint houses to form a picture-postcard village on the banks of the Anglin river. Just half a mile from the village, the Roc-aux-Sorciers is one of Europe’s most important examples of prehistoric art, a rock shelter containing a carved frieze dating from the Magdalanian era.

The medieval city of Chauvigny, for instance, is unique in Europe, boasting not one, not even two, but five individual fortresses constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries. At the centre stands St Peter’s church with its richly decorated, Romanesque interior. Visit the industrial archaeology centre in the keep; the museum of popular traditions and archaeology; and the breathtaking birds of prey display at the Château des Evêques – a real family destination.

Nearby Montmorillon on the banks of the Gartempe river was an important monastic centre in the Middle Ages and is still a highlight of the area known as the Valley of the Frescoes. The fine Romanesque buildings include the Octagon, the crypt of Saint Catherine – famous for its frescoes – and the painted angels of Saint-Laurent chapel.

Montmorillon is also widely known as the Cité de l’Ecrit et des Métiers du Livre – the Village of the Written Word and Book Crafts. Wander the medieval quarter to discover specialist booksellers, an exhibition of typewriters and calculators, and diverse crafts ranging from calligraphy and painting to pottery and sculpture. And don’t leave town without trying the local food speciality–delicious Montmorillon macaroons.

A Romanesque town and major stopover on the road to Santiago de Compostela, Melle is home to three fine Romanesque churches, but also to the silver mines of the Carolingian kings. The oldest mines open to the public in Europe, they served as Royal Mint in the 8th and 9th centuries.

Step back into the Middle Ages with a stroll beneath the half-timbered facades of Parthenay’s medieval quarter, dominated by a 13th century fortress and overlooking the Thouet river. Also on the river bank, the nearby town of Thouars boasts a magnificent floral park, as well as a Romanesque church and 17th century chateau.