This giant bike just outside La Chataigneraie - which we never learned how to pronounce - heralded the Tour de France as it passed through town.
The ruined, 13th century Château de Pouzauges
Climbing the fence to get a good photo of the windmills of Terrier-Marteau
Druids once worshipped mistletoe in the mysterious Bois de la Folie, which was supposed to be inhabited by the fairy Mélusine.
This is my favourite photo of Nick.
The Château de St-Mesmin-la-Ville is a party-ruined, 14th century castle overlooking the Sèvre Nantaise river.
Nick contemplates his sandwich outside the Église de La Pommeraie-sur-Sèvre. We visited this church to see the Seven Deadly Sins frescoes on the inside walls.
And enraptured inside.
The Seven Deadly Sins frescoes date back to the 12th century.
From left to right: Wrath (armoured), Greed (eating), Lust (in blue), Miserliness (riding wolf), Envy (in red), Pride (crowned). Sloth was on the other side of the pillar.
Lust is supposed to be "beckoning" with his right hand.
An extravagantly-horned demon carts the colourful procession off to Hell.
Relics of 3rd century martyr St Valentine can be seen ain the church of St-Pierre-du-Chemin.
The Tour Mélusine is an ancient watch tower in Vouvant that, according to folklore, was built by the fairy Mélusine in 1242. I bet this legend really annoyed the real builders.
From atop the tower
By the river in Vouvant
Fantastical animals surround the doorway of Vouvant's 11th century Romanesque church.
Another riverside view
