Some advice : • To be well equipped: walking shoes, hat, sun cream, sunglasses, protective clothes, water, snack. • To keep a pleasant environment: don’t throw your waste on the footpath. • Respect private properties. • Be watchful during roads crossing. • Remember that fire is the worst enemy of the forest.
During rainy periods, some paths are not very passable but they become very pleasant during the summertime. Itineraries are relatively easy: they are only suggestions and they don’t commit the responsibility of the tourist office.
Crédit photo : Office de tourisme
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SUMMARY DISCOVERY OF THE SEASIDE RESORT LA TRANCHE-SUR-MER Departure from La Terrière A - Discovery of the wet marshland B - Walk in forest C - Discovery game rando-dune trip n°1
p. 4-5 p. 6-7 p. 8-9
Departure from the town centre D - Investigation game E - La Tranche: History F - Discovery game rando-dune trip n°2
p. 10-11 p. 12-13 p. 14-15
Departure from La Grière G - Walk on the lagoon of “la Belle Henriette” H - Walk on the shores of “le Lay” I - Looks at the seaside house
p. 16-17 p. 18-19 p. 20-21
Map
p. 22-25
Discoveries tours in this area Birds Dolmens Castles Religions North of la Tranche Oysters
p. 26 p. 27 p. 28 p. 29 p. 30 p. 31
3
A
DISCOVERY of the wet marshland
Discover the canal by going it back up by the north. At the place known as “Les petites Jonchères”, turn right. Carry on to the “pont du Terrier du Four” and then turn right along the canal. Arrival close to the camping site “les Almadies”. Come back by the secondary road D747 to the bridge of La Tranche-sur-Mer. Turn right to join the camping site “le Sable d’Or” along the canal. The Marais Poitevin is a former sea gulf that has been developed by man over the past ten centuries. The filling of the gulf: 8 000 years ago, a marine gulf took up the current Marais Poitevin. Composed of emergent calcareous islands, the marsh extended to Niort (a town of Deux-Sèvres). With the help of rivers, the ocean began to fill in the area and transformed it into vast tidal mud flats. The wet marshland: (15 000 hectares) liable to flooding marsh by 4
uppers waters , crossed by nonstraight hierarchical conduits. In the liable to flooding valleys, the marsh has an essential function in the rising regulation but also in the preservation of the flora and fauna. The Marais Poitevin remains a place of interest among the richest of France: it accommodated 250 species of birds (including 130 species, which make their nest themselves), 44 species of mammals, 23 species of amphibians and reptiles, 322 species of fishes and 700 species of the wild flora.
Mode: on foot, on a bike Place: Marais Poitevin in the north of La Tranche-sur-Mer Distance: 12 km (7,46 mi) Departure: in front of the camping site “le Sable d’Or”
Fauna and Flora to observe… Flora: the ludwigia, the officinal consound, the guinea-hen flower (the snake’s head), the meadowsweet, the yellow iris, the marsh marigold, the lemna… The birds: the heron, the kingfishers, the oriole of Europe… Fish life: The eel, the pike, the roach…
The insects: The dragonflys, the lycaena dispar, the rosalia alpina… The reptiles: The grass snake, the viperine snake, the yellow and green snake… The mammals: The otter of Europe, the mink of Europe, the coypu, the musquash.
The batracians: The tree frog, the agile frog, the green frog…
Always, the residents of Marais Poitevin move by boat. During centuries, maritime roads allowed trade between the different islands of the marsh. The marsh has a network of over 2 000km of canals.
• observation of breeding grounds with storks Lexicon: Vasière: tidal mud flats: silty place. Conches: navigable leaks which cross the Marais Poitevin. Maraîchin: inhabitant of the Marais Poitevin. 5
B
WALK
DE PA RT UR E
in forest
The “Sentier du Bout des Cabanes” is marked out with yellow beacons. Beginning of the footpath: opposed site to the ocean. Follow the central path and let yourselves guided by beacons (= good way, × End of the footpath). This forest is recent. It was established by man in the 19th century in order to fix the dunes’ sand and to protect the human activities against a strong navy influence. The maritime pine and the evergreen oak are the predominating species in this 440hectare forest. This dune clump consists also of non-wooded dunes characteristic of this atlantic coast. The combined action of wind composed of spindrifts, of dryness with grounds salinity is at the origin of environmental constraints which determine the presence 6
of a characteristic flora and fauna.
Mode: on foot. Place: the state forest Distance: 5 Km (3,11 mi) Departure: picnic site – road of the lighthouse in “la Terrière”
Fauna and Flora to observe… Fauna: squirrel, robins…
Flora: pine and oak trees, hare tail, alisier troène…
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C
DISCOVERY GAME rando-dune (trip 1)
▲
▲
▲ ▲ From the beach of la Terrière to the lighthouse going by the national forest. Find again answers on the board, which is near to the first-aid post on the beach and on this one which is opposite. Beach of la Terrière 1) What message is written on the beacon at the beginning of the beach ? ❏ attention dune fragile ! ❏ la dune nous protège, protégeons la ! ❏ j’aime la dune, je prends soin d’elle ! ❏ la dune : un patrimoine à transmettre ! 2) Without the wooden fences on Dunes, what’s happening ? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
▲ 3) Le Gaillet : What are flowers of le Gaillet style used formely for? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
▲ 4) Le Liseron Soldanelle : This flower is? ❏ an annual ❏ a vivace After answering this question, take to the cycle path again and go back towards the lighthouse. 8
Mode: on foot Place: Beach of la TerrièreForest - Lighthouse Distance: 4 Km (2,49 mi) Departure: Beach of la Terrière
Discover the board rando-dune on your right close to the picnic site. State forest 5) When began sowings and planting pines? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ 6) Which organization does maintain the state forest? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ 7) What species of trees can we find except the maritime pine? ❏ the poplar ❏ the oak tree ❏ the ash tree ❏ the alder ❏ the mulberry tree After discovering a little the forest, go to “la rue des Brisans” (board on your right) and then “la rue de la Marine”. The lighthouse
▲ 8) The maritime Euphorbia: Why mustn’t we eat the maritime Euphorbia? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
▲ 9) The Dianthus Gallicus (oeillet de France): Why is this flower protected? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
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D
INVESTIGATION game
Discover the landscape by having a good time. 1 - How many kilometers of beaches are there in La Tranche-sur-Mer? .............................................................................................................. Quote 3 nautical sports that we can pratise in La Tranche-sur-Mer? .............................................................................................................. 2 - Which german town is twined with La Tranche-sur-Mer? .............................................................................................................. 3 - What does represent the pattern situated on the façade of «le Pavillon de l’Aunis» (big glass building)? .............................................................................................................. 4 - What do correspond the following flags to?
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•
• Swimming authorised
•
• Swimming authorised with caution
•
• Swimming prohiited
Mode: on foot Place: town centre - Tourist office
After discovering the centre of La Tranche-sur-Mer, you can rest and finish the investigation game. 5 - What are the 3 natural spaces that we can encounter in La Tranche-sur-Mer? • The marsh
• The coast
• The mountain
• The forest
• The desert
• The jungle
6 - Replace each word in the grid? • Océan (Ocean) • Coquillage (Shellfish) • Huître (Oyster) • Vacances (Holidays) • Poisson (Fish) • Plage (Beach) • Sable (Sand) • Phare (Lighthouse)
Bravo ! You have finish… You can come in the tourist office to have a surprise.
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E
LA TRANCHE: History
At the beginning, La Tranche-sur-Mer was a belt between two seas. The commune is now enclosed D between the marsh in the north and the ocean in the south. The sand has progressively invaded lands and several houses of the former town are buried. Discover different places of the seaside resort. 1 - Church St Nicolas: (limestone and granite) third church, built in 1868 with the help of the architect of Luçon Léon Ballereau. The clock dates from 1930. The Maltese cross, sculpted on the main entrance of the church, reminds the templars’ influence in this area. This symbol is present in nearly all the communes of the canton. ➨ Madonna and child: statue made of polished walnut wood from the 18th century ➨ Picture representing St Catherine of Alexandria dated from the 17th century. 2 - Statue Notre-Dame-de-Fatima: In 1944, some houses were dynamited. Frightened by the extend of demolitions, the priest Roux put the parish under Notre Dame de Fatima’s protection. 3 - Pavillon de l’Aunis: In 1959, the building, named “l’hôtel de la plage”, was bought by the commune and was taken successi12
Mode: on foot Place: La Tranche-sur-Mer Distance: 3 Km(1,86 mi) Departure: in front of the church
vely the name of “Casino municipal” then “Pavillon de l’Aunis” (municipal room). A part of the former building is still visible from the beach. 4 - Résidence de l’Océan: Situated by the sea, this villa, in the moorish style, was built in 1923, then extended in 1930 and 1939. During the german occupation (1940-1945), this building was requisitioned and remodelled into Kommendantur. It was so the purpose of defense and camouflage works. 5 - Moulin des Conches-Rondes: It was built in 1837 by the miller Criard from Angles. In the 50’s, the municipal camping site “le vieux Moulin” was established at approaches to this building. 6 - Le phare du Grouin du Cou: Following many wrecks, the lighthouse was built in 1866 in order to inform captains about dangerous approaches of coast of La Tranche-sur-Mer (consisted of chalky bottoms).
Lexicon: Pointe du Grouin du Cou (the oldest neolithic traces dated from 5300 BC). Kommandantur: german military command. Templier: (templar) : knight of a religious order founded in the 12th century. 13
F
DISCOVERY GAME rando-dune (trip 2)
▲
▲
Departure
▲
▲ ▲
▲
After the discovery of rando-dune boards, follow the cycle path or footpath going behind the stretch of water by the pedestrian paths and answer questions. Car park of le Maupas 1) Why are black plastic mattings being installed? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
▲ 2) L’Armoise de Lloyd: Which goddness from antiquity has given her name to the “Armoise de Lloyd”? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
▲ 3) La Giroflée des dunes: Which period of year does flower “la Giroflée”? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
▲ 4) La Luzerne marine : Which animal does the flower of “la Luzerne marine” like ? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ 14
Mode: on foot, on a bike Place: La Tranche-sur-Mer town centre Distance: 2,8 Km (1,74 mi) Departure: Car park of the beach – to “rue de l’Aunis”
▲ 5) L’Immortelle: Why does it symbolize the immortality (it doesn’t die)? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ 6) Which type of dunes does “l’Immortelle” grow on? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ Place Flandre-Dunkerque
▲ 7) La Canche blanchâtre: Why do we say that “the Canche blanchâtre” looks like a green hedgehog before its flowering? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ Pursue in direction to the «avenue des tulipes» on your right. Place des Camélias
▲ 8) L’Oyat (the marram grass): What is the purpose of the marram grass? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ First-aid-post - Avenue Chauveau 9) Before you arrive on the beach, which type of dunes can you observe? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ 10) Where do you find the pioneering flowers? (l’Arroche des sables, le Cakilier maritime, la Soude brûlée) ❏ wooded dune ❏ mobile dune ❏ high beach
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G
WALK on the lagoon of la Belle Henriette
Walk and observe the aquatic vegetation and the lagoon’s fauna. The lagoon is a fragile environment. Thank you to respect it and not to leave footpaths.
Generally, the lagoon is a shallow area, separated from sea by a offshore bar (spit). This stretch of water is constantly in touch with sea, which is salter than the stretch of water. The lagoon has a very important ecological role in several fields: - It controls the hydraulic flow thanks to its storage capacity. - It plays the filtering role by purifying runoff. - It protect against coast erosion thanks to its vegetation. - It’s a place of hugh biological production (seaweed, crustaceans, mollusc, fishes). 16
- It’s a very important reception zone for birds. Situated between La Tranchesur-Mer and la Faute-sur-Mer, the lagoon or «casse» of la Belle Henriette constitutes an outstanding area. With a surface area of 180 hectares, it was built at the end of the 19th century, by the emergence of dunes. At the beginning the laggon was an arm of the sea, it was closed in 1971 by an embarkment. On this area, we can observe, at present, a multitude of zones from the most
Mode: on foot Place: Lagoon of la Belle Henriette Departure: in front of the camping site “la Belle Henriette”
humid to the most dry: the area of dunes with free water, with plant water by the sea, salt meadows, mobile dunes on seafront and fixed dunes in the background. The species of listed flowers testify to the diversity of the site. Regularly, small and big waders ducks, grebes, swans, terns frequent this environment. This littoral lagoon, situated in the background of the beach, has an aquatic well-developed
vegetation and gives to migrating birds beautiful muddy sites at the end of summer. Origine of the name of “la Belle Henriette”: People are saying that a boat was agrounded at this site and its name was “la Belle Henriette”. Other explanation: Here, in times past, a bar opened close to the banks of le Lay…the innkeeper called…Henriette. (Presse Océan 21/01/1972)
Lexicon: Lido: (spit): geological and very elongated sand formation. Roselières: (reed beds): place where grow reeds Echassiers: (waders): species of carnivorous birds with long feet and neck. 17
H
WALK on the shores of “the lay”
Departure
Follow the cycle path to the roundabout and go towards the north in order to follow the canal in direction to the port of Moricq. Le Lay is the main coast river of Vendée. It irrigates successively the bocage, the plain and the marsh before joining the ocean in the south of La Tranche-surMer. Its uphill part decomposed into 2 branchs: - Le Grand Lay has its source at Saint-Pierre-du-Chemin (locality between Logerie and la Villette) at an altitude of 190 m and extends on around 60 km (37,28 mi) long. 18
- Le Petit Lay has its source at Saint-Michel-Mont-Mercure in the village of la Gruzardière at an altitude of 200 m. The confluence of le Grand Lay and le Petit Lay takes place at the locality «l’Assemblée des Deux-Lay» in the commune of Chantonnay at an altitude of 20 m (12,43 mi). The river, so formed, measures around 80 km with its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. It measures from 30 to 40 m larg and from 2 to 3 m deep.
Mode: on foot, on a bike Place: GR 10 Distance: 19 Km (11,81 mi) Departure: car park in front of the camping site of “la Belle Henriette”
The predominating fishes are white fishes: roaches, tenches, red roaches, breams, bleakes and carps.
Several blockings have the functions to supply with drinking water and to irrigate lands under cultivation.
Le Lay has known many arrangements following the Second World War.
In the vicinity to Moricq’s blocking, salt water blends into river water and you will can fish seawater fishes (flathead mullets – European seabass – flatfishes). 19
I
LOOCKS at the seaside house
Departure
In the centre of a forest of pines along the beach, discover seaside houses with different architectures. Pleasant walk on foot or with a bike. We talk about seaside style, however there isn’t architectural description. A seaside villa is distinguishable from urban house by the use of huge architectural vocabulary and by its relation with garden and sea. The way of seaside life is developed with original and innovative creations, in phase with the fashion time, which show the will of owner’s representation. Small houses: Because of their modest dimensions, many villas of Vendée littoral coast would call small houses in an urban context. The modesty of dimensions 20
isn’t an obstacle to imagination and creativity. Materials and colours form and develop infinitely variations with regional traditional connotation which give this indefinable charm of holidays on the sea front. Colours: The image of white houses with blue shutters is well reductive of houses’ colours of Vendée. Fortunately this image is denied by a well-richer reality. On the coast, the white of walls painted with lime is part of a colours’ range of woodwork. The bright or pastel tints (blue– green–rot–yellow) are inspired by colours of the boat’s bottoms. In fact, the tradition to finish the pots of paint stayed graven in the local culture.
Mode: on foot, on a bike Place: «Parc des Nolleaux» and «Parc du rocher» at la Grière Distance: around 5 km Departure: Esplanade of Europe to the «Avenue des Tulipes»
Façade: • Calepinage: tempo’s, colours’, and materials’ effect in order to be decorative. • Colombage(half-timbering): visible framework of a wall. Materials: • Ornament: visible surface of a building (made of stone–of earth–of brick).
• Covering: it covers a building in order to protect it (made of stone plate, marble plate). • Plastering: plaster coat which we apply to walls. • Badigeon (wash): limewater generally laced with a colorant which we apply.
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MAP 1
C
B
22
A
I D E
F
23
MAP 2
24
LEGEND Cycle paths (18 000 m) Pedestrian paths (7 700 m) Picnic sites Car park First-aid-post
A
Boards about protection measures and remarkable sites. Boards about dunes’ flowers to discover on the site. The recensement work of different dunes’ flowers (Blue thistle-Dianthus Gallicus-Marram grass…) was made by the ADEV (Association for the protection of the nature).
Departure of walks Rando-Dune, it’s the setting up of explanatory boards about littoral’s environment and dunes’ protection of La Tranche Sur Mer. Boards of general informations.
Boundary markers of staking out recall us that we must protect dunes. You will recognize boards and boundary markers thanks to the effigy of Rando Dune (a bird which is an endangered species (charadrius alexandrius))
G H
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Trip of birds 53km In the marsh of La Tranche-sur-Mer, we can observe birds like the common heron, the tufted lapwing, the white stork, the egrets and the ducks. At sea: the herring gulls or the terns. All these birds are very present on our coast. Starting point: Car park of the beach (landing stage) ➨ Direction la Faute-sur-Mer: the lagoon of la Belle Henriette (At the beginning it was an arm of the sea, this lagoon was closed in 1971 by an embankment). Fishes, insects, birds and flowers teem in this briny water. ➨ Direction la Faute-sur-Mer, l’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, Saint Michel en l’Herm and Triaize to arrive at Saint Denis du Payré, where you will find the house of the nature reserve (situated in the town centre) and the observatory, established in the nature reserve at 2km, road of Grues (207 M hectares
protected). Each year, around 270 species of wild birds migrate to the reserve. All this area is a part of the inter-regional park of the Marais Poitevin. ➨ Come back to La Tranche-sur-Mer by the villages of Grues, Moricq, St-Benoist-sur-Mer. In this locality, with the observation footpath, you can admire the flora and the fauna of the marsh and go exploring it by canoe. ➨ Direction Angles then La Tranche-sur-Mer. Discover, by arriving in la Tranche-Sur-Mer (by the road of la Roche-sur-Yon), the nest of the white stork.
Le Givre l
aire êt
Le Bernard
St Vincent sur-Jard Longeville sur-Mer
Angles
St Cyr Lairoux en Talmondais La Jonchère Curzon St Benoist sur-Mer Moricq Grues
Chasnais Luçon
St Denis du-Payré Triaize Champagné les-Marais
La Tranche sur Mer
L'Aiguillon sur-Mer
St Michel en-l'Herm
P
La Faute sur-Mer
Legend: The marsh is a former gulf, filled in by alluvium. According to a legend, “the most spectacular subsiding of the sea took place while the vespers of Hallowe’en 1460 have been singing … with this last big tides of autumn, the sea must never come back. People are saying that pious faithfuls, come by boat, were obliged to go back on foot in the mud. It’s not a question of a local legend but the marsh is a part of our landscape. 26
L
Trip of the dolmens and the menhirs 53km Did you know? The menhir is an upright rock, planted in the earth. The dolmen is a funeral memorial made of a room limited by the pillars supporting one or several tables. The entrance of the room can be preceded by a corridor or a simple portico. A cairn is a big artificial heap of earth or stone that we raised above a burial place. Starting point: Car park of the beach (landing stage) ➨ Direction Longeville-sur-Mer then road of les Sables d’Olonne: menhir of «la Pierre-qui-Vire» (people are saying that this menhir turned at midnight). ➨ Direction St-Hilaire-la-Forêt: On this route, you can see some dolmens (including the dolmen of “la Sulette”). Come to discover the prehistory at the CAIRN (the archaeological centre of research about Neolitic): exposition about Neolithic, activities on 3 hectares, spaces dedicated to old cultures. ➨ Direction Avrillé: close to the town hall, you will discover the «menhir du camp des Césars» in the public park. At the fountain Saint Gré: the menhir of “la Boilière”. Avrillé T lmont S -Hilaire
St Hilaire la Forêt
Jard-sur-Mer
➨ Direction Le Bernard: the dolmen of “la Frébouchère” (the bigest in Vendée), the dolmen of “la cour du Breuil” and the three dolmens of “Saratole”. ➨ Direction Fontaine: at Pey, you will can appreciate the panoramic view and the cairn of «Pey de Fontaine». ➨ Direction Angles – Take on your right, the road of Longeville-surMer. At the village of “Rabouillères”, there is the restored windmill named “Bots Pias”. You can’t visit it. Far off, you will discover the wind park of “Le Bernard”. ➨ Come back to Angles: character village with its romanesque and gothic church from the 12th century. ➨ Come back to LaL Tranche-sur-Mer. M les-Mauxfaits Fontaine
Le Bernard
St Vincent sur-Jard
Longeville sur-Mer
Angles
Le Givre St Cyr Lairoux en Talmondais La Jonchère Curzon St Benoist sur-Mer Moricq Grues
St Denis du-P
Les Conches
La Tranche sur Mer
L'Aiguillon sur-Mer La Faute sur-Mer
Legend of the dolmen of “la Frébouchère”: close to the dolmen, there was a farm and during weddings, the married couples danced on the dolmen’s table, by awaking sprites. Those put a spell on animals which died one after the other. The farm had to be destroyed. 27
Trip of castles and lakes 1st trip 70km - 2nd trip 88km Did you know? In the middle Ages, Talmont was a powerful area with an imposing fortress bathed by floods and leaved by the prince Richard the Lionheart’s mark. 1st trip Starting point: Car park of the beach (landing stage) ➨ Direction «les Sables d'Olonne» by going through «les Conches», «Longeville-sur-Mer», «Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard», «Jard-sur-Mer». At Talmont-St-Hilaire, visit the castle from the 11th and 12th century. Each season has its own animation: medieval tales, costumes, play course, nocturnal stroll. ➨ Direction Avrillé, where you can visit the castle and the park of the Guignardière. Come to discover the historic aventure with your family. ➨ Direction Le Poiroux, in the north of Avrillé where you will appreciate the Finfarine lake: 7 hectares of shores promise you a beautiful walk. In “la Folie de Finfarine”, you can rest in a wooded area: la maison de l’arbre et du miel (the Tree and Honey house, nature and beekeeping animations). ➨ Direction Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits by going through «St-Avaugourddes-Landes». At Moutiers-lesMauxfaits, come back to La Tranche-sur-Mer by the secondary road D747.
2nd trip Starting point: Car park of the beach (landing stage) ➨ Direction Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits by the secondary road D747, and then go to St-Vincent-sur-Graon. You will find at this area the Graon lake. ➨ Direction Mareuil-sur-Lay (through Champ-St-Père): in the north of the commune, at “Château Guibert”, there is the Marillet lake in a green and undulating landscape. ➨ Direction La Bretonnière-at Lavaud (between Péault and la Couture): bridge built by Gustave Eiffel ➨ Direction St-Cyr-en-Talmondais (after la Bretonnière, take the secondary road D949: les Sables d’Olonne - Luçon) – the floral and tropical park of la Court d’Aron give you a walk in an exotic context. ➨ Come back to La Tranche-sur-Mer by the secondary road D949. then the secondary road D747, linking La Tranche-sur-Mer with La Rochesur-Yon.
Moutiers les-Mauxfaits
Poiroux Talmont St-Hilaire
Jard-sur-Mer
Le Champ St Père La Bretonnière
Avrillé St Hilaire la Forêt
Fontaine
Longeville sur-Mer
La Claye
Le Givre
Lairoux St Cyr en Talmondais La Jonchère Curzon
Le Bernard
St Vincent sur-Jard
Mareuil-sur-Lay Dissais
St Vincent sur-Graon
St Avaugourd des Landes
Angles
St Benoist sur-Mer Moricq Grues
Chasnais Luçon
St Denis du-Payré Triaize
Les Conches
C l
La Tranche sur Mer 28
L'Aiguillon sur-Mer La Faute s
St Michel en-l'Herm
Trip of religious patrimony 84km Did you know? Formely, Moricq was a very active port which knew its peak in the 19th century, but it stopped its activity because of silting up. The tower of Moricq was used for sentry (it guarded le Lay’s mouth). Starting point: Car park of the beach (landing stage) ➨ Direction Angles. In this village, you can admire the church, built in the second half of the 12th century. ➨ Direction Moricq where you can find the Moricq tower from the 15th century. ➨ Direction Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits in order to discover its covered market from the 18th century which welcomes markets, concerts and secondhand trades. ➨ Direction Luçon, through ChampSt-Père: secondary road D19, then secondary road D12 and D949. In Luçon, visit the cathedral S S Notre-Dame which has this name Moutiers les-Mauxfaits
Poiroux
until 1317 and its spire reaches 85m at its highest point. You can go for a walk in the “Jardin Dumaine”: 4-hectare park with decorated lawns. Topiary representing the “Fables de la Fontaine”. ➨ Direction St-Michel-en-l’Herm (abbey from the 12th century), At la Dive (isle of the former gulf with cliffs 14metres high), appreciate the point of view on the berry of l’Aiguillon, La Rochelle, the bridge of the isle of Ré. ➨ Come back to La Tranche-sur-Mer by the coast (L’Aiguillon-sur-Mer, S La Faute-sur-Mer and La Grière).
de Beugné
Le Champ St Père La Bretonnière La Claye
Avrillé Le Givre St Hilaire la Forêt
Fontaine Lairoux St Cyr en Talmondais La Jonchère Curzon
Le Bernard
St Vincent sur-Jard
Longeville sur-Mer
Angles
St Benoist sur-Mer Moricq Grues
Chasnais Luçon
St Denis du-Payré Triaize
Les Conches
Champagné les-Marais
La Tranche sur Mer
L'Aiguillon sur-Mer
P
St Michel en-l'Herm
La Faute sur-Mer Le Rocher de la Dive
Legend of the animal of Angles: On the gable of the church’s façade, the statue of a strange animal occupied a place of honour. There was a time when the small valley of Troussepoil housed an animal who terrorized Angles’ inhabitants. One day, a saintly man, called Martin, dominated the animal. He brought it back to the village because the animal became as docile as a lamb. When fright disappeared, villagers made fun of themselves. Irritated, Martin ordered the animal to climp up on the gable of the church, terrified and said it: you will stay here for eternity and you will live now only from the beauty of girls of Angles
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Trip i the north of La Tranche-sur-Mer 90km Did you know? Surface area of Vendée: 6 720 km². Number of inhabitants: 539 664. «Sur-Mer» was added to Jard in 1938 and to Longeville in 1983.
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Starting point: Car park of the beach (landing stage) ➨ Direction Longeville-sur-Mer through les Conches in order to discover the beach named «BudBud», well-known for surfers. ➨ Direction St-Vincent-sur-Jard by going through Longeville-surMer. Stop at St-Vincent-sur-Jard for visit of «la Bicoque»: house of Georges Clemenceau called «Le Tigre». This building of Vendée style was conserved since the death of this great historic figure. ➨ Direction Jard-sur-Mer. Discover its marina (500 anchorages) and the “Moulin of Conchette” (middle of the 18th century). In this locality, you can also discover the abbey of Lieu Dieu, founded by Richard the Lionheart (12th century) (you can’t visit it) ➨ Direction Talmont-St-Hilaire. At Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, take the
direction of Port Bourgenay (marina) then follow the coast to les Sables d’Olonne. On the walk, you will find the Seventh continent. It’s an unique concept asking you to discover sea world then successively the “baie de Cayola” (the berry of Cayola), “le Puits de l’enfer” (the hells’ well) and “le lac du Tanchet” (the lake of Tanchet). In les Sables d’Olonne, you can walk on the embankment, marinas, fishing ports but also visit the Zoo, the Abbey St Croix and the sea-shells museum. ➨ Come back to La Tranche-sur-Mer by passing through Talmont: Medieval castle and Vendée Automobile Museum. Carry on through Avrillé then the secondary road D747 linking La Rochesur-Yon with La Tranche-sur-Mer).
Moutiers les-Mauxfaits
Poiroux
Les Sables d'Olonne Château d'Olonne Talmont St-Hilaire
Avrillé Le Givre St Hilaire la Forêt
Jard-sur-Mer
Le Bernard
St Vincent sur-Jard
Fontaine
Longeville sur-Mer
St Cyr en Ta L
Angles
Les Conches
La Tranche sur Mer The legend of Bélébat (Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard): they say that the town Bélébat, surrounded with high walls, was a den of vice that bad-tempered gots have destroyed in one night: invaded by floods then the town was covered by a sand dune. 30
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Trip of Oysters and Mussels 100km Did you know? L’ostréiculture: the oyster farming. La mytiliculture: the mussel farming. La conchyliculture: the oyster, mussel, shellfish farming. Starting point: Car park of the beach (standing stage) ➨ Direction la Grière, by following the coast you can see, at low tide, mussel banks (mussel farming) and the lagoon of “la Belle Henriette”. ➨ Direction la Faute-sur-Mer: oyster and mussel production. At La Faute-sur-Mer, take advantage of beaches and proposed activities: sand yacht, casino… Follow towards the road of la Pointe d’Arcay (fishing ports and marinas). Come back to la Faute-surMer and pass the bridge which overhangs the river “le Lay”. ➨ Direction l’Aiguillon-sur-Mer: oyster and mussel centre. Discover the fishing port and stretchs of water which receive swimmers and sail lovers then take the road of la Pointe de l’Aiguillon: visit of oyster beds, discovery of maturing docks, meet with producers, gourmand stopover. At la Pointe de S l’Aiguillon, you can appreciate the point of view on “la Rochelle”, M
“Charron”, the bridge of the isle of Ré… ➨ Direction St-Michel-en-l’Herm through “le Rocher de la Dive”, then at Saint-Michel-en-l’Herm, follow the road of Triaize: «les buttes d’huîtres» exploited in the first part of the 20th century. Of the three mounds, it remains only today a small part at the locality “la ferme des chaux” (private place). ➨ In the centre of Triaize, take the road of Saint Denis du Payré (house of the nature reserve and observatory). Carry on to discover the marsh through “Grues”, “Moricq”, “Angles”. ➨ Direction Longeville-sur-Mer, Saint Vincent-sur-Jard, Jard-sur-Mer. ➨ Direction Talmont, on your left–La Davière – La Vinière and coming to the port of la Guittière: oyster place, salt marshes, an other gourmand stop that you must not lack. From la Guittière, come back to La S Tranche-sur-Mer through the same road or the secondary road D21. St Père
Talmont St-Hilaire
La Guittière Jard-sur-Mer
La Bretonnière La Claye
Avrillé Le Givre St Hilaire la Forêt
Le Bernard Longeville sur-Mer
Fontaine
St Vincent sur-Jard
Angles
Lairoux St Cyr en Talmondais La Jonchère Curzon
Chasnais Luçon
St Benoist sur-Mer Moricq Grues
Triaize St Denis du-Payré
Les Conches
C les-M
La Tranche sur Mer
L'Aiguillon sur-Mer
St Michel en-l'Herm
La Faute sur-Mer Le Rocher de la Dive
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OFFICE DE TOURISME B.P. 216 – Place de la Liberté 85360 LA TRANCHE-SUR-MER Tél. : 02 51 30 33 96 – Fax : 02 51 27 78 71 Site internet : www.ot-latranchesurmer.fr e-mail : contact@ot-latranchesurmer.fr With the collaboration of Cécile ETIENNE