Randonnée pédestre en forêt de Mervent-Vouvant
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With 29 signposted local trails, you can explore the Mervent-Vouvant forest at your own pace. There are also some legendary routes: the Pilgrim ‘s Way to Santiago de Compostela, the GR®364 and the GRP® de Mélusine.
Whether you’re looking for a short break or a long journey, the challenge is yours!
Looking for an accessible, sporty or contemplative hike? The local loops in the Mervent-Vouvant forest offer a wide variety of routes. Starting from the medieval town of Vouvant, around Mervent lake, in Faymoreau wood or along the banks of the Vendée at Sauvaget… each route reveals a different face of the massif.
Find all our detailed route descriptions: distance, duration, level of difficulty, digital route.
To explore the Mervent-Vouvant forest without leaving anything to chance, the “Hiking – Mervent-Vouvant forest” map is your best ally.
It brings together the 29 signposted local loops and the 3 major routes through the forest and surrounding area. Distances, times, levels of difficulty, viewpoints, sites to discover: it’s all there to help you plan your outing and make the most of the forest.
Vente de la carte de randonnées pédestres de la forêt de Mervent-Vouvant
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The GR®364 in the Vendée links the Mervent-Vouvant forest to the Atlantic coast (Les Sables d’Olonnes). Here, the path plays with the terrain: climbs and descents around Lake Mervent, wooded stretches, panoramic views, discovery of the medieval town of Vouvant, etc. A demanding route in places, ideal for walkers who like effort to be part of the adventure.
The GRP® de Mélusine (part of the Mervent-Vouvant forest) is a 55km loop. It crosses the Pierre Brune plateau and the Père de Montfort cave, skirts the shores of Lac de Mervent and its dam, joins Lac de Chassenon, before linking the Petite Cité de Caractère of Foussais-Payré and the medieval town of Vouvant. A complete itinerary, combining nature, landscape and heritage.
The Way of St James runs through the western part of the Mervent-Vouvant forest, between Bourneau, Mervent, Pissotte and L’Orbrie. Undergrowth, hills and valleys punctuate this stage before the route continues south towards Fontenay-le-Comte or the Marais Poitevin. A peaceful walk, combining nature and spirituality.
Every good explorer needs a map before setting off on an adventure!
The “Randonnées pédestres forêt de Mervent-Vouvant” map is on sale (€1.50) at all our reception points: Fontenay-le-Comte, Maillezais, Vouvant, Mouilleron-Saint-Germain, Mervent and Damvix.
Not in the area? Don’t worry: you can also order your map online and have it delivered straight to your door.
A damaged or missing signpost, a tree in the way, a blocked chain boat, …? Don’t panic, a real hero warns, reports and protects!
Help us maintain these lands of adventure by reporting any incident:
And if you prefer human contact, our teams are here to help you:
– in our Tourist Offices
– by phone
– by email
Before your outing, we recommend you consult the calendar and hunting zones in the Mervent forest.
Hunting is generally open from mid-September to the end of February.
Current hunts are indicated locally by signs near parking areas in the forest.
There is no hunting in the Mervent forest on Sundays!
Yes, your faithful companions can also go on adventures, as long as they are kept on a lead.
This ensures respect for private property along certain paths, for forest wildlife and for other walkers – sometimes accompanied by their own four-legged hero!
