The start: immersion in the village
Your adventure begins in Mouilleron-Saint-Germain. There’s no rush: here, every detail counts. You’ll make your way through the narrow streets of the village, discovering the wash-house, the fountain. .. so many reminders of everyday life in days gone by.
The scenery soon changes. You leave the stones for the dirt paths. Calm settles in, and the sensation of entering a real mission takes over.
The first views: between history and the horizon
As you leave the village, you gain height. First stop: the Calvary. From here, the landscape opens up wide. To the west, you can see the privately-owned Château de la Motte. To the north, you can see the Domaine Saint Sauveur, a former seminary built in 1830 and now used for welcoming groups.
Keep moving. The path leads to Le Chêne Vert. You can take a break here. Picnic table, generous shade, majestic trees… the kind of place where you slow down without even realising it.
Memory and nature: a memorable crossing
Further on, you reach La Boisnière. Here, the tone changes. The memorial to the soldiers of the French Union, dedicated to Marshal de Lattre de Tassigny – who was born here – commands respect. The site is dotted with information panels and photos, bringing history to life.
Then comes the descent to the car park. This is where the entrance to the Colline des Moulins, a designated Sensitive Natural Area, really begins.
The Colline des Moulins: a living site
As soon as you arrive, a viewpoint welcomes you. The view is unobstructed, the wind is blowing, the horizon is wide… in the distance, the forest of Mervent-Vouvant comes into view.
But there’s more to the hill than meets the eye. It is classified as a Natural Zone of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest. Nature is precious here. A conservatory for the Vendée black bee has been set up here. And if you’re paying close attention, you may even spot a rare, protected plant: the Bastard’s silene.
The apotheosis: between rocks and mills
Continue on to the Dent Gaudin rock. A statue of the Virgin watches over this strategic point. The 360° panorama is breathtaking. You can look all the way to the Cheffois rock.
Then comes the final stage. You skirt the hill, climb back up… and finally reach the highest point at 184 metres. Here the mills appear.
Four mills, one of which was converted into a chapel (Saint-Jean-Saint-Bernard) by Marshal de Lattre de Tassigny. All around are remains, millstones… traces of a past that is still very much alive.
Mission accomplished.
