Why is Foussais-Payré a Petite Cité de Caractère®?

The village has a remarkable, well-preserved heritage , including Renaissance dwellings , historic market halls , a medieval priory and the church of Saint-Hilaire . These features have earned it a place in the Petites Cités de Caractère® network.

How long will it take to visit Foussais-Payré?

Allow 1 to 2 hours to wander around the historic centre, discover the sculptures and take a break for a bite to eat. A longer visit will also allow you to explore Payré-sur-Vendée and its lime kilns .

Are there any guided tours of the village?

Yes, in July and August , the Foussais-Payré Cultural Association organises free guided tours of the village on Wednesday mornings at 10.30am . These are an opportunity to discover the history and heritage of the town. Dates to be announced. Guided tours of Foussais-Payré can be organised for groups throughout the year . For more information, contact our groups department at the Tourist Office.

When is the Sculpture Symposium?

The Sculpture Symposium is organised every two years . For several days at the end of July/beginning of August , artists create monumental sculptures in public in the village. Next edition: 30 July to 2 August 2026.

Foussais-Payré Stroll through the Renaissance

To the east of the Mervent-Vouvant forest, Foussais-Payré invites you to take a trip back in time. Listed as a Petite Cité de ^Caractère®, this former market town reveals an unexpected heritage as you wander through its narrow streets: sculpted Renaissance dwellings, historic market halls, a medieval priory and a Romanesque church make up a setting steeped in history.

Small Renaissance town

At first glance, Foussais-Payré is a peaceful village in the Mervent-Vouvant forest. As you wander through its narrow streets, you’ll discover a Petite Cité de ^Caractère®, where every stone tells the story of a prosperous era.

Around thechurch of Saint-Hilaire and theformer priory, which have stood in the heart of the village since the Middle Ages, the village reveals a heritage shaped over the centuries.

In the 16th century, the town experienced a veritable golden age. Merchants, craftsmen and traders brought the village to life thanks to the textile, leather and wool trades. This prosperity left behind a legacy of magnificent Renaissance dwellings, shopping squares and former covered market halls, bearing witness to a particularly dynamic past for a village of this size.

The François Laurens house, built in 1557 by a wealthy Protestant merchant, is a perfect illustration of the success of the merchant aristocracy who once brought life to the town.

The church of Saint-Hilaire A portal that spans the centuries

It’s impossible to miss thechurch of Saint-Hilaire. Its Romanesque portal, sculpted in the XIIᵉ century, is considered to be one of the most remarkable in the Bas-Poitou region.

A look at the sculptures reveals surprisingly expressive biblical scenes. Some still bear the scars of the conflicts that marked the town, particularly during the Wars of Religion.

During the Renaissance, Foussais-Payré was also a village marked by the Reformation. Trade and links with the port of La Rochelle encouraged the establishment of Protestantism, which still leaves its mark on the village today.

Historical treasures in the village

As you continue your stroll through Foussais-Payré and on to Payré-sur-Vendée, other witnesses to the past appear along the streets and lanes.

The Protestant church, the old lime kilns linked to the Faymoreau mines and theLiberty Tree are reminders of the different periods that have shaped the town. More discreet places that extend the discovery and tell the many faces of this Petite Cité de Caractère.

Protestant temple

Old lime kilns

Tree of Liberty

The sculptures at the Symposium When art takes to the village streets

As you stroll through Foussais-Payré, you may be surprised to see some astonishing monumental sculptures set up at the bend in the road or in the village square. These sculptures were created as part of the Sculpture Symposium, by artists invited to create their works in public.

Organised every two years, this event transforms the Petite Cité de Caractère into an open-air workshop. Visitors can watch the artists at work, while the sculptures enrich the village’s artistic trail and interact with its Renaissance heritage.

Taste Workshops Gourmet break

Lovers of sweet treats will be delighted at Ateliers du Goût. In this traditional chocolate factory, chocolate comes in all its forms: made on site, gourmet creations and specialities to discover in the shop.

The place also invites you to take your time. The tearoom, chocolate workshops and patisserie will introduce you to the secrets of chocolate while you relax.

An ideal place to savour the pleasures of chocolate and extend your discovery of the village with a gourmet touch.