MUSÉE SAINTE-CROIX - ARCHITECTURE

The Musée Sainte-Croix is the largest museum of its kind in the Poitou-Charentes region. Designed in 1974 by Poitevin architect Jean Monge, the Brutalist-style building occupies the excavated site of the former Sainte-Croix abbey (^5th-7th century ruins visible in the antique section). Discover the regional archaeology collections. These include rare 17,000-year-old engraved portraits (from the La Marche cave in Lussac-les-Châteaux) and Neolithic stone tools.

Numerous artefacts testify to the occupation of Limonum, city of the Pictons, since Caesar's conquest, including an elegant marble statue ofAthena from the ^1st century BC. As for the sculpted sarcophagi and famous stucco decoration at Vouneuil-sous-Biard, they illustrate the productions of the early Christians, late Antiquity and the High Middle Ages. A fine series of Romanesque and Gothic sculptures, stained glass windows, paintings and ceramics testify to the influence of Poitou's medieval past.

The Fine Arts department takes you on a tour of early painting, from the ^14th century onwards, with Venetian art, followed by works from the northern schools in their heyday, and ending with monumental works from Italy and France. This is where you'll meet the famous wooden dragon La Grand'Goule. To understand the city's history, pause in front of the work of François Nautré, who in 1619 painted "Le Siège de Poitiers par l'Amiral de Coligny en 1569", a true portrait of the city.

Closer to home, the major trends in painting, from the end of the ^19th century to the early days of Modernism, are represented by a number of works by regional and national artists. They stand alongside superb sculptures by Auguste Rodin and, above all, Camille Claudel, whose collection is the second largest in France. Modern art from the early ^20th century is represented by works by Mondrian, Bonnard, Vuillard, Sisley and Marquet, among others. The exhibition also gives pride of place to women artists: Camille Claudel, Sarah Lipska, Romaine Brooks, Chana Orloff, Odette Pauvert... Temporary exhibitions complete the tour.

As for events, there are Croq'Musée workshops for young visitors during the school vacations (please book well in advance!), and the "Tuesday Lunchtime" guided tours: a fascinating 30 minutes to enjoy with or without your sandwich.