Vouvant ruelles dans la cité médiévale
©David Herbreteau pour Office de Tourisme Fontenay-Vendée

Cities and listed villages

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If you’re a lover of old stone, here are five must-see sites to explore during your holiday in the Vendée.

fontenay-le-comte-ville-renaissance-vendee-85-1.jpg
©S. Bourcier / Vendée Expansion & OT Fontenay-Vendée
Fontenay-le-Comte
A favourite of the Guide Michelin since 2020, the city of Fontenay-le-Comte also has several quality labels like “Ville d’art et d’histoire” (City of Art and History) or even...
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Centre-Minier-de-Faymoreau-galerie.jpg
©Vendée Sèvre Autise
Faymoreau, the mining experience
Discover the incredible history and adventure of the miners through the village, the museum, the chapel, or the headframe of Epagne.
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Vouvant patrimoine - tour Mélusine
©Alexandre LAMOUREUX
Vouvant, medieval city
Close to the forest of Mervent-Vouvant, discover the village of Vouvant and wander along the narrow streets to the Melusine tower, the former keep, and admire the old ramparts.
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Nieul-sur-l-Autise-petite-cite-de-caractere-vendee-85-1.jpg
©A. Lamoureux / Vendée Expansion
Nieul-sur-l’Autise, journey in the footsteps of Aliénor
This Petite Cité de Caractère® attracts those passionate about history. Near the Poitevin marsh, the limestone of the buildings reflects the sun like no other place and offers...
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Foussais-Payré - patrimoine prieuré
©Alexandre Lamoureux
Foussais-Payré, a small renaissance city
Not far from the forest of Mervent-Vouvant, go back in time by discovering the “Petites cités de caractère” that is Foussais-Payré. A renaissance village, where architecture is...
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Live these

historic experiences

Parc Baron Fontenay-le-Comte - parc en famille
©Julien Gazeau
A family outing one afternoon in the Baron Park
When the weather is more clement, what’s better than an afternoon in the Baron Park ? This site of 3 hectares combines historical heritage, architecture, green space, and...
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L'étrange Balade de Fontenay au parc Baron - Les FontenautesL'étrange Balade de Fontenay au parc Baron - Les Fontenautes
©L'étrange Balade de Fontenay au parc Baron - Les Fontenautes|Le Crabe Fantôme
The strange stroll of Fontenay
Discover Fontenay-le-Comte with an audio guide (only in french) ! A curious personage escorts you, like an invisible or imaginary friend and guides you as they go along their...
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©Mehdi Média / Vendée Sèvre Autise
Abbeys of the South of Vendée
Abbeys, cathedrals, romanesque churches, those historical monuments are made of white and bright stone, which lasted for centuries. These architectural jewels deserve to be...
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Vouvant patrimoine - Sommet de la tour Mélusine
©Mehdi Média
Go up to the Melusine Tower
From the former castle, Vouvant has kept the ramparts and the dungeon. The Melusine tower offers a remarkable view of the medieval city and the forest of Mervent-Vouvant. The...
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Donjon-Bazoges-en-Pareds-Vendee-Bocage-85390-1.jpg
©A. Lamoureux / Vendée Expansion
Donjon of Bazoges-en-Pareds
How people lived during the Middle Age? You will discover the answer in your visit of the Donjon, so be ready to do some time travel !
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Musee-Nationale-Clemeneau-Mouilleron-Saint-Germain-85390-1.jpg
©Mehdi Média / CC pays de la Châtaigneraie
Clemenceau – De Lattre National Museum
Mouilleron-en-Pareds, now Mouilleron-Saint-Germain, is a village at the border between the wooded countryside and the plains. There, you’ll find the houses of two great...
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More experiences

Tour mélusine Fontenautes
©Le crabe fantôme
Fontenautes & compagnie
Donjon-Bazoges-en-Pareds-Vendee-Bocage-85390-jardin.jpg
©J. Gazeau / Vendée Expansion
Parks and gardens
Vue sur la forêt et le lac de Mervent - Fontenay-Vendée - 85
©Julien Gazeau pour Vendée Expansion
The secret places of Mervent
Vouvant , Fontenay le comte , vendéeVouvant , Fontenay le comte , vendée
©Vouvant , Fontenay le comte , vendée|Simon Bourcier / Vendée Expansion et Office de Tourisme
Discover the City of Art and History
Le Comptoir du Tapissier
©Le Comptoir du Tapissier
Craftsman and art galleries
Vouvant patrimoine - Porte de la Poterne
©David Herbreteau
Vouvant, a history
Château Terre-Neuve 1Château Terre-Neuve 1
©Château Terre-Neuve 1|Alexandre LAMOUREUX
Visit of the Terre-Neuve Castle
Foussais-Payré - Sculptures à la Tronçonneuse
©David Herbreteau
Chainsaw sculptures, the path of sculptor