What are the best trail spots in the Vendée Marais Poitevin?

The Mervent-Vouvant forest is the place to be if you’re looking for a change in altitude. The Cheffois and Mouilleron-Saint-Germain circuits complete the range, with their varied terrain.

Is there an altitude difference in the Vendée?

Yes, contrary to popular belief, the Mervent-Vouvant forest and the bocage offer undulating courses with real climbs and descents. On the other hand, the Marais Poitevin and the coast offer flat, rolling routes, perfect for working on speed or endurance.

Can you trail run all year round?

Yes, the trails are accessible all year round. Autumn and spring offer the best conditions.

Are the courses suitable for beginners?

Some short circuits are accessible, but most are for runners with a minimum level of fitness.

Are there many roads on the routes?

No. The routes we have selected are based on nature trails with very few road crossings.

Trails: sporting walks

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There’s no such thing as a leisurely stroll here. If you’re looking for steep climbs, technical challenges and a real playground, you’ve come to the right place. Then you’ve come to the right place.
In the Mervent-Vouvant forest and in Terre d’étoiles, the trails become life-size training grounds. Roots, slopes, relaunches… each route puts you to the test.

Your mission: keep up the pace, manage the effort and finish. Because running here is an adventure!

Mervent-Vouvant forest Relief, relief at last!

Welcome to the largest forest in the Vendée. Here, it’s all uphill and downhill, and you’ll never be left in peace. The routes follow one another through valleys, forest paths and along the shores of the lake. The terrain is varied and demanding, ideal for trail running and sport.

Routes to wake up your legs

“Le Barrage” 15 km | D+ 242 m | GPX route
Long, intense, with steep sections
Starting point: salle polyvalente at L’Orbrie
“La Fontaine à l’Ermite” 6 km | D+ : 123 m | Tracé GPX
Concentration of bumps along the lake over a short distance
Starting point: Fontaine à l’Ermite roundabout in L’Orbrie
“Le Petit Maillezais” 5 km | D+ : 121 m | GPX trail
Short with a smooth gradient over the whole loop.
Starting point: Le Chêne Tord in Mervent

Perfect terrain for progress

Whether you’re just getting back into the swing of things or looking to improve your performance, the Mervent-Vouvant forest ticks all the right boxes:

natural gradient
technical ground
immersive environment

The result is an ideal terrain for pushing yourself to the limit!

Le Barrage circuit15 km | D+ 242 m

La Fontaine à l'Ermite trail6 km | D+ 123 m

Le Petit Maillezais tour5 km | D+ 121 m

Land of Stars Routes between sky and rock

Cheffois

Here, the scenery changes. The terrain becomes mineral, and the relief takes shape around the old quarries.

“Jaune bis” 5.2 km | D+ 154 m | Tracé GPX
Starting point: Place de la Mairie, Cheffois

Mouilleron-Saint-Germain

Head for the colline des Moulins. Here you gain altitude… and motivation.

“Les Meuniers” 7.2 km | D+ 145 m | GPX trail
Starting point: near the town hall in Mouilleron-Saint-Germain

Trails season On every pitch!

Throughout the year, a dozen trails await you in the Vendée Marais Poitevin.

Here, each race has its own terrain, pace and character. Forest, town, marsh or hedged farmland: the scenery changes, but never the intensity.

Whether you come to beat a record or simply to enjoy the atmosphere, each trail is an experience in its own right. The collective start, the adrenalin rush, the passing scenery… here, you’re not running alone. You’re sharing an adventure.

Trails for all terrains:

in the forest of Mervent, for the uneven and the technical
urban versions, like in Fontenay-le-Comte
in the Marais Poitevin, between canals and wide open spaces
in the bocage, for hilly and challenging routes

Prepare your mission!

What are the best trail spots in the Vendée Marais Poitevin?
The Mervent-Vouvant forest is the place to be if you’re looking for a change in altitude. The Cheffois and Mouilleron-Saint-Germain circuits complete the range, with their varied terrain.
Is there an altitude difference in the Vendée?
Yes, contrary to popular belief, the Mervent-Vouvant forest and the bocage offer undulating courses with real climbs and descents.
On the other hand, the Marais Poitevin and the coast offer flat, rolling routes, perfect for working on speed or endurance.
Can you trail run all year round?
Yes, the trails are accessible all year round. Autumn and spring offer the best conditions.
Are the courses suitable for beginners?
Some short circuits are accessible, but most are for runners with a minimum level of fitness.
Are there many roads on the routes?
No. The routes we have selected are based on nature trails with very few road crossings.