The Poitou Charentes region has one of the most significant concentrations of Roman Art in Europe.

Religious architecture of the 11 th century includes the magnificent abbeys of Charroux, Saint-Savin and Saint-Jouin de Marnes. From the 12 th century are Saint-Eutrope at Saintes, the cathedral of Angoulême and the churches of Melle, the fortified keeps at Niort and Angles sur l’Anglin, the square tower of Loudun and the sculptures in the church at Aulnay.

There are two UNESCO world heritage sites in the region. The paintings and the abbey at Saint-Savin and the pilgrimage route of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle.

Now, more than €1.5m has been pledged by the Poitou-Charentes General Assembly for Culture to implement a “Regional Romanesque Art Plan” culminating in a region-wide exhibition in 2007.