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. To find out more about Vouvant for groups of children, see Groups for young visitors .

How can I visit the Tour Mélusine?

The ascent of the Tour Mélusine is an optional extra in addition to the price of the guided tour. The tour of the Tour Mélusine lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes in the company of the guide. The tour is limited to 25 people at a time, and access to the rooms and the summit is via a staircase with a total of 122 steps . A group of more than 25 people will therefore be split into smaller groups for the dungeon tour if this option is chosen. By choosing this option for the interested members of the group, you will discover the only remaining vestige of Vouvant’s former castle . You will visit two vaulted rooms and reach the top to enjoy a panoramic view 36 metres above the castle’s northern moat. In 2026, group rates for groups of 10 or more are as follows : 1.50 per person aged 13 and over 1.00 per child aged 7 to 12 Free for children under 7

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

Yes, you can park for free in the Place du Bail. The tour starts directly from the Tourist Office, located on the same square. If there aren’t enough parking spaces, you can use the Espace Marcel Dumas car park, near the village hall (300 metres from the Place du Bail), or the Château Neuf car park, near the motorhome park (500 metres from the Place du Bail).

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 on the Place du Bail in front of the Tourist Office, the starting point for the tour. Subject to prior reservation and space availability , it can then park free of charge in front of Notre-Dame church in a designated space that can be reserved by the Town Hall. If this space is not available, the bus driver can park free of charge next to the Vouvant dam (1 km from the starting point of the guided tour).

Are there toilets close to the starting point?

There are public toilets at the entrance to Place du Bail.

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 group tour of Vouvant | Pays de Fontenay-Vendée Tourist Office

A journey through stone and mystery

Perched on a rocky spur protected by a river, Vouvant has preserved its natural setting, fortifications and legends. The tour takes you through the remains of the castle, the narrow streets, the ramparts and Notre-Dame church. An immersive walk to understand the strategic power of this medieval city and unravel the mysteries of Mélusine, the fairy builder.

Follow your guide and immerse yourself in a thousand years of history in the heart of this Petite Cité de Caractère®, the only village in the Vendée to be classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France®.

About your visit

1 h 30 to 2 h 00

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 the Tourist Office

Place du Bail 85120 Vouvant

About 1 km to walk

Adaptable tour for people with reduced mobility

Our guides adapt the route to suit the needs of the group (walking difficulties, wheelchairs).
The stairs to the Tour Mélusine (optional extra) have a total of 122 steps.

In French or English

Magic moments

Feel the mystical atmosphere surrounding the legend of the fairy Mélusine

Cross the Poterne and discover the ramparts overlooking the river

Admire the fine carvings on the portal before entering the Romanesque church

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

Scroll through the gallery

The programme

A thousand-year-old stronghold

Your guide goes back over 1,000 years to explain why Vouvant was one of the key points in the defence of Poitou. Today, only a few traces of this period remain, but they help us to understand thestrategic location and military role of this town.

We then head for the courtyard of theancient castle built 800 years ago by the powerful de Lusignan family. The adventure accelerates: imagination and anecdotes help to bring this medieval castle back to life.

In the footsteps of Mélusine

At the end of the square, the silhouette of the Tour Mélusine is impressive. It’s the perfect backdrop to evoke the legend of the fairy builder and the history of the Lusignan family, who left their mark on the area. As an option, climb inside the keep to see the vaulted rooms and the panoramic view 36 metres above the moat.

The fortified town and its church

The tour continues through the narrow streets of the town to the Poterne, the last remaining gate in the ramparts. At the foot of the walls, the banks of the River Mère offer an uninterrupted view of the fortifications. As you enter the heart of the village, the richly sculpted portal ofNotre-Dame church is a masterpiece of the Romanesque and Gothic periods.

The price includes

The services of professional guides
Presentation of archival documents

The price does not include

The climb to the Tour Mélusine (optional extra)
Transport
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.
To find out more about Vouvant for groups of children, see Groups for young visitors.
How can I visit the Tour Mélusine?
The ascent of the Tour Mélusine is an optional extra in addition to the price of the guided tour.
The tour of the Tour Mélusine lasts approximately 20 to 30 minutes in the company of the guide. The tour is limited to 25 people at a time, and access to the rooms and the summit is via a staircase with a total of 122 steps. A group of more than 25 people will therefore be split into smaller groups for the dungeon tour if this option is chosen.
By choosing this option for the interested members of the group, you will discover the only remaining vestige of Vouvant’s former castle. You will visit two vaulted rooms and reach the top to enjoy a panoramic view 36 metres above the castle’s northern moat.
In 2026, group rates for groups of 10 or more are as follows:
- 1.50 per person aged 13 and over
- 1.00 per child aged 7 to 12
- Free for children under 7
Is there free parking close to the start of the tour?
Yes, you can park for free in the Place du Bail. The tour starts directly from the Tourist Office, located on the same square.
If there aren’t enough parking spaces, you can use the Espace Marcel Dumas car park, near the village hall (300 metres from the Place du Bail), or the Château Neuf car park, near the motorhome park (500 metres from the Place du Bail).
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 on the Place du Bail in front of the Tourist Office, the starting point for the tour.
Subject to prior reservation and space availability, it can then park free of charge in front of Notre-Dame church in a designated space that can be reserved by the Town Hall.
If this space is not available, the bus driver can park free of charge next to the Vouvant dam (1 km from the starting point of the guided tour).
Are there toilets close to the starting point?
There are public toilets at the entrance to Place du Bail.
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.