Can this visit be combined with another activity?

Of course you can. Our sales department can create a tailor-made half or full day for you: another guided tour, a heritage site, an outdoor activity, a gourmet break, a meeting with an artisan… Just tell us what you’d like to do: we’ll put together the best experiences in the area and take care of all the organisation.

Is this tour suitable for children?

This tour is aimed primarily at adults or mixed groups (adults and children). Children are welcome in adult groups, but the tour is not specially designed for them.

Is there free parking close to the start of the tour?

Yes, you can park for free in the town hall car park.

Can I get to the start of the tour by bus? Is there authorised parking for buses?

Yes, the bus can drop you off directly at the town hall car park, where the tour starts. Parking is free.

Are there toilets close to the starting point?

Public toilets are available at the town hall.

Does the guide use a microphone?

The use of a microphone depends on the size of the group and the habits of each guide. If you absolutely must have a microphone, please let us know at the time of booking so that we can plan ahead.

Guided tour of Foussais-Payré | Pays de Fontenay-Vendée Tourist Office group

Step back in time in the heart of a Renaissance village

A village with the Petite Cité de Caractère® label, Foussais-Payré reveals a heritage shaped by the Renaissance and the religious upheavals of the 16ᵉ century. Accompanied by a guide, your group will discover a prosperous market town, marked by trade, fairs and the great merchant families.

Remarkable dwellings, covered market halls, religious heritage and contemporary works of art interact during a lively tour, punctuated by anecdotes and local figures such as François Viète. A cultural interlude on a human scale, ideal for lovers of history and architecture.

About your visit

1 h 30

Minimum 10 people, maximum 100 people

One guide accompanies up to 50 people.
For larger groups, several guides may be available.

Monday to Sunday, all year round

Departure from 9 am. By reservation only and subject to availability.
The tour is partly outdoor, and the ideal period is from April to October.
A supplement applies on Sundays and public holidays.

Departure from in front of the town hall

Rue du Prieuré 85240 Foussais-Payré

Adaptable tour for people with reduced mobility

Our guides adapt the route to the needs of the group (walking difficulties, wheelchairs).

In French

Magic moments

Admire the sculpted portal of the church, a masterpiece of the Romanesque period

Stop off at the Renaissance covered market and in front of the merchants’ houses

See the wooden sculptures around the village

Let yourself be carried away by the guide’s fascinating anecdotes and stories

Scroll through the gallery

On the programme

A village marked by the Renaissance

Foussais-Payré experienced its golden age in the 16ᵉ century, driven by trade and the Protestant Reformation. The guide deciphers the traces left by this period in theorganisation of the town and its architecture. Each façade tells a story of merchants,craftsmen and lively fairs.

The church of Saint-Hilaire, a Romanesque jewel

Built in the 11ᵉ-12ᵉ centuries, thechurch of Saint-Hilaire impresses with its historiated portal, listed as a Historic Monument. The sculptures reveal a veritable stone book. The guide reveals the codes, symbols and singularities.

Contemporary creations

As you stroll along the streets, you’ll be surprised by the wooden sculptures from the Chainsaw Woodcarving Symposium. They create an unexpected dialogue with the old stones. The visit ends in a convivial atmosphere, combining heritage, craftsmanship and contemporary creations.

The price includes

The services of professional guides

The price does not include

Transport
Cancellation insurance
Personal expenses

We'll take care of everything!

Our sales department will advise you and book all the visits and activities of your choice for your group.
Contact us for more information.

Léa Blanchard

Marketing Manager

[email protected]02.51.69.44.81 06.70.72.86.16

Always on the lookout for the perfect holiday, I combine creativity and precision to tailor-make your getaway to suit you. With me, your holiday can't be improvised... it has to be dreamt, prepared and experienced.

Ludovic Géron

Marketing manager

[email protected]02.51.69.44.81 06.70.72.86.16

Proud of Vouvant, the village of my birth, I talk about it with the passion of a storyteller and the smile of a neighbour you meet at the market. With me, heritage never sleeps... it's told, it comes alive.

Ask us for a personalised quote

Prepare your visit

Calculate my route

Can this visit be combined with another activity?
Of course you can. Our sales department can create a tailor-made half or full day for you: another guided tour, a heritage site, an outdoor activity, a gourmet break, a meeting with an artisan…
Just tell us what you’d like to do: we’ll put together the best experiences in the area and take care of all the organisation.
Is this tour suitable for children?
This tour is aimed primarily at adults or mixed groups (adults and children).
Children are welcome in adult groups, but the tour is not specially designed for them.
Is there free parking close to the start of the tour?
Yes, you can park for free in the town hall car park.
Can I get to the start of the tour by bus? Is there authorised parking for buses?
Yes, the bus can drop you off directly at the town hall car park, where the tour starts.
Parking is free.
Are there toilets close to the starting point?
Public toilets are available at the town hall.
Does the guide use a microphone?
The use of a microphone depends on the size of the group and the habits of each guide.
If you absolutely must have a microphone, please let us know at the time of booking so that we can plan ahead.