Tusson, the heart of Marguerite

At the heart of the hills near Ruffec, Tusson has had a remarkable history from the Middle Ages to the present day. In the 12th century, Robert d'Arbrissel, the founder of Fontevraud built a priory there. Later, Marguerite d'Angoulême, sister of François 1st stayed at Tusson,
withdrew there following the death of her brother and continued her literary work.
The presence of this queen of the Renaissance, a cultivated, committed woman, was a good period for the village. Up until the 1950s, Tusson was also a market centre which was famous for its livestock fairs where traders and farmers bought and sold Poitou mules, draught horses and oxen. Today, the village of Tusson has been rehabilitated and its heritage is protected. It is a very pleasant place for a stroll. Flowers line the streets, the herb gardens are set between houses with external staircases and Renaissance residences.