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A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres
Trayes & Le Vanneau-Irleau
by Sue Burgess
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TRAYES
been very involved in the Vendee wars but Pierre didn't have any choice in the matter of his conscription, as the process was very strictly supervised by the gendarmerie. An older legend tells the story of the Rocher Saint Fort (Saint Fort's Rock), a huge rock that looks like it has been split in two. There is a cross on top of it and it serves as a calvary (a representation of the crucifixion of Jesus). Once upon a time, there was a Lord of Trayes. He was no better, and no worse, than any of the other local lords of the manor. He had a reputation of being fond of women and it was said that he exerted certain rights over the women in the area. One day a beggar asked for help, having been sent away from his usual place of residence. The Lord of Trayes asked him to clear a parcel of land that was full of brambles and rocks. Autumn came and the beggar took his offering from the harvest to the lord. The lord asked him if he was happy with what he had done and the beggar confessed that he didn't want to spend the cold winter alone and that he would like a cottage and a wife. This request just came at the right time for the Lord of Trayes, who had got a young woman into an embarrassing situation, and the local curate was getting fed up of seeing youngsters that had a strong resemblance to the lord of the manor popping up all over the commune. The lord of the manor granted the land to the beggar and promised him the young woman, telling him that there were enough rocks and stones on the land that he had cleared to build a cottage. The beggar, not having any idea whatsoever how to build a cottage, prayed to Saint Fort (whose tomb is in Tourtenay – see August issue of the Deux Sèvres Monthly). There was a sudden huge clap of thunder and one of the huge rocks split in two. The beggar was able to use it to make the corner of his cottage. The beggar and his wife lived happily ever after. The cross on the top of what remains of the rock reminds us of the legend of the rock of Saint Fort.
LE VANNEAU-IRLEAU
Trayes is a small commune situated between Largeasse and Neuvy Bouin. Records show that, in 1793, the name of the commune was spelled Traye and that the 's' was added from 1801. Le Vanneau-Irleau is a commune situated in the « marais sauvage » part of the Marais Poitevin and is known for its wood industry, specialising in the production of plywood.
The 121 inhabitants of the commune are known as the Trayens and the Trayennes.
The small church is dedicated to St Denis.
The economic activity of the commune is mainly agricultural. In the registers of the commune of Trayes, dated 15 February 1812, a record of the death of Pierre Savin can be seen. Pierre Savin died on the 8 December 1811 aged 20 "of a high fever". This young man died in the military hospital of Hamburg (northern Germany) whilst fighting for Napoleon, 1300 km from his home. He was the son of François Savin, a servant and Perrine Chaigneau of Trayes. His inscription to the army is found in the records of the Imperial Guard and Infantry (1802 – 1815). He had joined the army in January 1811, when he had been "recruited" (conscripted) in Moncoutant. His family had
The name « Le Vanneau » comes from vana aqua, meaning « eau vaine et vague » (useless water), which meant that nothing could be grown until the canals were dug out in the XIXth century. Irleau is a contraction of « île Reau ». On the last Saturday in July, there is a market which is held on the water at the Grand Port of Le Vanneau « le Marché sur l'Eau» where produce is sold from the boats. The market attracts 15,000 visitors. This festive event is one of the more unusual traditions of the Marais Poitevin.
Other things to see : • The Village of la Sèvre and its footbridge called « A
Segolène», which connects Le Vanneau-Irleau to Le
Mazeau in Vendée • The Grand Port of Irleau • Rue de la Belette • The well of the castle of Béchillon
Saint-Eutrope Church in Le Vanneau
Built between 1874 and 1876 in Neo-Gothic style and dedicated to Saint Eutrope (the first bishop of Saintes martyred in the IVth century siècle), the church was consecrated in 1880. The interior was renovated in 2001 and 2002. There is a statue of Father Montfort on the facade in memory of the missionary's visit from the Vendée. Above the door to the sacristy, there are paintings of Saint Hilaire and Montfort. There is a stained glass window that represents Saint Eutrope surrounded by Pope Clément, Saint Eustelle, Saint Germaine, Saint Catherine of Sienna and Sainte Sabine.
Grand Port of le Vanneau
Situated on the canal « la Belette », the communal harbour was restored as part of the great restoration works of the Marais Poitevin. The harbour used to be for the farmers from the village and the plain, so that they could get out to their parcels of land situated in the marshes and get through to the Sèvre Niortaise river valley. The farmers were not allowed to leave their harvests on the quay for more than 24 hours so that they wouldn't get in the way of the boats and carts loaded with hay, wood or cattle. The Grand Port is lined with willow trees whose whips were once used for making baskets for catching eels. A metal footbridge built in 1900 was used to get to the family allotments called « motte ». Between rue de la Belette and the « corde » (strip of water) are old farms which had access at the back from the waterway and at the front from the road.
