Pouzauges, commune in Vendée, France
Pouzauges is a small town in the Vendée region of western France, built on hills at nearly 300 feet (100 meters) above sea level. It features narrow winding streets lined with old stone houses and a medieval castle with walls and towers that anchor the town center.
The town grew around a medieval castle owned by the Thouars family, which was fiercely contested between French and English forces during the Middle Ages. In the 16th century, descendants of Catherine de Thouars rebuilt and improved the castle for comfort while preserving its stone walls and towers.
Pouzauges takes its name from the medieval castle around which the town developed over centuries. The narrow alleys and squares reveal how residents have always gathered here, meeting at local markets and moving through the same winding streets as their ancestors.
The town is best explored on foot, with its network of small alleys easy to navigate at your own pace. Colorful mosaics placed at alley entrances feature QR codes that unlock short audio explanations about the history of each passage.
Artist Sophie Ribaud designed colorful mosaics at the entrances to the town's alleys, each telling a different story tied to local history. Visitors can scan QR codes on these artworks to hear audio explanations, turning a walk through town into an interactive discovery experience.
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