- Airvault
Airvault is a commune in the
Deux-Sèvres department in thePoitou-Charentes region in westernFrance . It is located on the River Thouet. The inhabitants of Airvault are the " _fr. Airvaudais" and the " _fr. Airvaudaises".Historical sites
A Romanesque bridge over the Thouet leads into the town. The Saint Pierre church in the center of town was built circa 975 AD by Aldéarde, the wife of viscount Herbert I of
Thouars . Rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries, the church was used as a stop for pilgrims on their way toSantiago de Compostela . An underground fountain is located under the square in front of the church. One block from the church is the abbey which houses a museum of traditional arts and crafts. In the vicinity of the church,timber-framed houses border narrow medieval streets. The Castle of Airvault overlooks the church.Trivia
François-Marie Arouet might have chosen his pen name,
Voltaire , by inverting the syllables of the word “Airvault.” Although this is largely unsubstantiated, one of Voltaire’s parents allegedly owned property in the area. [Wade, Ida Owen. "Voltaire's Name". "PMLA", Vol. 44, No. 2. (Jun., 1929), pp. 546-564.]Airvault hosts a yearly
didgeridoo festival. [http://www.lereve-de-laborigene.net Didgeridoo festival website]Notes
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