Visit to the Donjon Museum

Museums

Adult €5.50 Free with the Pass!

Enter the heart of the Donjon, an emblematic fortification of the town of Niort, and walk from the dungeons to the panoramic terrace. A permanent exhibition and a collection of ethnographic and archaeological objects are on display in the various rooms of the Donjon.  

The Musée du Donjon hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year, and admission to current exhibitions is included in your museum ticket.

Additional information

Services:

. Free supervised changing rooms

The permanent exhibition 1000 years of history reveals the secrets of this historic site. Tracing the history of the town and the Keep from its creation in the 12th century to its current appearance, it is spread over five rooms with a topographical model, dioramas, 3D animation, etc. 

Two rooms are devoted to the museum's ethnographic collections, featuring traditional Poitevin furniture and a reconstruction of a Poitevin interior.

Three rooms feature archaeological collections from excavations in and around Niort (Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, Vienne).

The terrace of the Donjon is also open to visitors (in bad weather, the terrace is closed for safety reasons), offering a 360° panoramic view and an orientation table to help you find your way around.

Opening hours

From 1 June to 30 September: 
Tuesday to Friday, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm
Thursday from 10am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 7pm
Closed on Mondays

1 October to 31 May:
Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Thursday from 10am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday from 14:00 to 18:00
Closed on Mondays

Closed on 1 May, 1 November, 25 December and 1 January.

Please arrive at reception at least 30 minutes before closing time.

  • Motor disability

    The Musée du Donjon is not accessible to people with motor disabilities.

  • Access by bike

    The town of Niort lies along the route of the Vélofrancette.

    ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Océan Pass: get a 30% discount on bike hire.
    Present your pass at our partner Cycling Tour in La Rochelle and benefit from your discount (your pass must be activated and valid).

  • Access by car

    ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Océan Pass (adult rate only): get €10 off the hire of a Yélomobile car.
    Reach the sites included in your pass around La Rochelle, with the yellow-topped Yélomobile car-sharing scheme: book in advance, for 1 hour or several days, Yélomobile cars make it easy to get around near La Rochelle. 

    Details of fares and conditions of access to the Yélomobile service 

  • Access by train

    The SNCF train station is a 15-minute walk from the Musée du Donjon (approx. 1km). The train journey from La Rochelle takes an average of 45 minutes to Niort.

    ADVANTAGE INCLUDED in your La Rochelle Océan Pass: unlimited access to TER NOUVELLE-AQUITAINE trains between La Rochelle and Niort.
    In the application, press the ‘TER train transport’ button and then the button for your destination, i.e. La Rochelle < > Niort. Generate your ticket by pressing the ‘Press here to validate your TER train ticket when boarding’ button. Your e-ticket will appear: it is valid for 2 hours. For your return journey, generate a new ticket by repeating the previous operation.

    Find TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine train timetables easily.

Donjon Museum

An emblematic building in the town of Niort, the Donjon is the last remaining example of a major fortified complex. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1840, it is also a Musée de France.