Wandering around Vouvant, Pays de la Loire, France. A tour of this "Les Beaux Villages de France"

Описание: We visited Vouvant, Vendee department, Pays de la Loire, France in March 2024. Classed as one of the 'most beautiful villages of France', the weather was damp and raining in parts but that did not dampen the experience, there is plenty of interest to see and you can walk a loop around the village which takes about two hours at a slow pace.

Vouvant is a village 12 kilometres north of Fontenay-le-Comte in the Vendée department of Pays de la Loire, on a small hill in a pretty sett surrounded by a bend in the Mère river. The beginnings of Vouvant are somewhat mystical according to legend. The tale goes that the original castle here was created in just one night by the fairy Mélusine as a gift to the village. Of this castle only the donjon that dominates its skyline remains. It is aptly named the Mélusine Tower and just a short climb to the top offers an award of breathtaking views of the village painted against a backdrop of the Mervent-Vouvant forest, and of the spectacular Vendéen countryside.

Vouvant is listed as one of the 'most beautiful villages of France' and a significant part of the charm of Vouvant comes from its setting, with a river surrounding the village crossed by a footbridge and a stone arched bridge, and with nicely maintained gardens to be seen along the side of the river. In part still surrounded by ramparts, you can enter Vouvant through one of the original gates in the fortified walls, called the poterne. As you pass through the gate remember that it was at this place, in 1557 during the Wars of religion, that more than 200 people were killed in a terrible battle. Within the village centre narrow streets, lined with well-preserved medieval houses, lead to the central square and the Notre-Dame Church.

The church is mostly in the roman style dating from the 12th century. You will notice a semi-circle of ornate carvings featuring animals, characters and various biblical events around the entrance (the higher part of the façade is a later addition, in gothic style).

On the edges of Vouvant, don't miss the 14th century stone bridge across the river (cross the bridge to see the town washhouse) to the east, and the Tower of Melusine to the north - the remaining part of a chateau that once stood here and called the Fortress of the Lusignan, the Mesuline tower was the castle keep and watchtower. The open area next to the tower, the Place du Bail, was once the courtyard of the castle.

The countryside around the village is a land of deep forests and lakes, and the marshes of the Marais-Poitevin are to the west. A landscape that has attracted, and still attracts, numerous artists to the town, drawn by the contrasts, the light and the natural beauty.

Music: Purple Planet Music