Gargantua, the fairy Mélusine, the knight and the dragon … tales and legends to (re) discover this summer in Niort. The City is organizing a guided tour who wants “family therefore intended for both children and adults”, specifies Alexandra Rompillon-Jouarre, cultural mediator and heritage historian.
She tells for example the story of Gargantua which would be at the origin of the creation of the marsh. Indeed the giant of Rabelais would have drunk Sèvre Niortaise, drying up part of the marsh. Having drunk too much, he would then have wanted to relieve himself, flooding the other part of the swamp.
Legends are always a dream
“It’s always a little magical to say to yourself, dragons could have existed. These are legends which are very old and which are passed on. So we can see that all generations need these stories”, explains Alexandra Rompillon-Jouarre who during the visit also tells the “historical truth”. Example, the creation of the Dungeon of Niort by the fairy Mélusine according to legend. It was in fact Henry II Plantagenêt, King of England and husband of Aliénor d’Aquitaine, who began construction around 1180.
Next dates of the visit: Saturday August 21 and Wednesday August 25. It’s free but you have to register because there is a maximum of 20 people. To book, click here.
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