Thouars

Thouars is a town in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France.

On January 1, 2019, three smaller towns called Mauzé-Thouarsais, Missé, and Sainte-Radegonde joined together to become part of Thouars.

The town is next to the River Thouet. People who live in Thouars are called Thouarsais. The name of a time in Earth's history, the Toarcian, comes from the town and is part of the Jurassic period.

History

Thouars has a long history dating back over 5,000 years. It first appeared in records in the seventh century. In the 760s, it was an important fortress in the region of Aquitaine.

Later, leaders called viscounts governed Thouars for many years. One famous leader, Aimery IV of Thouars, fought alongside William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings. The town has seen many changes over the centuries.

Population

The population numbers here show the people living in the commune of Thouars as of January 1, 2025.

Main sights

Thouars has many interesting places to see. One of them is the castle of the Dukes of La Trémoille, finished in 1635–1638. It used to be a school after it was fixed up.

There are old walls with towers from the 1200s, and a bridge from that time too. The Church of Saint-Laon, from the 1100s, has a special tomb inside. Another church, St. Medard, was built in the 1400s in a Romanesque style. There is also a Neo-Gothic chapel dedicated to Joan of Arc, and the Henri-Barré museum.

People

Thouars was the birthplace of several notable people. These include Louis II de La Trémoille, a general who lived from 1460 to 1525, and Jean-Hugues Anglade, an actor born in 1955.

Others from Thouars are Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby, who lived from 1599 to 1664, and Prosper Depredomme, a cyclist born in 1918 who passed away in 1997.

The town is also linked to Emilie von Hessen-Kassel, who became the Duchess of Thouars in 1648 and lived until 1693. Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France, daughter of James I of Scotland, is buried there. She lived from 1424 to 1445.

Twin towns

Thouars has friendships with towns in other countries. These include:

• Hannut in Belgium
• Port-Gentil in Gabon
• Diepholz in Germany
• Międzyrzec Podlaski in Poland
• Dumbarton in Scotland, United Kingdom

Climate

Thouars has a typical climate for western France. The weather here usually has mild winters and warm summers, with rain during the year. This climate makes it a nice place to live and visit.