Regional Heritage Sites
Explore the architectural and archaeological history of the Vendée coast. This selection spans thousands of years, from Neolithic dolmens and menhirs to Gallo-Roman ruins. Highlights include medieval fortresses like the Vieux-château de l’Île d’Yeu, the 16th-century Moulin à vent de Rairé, and the 12th-century Abbaye de Saint-Jean d'Orbestier. The list also features significant maritime heritage, including historic lighthouses and 19th-century military fortifications that have shaped the region's coastal identity.
A Château de Commequiers
The Château de Commequiers is a castle in Commequiers in Vendée, France.
B Château de Beaumarchais
A 16th-century Renaissance-style castle located in Brétignolles-sur-Mer.
Dolmen La Pierre Levée
A Neolithic megalithic tomb, also known as a portal dolmen, located in Brem-sur-Mer.
Menhir dit La Minche du Diable
A prehistoric standing stone, or menhir, situated in the commune of Vairé.
E Île d'Yeu Lighthouse
The Île d'Yeu Lighthouse, sometimes called the Grand Phare or La Petite Foule, is a French lighthouse constructed on the Île d'Yeu in 1950.
F Phare des Dames
Built in 1867, this lighthouse is located in the Bois de la Chaise on Noirmoutier Island.
Manoir de la Tuderrière
A manor house dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, featuring late Gothic and Renaissance architectural elements.
Château de l'Audardière
A 16th-century castle in Apremont, recognized as a French historic monument.
Fort de Pierre-Levée
A 19th-century military fort on Île d'Yeu that once served as a state prison.
Abbaye de Saint-Jean d'Orbestier
A 12th-century Benedictine abbey founded by William IX of Aquitaine, situated near the coastline.
Église Saint-Martin-de-Vertou
A parish church in La Jonchère, rebuilt in the 19th century on the site of an older sanctuary.
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption
A Romanesque church in Angles, famous for the 'Bête d'Angles' stone sculpture perched on its roof.
Église Saint-Pierre
A traditional parish church located in the village of Grosbreuil.
N Église Saint-Gilles
A historic Catholic church in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie with origins dating back to the 9th century.
Ponts de Port-La-Claye
A series of historic bridges spanning the Lay river at the crossing of Port-La-Claye.
P Vieux-château de l'Île d'Yeu
The Vieux-château de l'île d'Yeu is a fortification on Île d'Yeu off the French Atlantic coast in the département of Vendée.
Moulin à vent de Rairé
A 16th-century windmill in Sallertaine that has remained in continuous operation since 1555.
R Château de la Guignardière
The Château de la Guignardière is a 16th-century château located outside Avrillé, in the Vendée department, western France.
Villa "Sans Souci"
A seaside villa in Les Sables-d'Olonne, showcasing early 20th-century Belle Époque architecture.
Tour gallo-romaine
The archaeological remains of a Gallo-Roman tower or funerary monument located in the town of Angles.
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