The small town of Niort is a popular base for tourists looking to explore the Bay of Biscay and western France.
Niort is a picture-postcard of traditional France, with small houses with terracotta roofs clustered around tight, winding streets. The best place to sample the view is with a climb up to the top of the Donjon de Niort, a 15-century medieval castle, which offers spectacular views of the town and the Sèvre Niortaise valley.
The town is great for relaxing, although to really experience the best of this region, taking up car hire from Niort will really let you explore this beautiful region of France.
With the town situated under an hour's drive to the coastal town of La Rochelle, and roughly halfway between the larger cities of Nantes and Bordeaux, with each taking under two hours to get to, hiring a car from Niort is a great way to see some of the best of the Bay of Biscay and to do a little shopping.
La Rochelle itself is a beautiful port town, with a picturesque old harbour that is famed for its seafood restaurants. Many tourists take boat trips to the famous Fort Boyard, whilst others simply relax on the beach.
