Thouarsais-Bouildroux combines a designated circular hiking route with churches from different centuries, a remarkable orchid site and goat cheese from Fromagerie Le Purdeau. If you are planning a short stay, it is worth deciding what to focus on: the circular route takes about three and a half hours, making it a substantial part of the day; history, nature and local produce offer other points of interest.
Hiking between limestone soils and chestnut-covered hills
The “Circuit pédestre la Colline des Châtaigniers” circular hiking trail is 14.7 kilometres long, rated moderate and takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. This combination of distance, difficulty rating and duration helps with planning your day: the route is a longer activity, so you can allow for breaks and other activities as well as walking time. Route details may be updated; check the latest description before setting out.
The route is designated as a Sentier de Promenade et de Randonnée (PR) and starts at the car park of the community hall on Rue de la Passerelle in Thouarsais-Bouildroux. It leads from limestone soils to the hill of the chestnut trees. The name Colline des Châtaigniers thus refers to a specific landscape feature along the route, while the limestone soils provide a second point of interest. For hikers who want to consider the landscape as well as distance and duration, the route description offers both.
A special orchid and a natural heritage inventory
The Dactylorhiza incarnata orchid grows in the Communal Joubert de Thouarsais-Bouildroux area. It is the fourth known site for this orchid in the Vendée. The area is also designated as a type 1 ZNIEFF under code 520016257.
Churches from two centuries
A local educational page about the area’s history, published on 10 March 2017, dates the church in Thouarsais to the 15th century; it served as a castle chapel. The same educational page, published on 10 March 2017, dates the construction of Saint-Martin Church to the 13th century. Rib vaults and machicolations are still visible at Saint-Martin Church; check whether they are accessible before your visit. A rib vault is structured by intersecting ribs, while machicolations are projecting defensive passages with openings.
Goat cheese and the market
Fromagerie Le Purdeau makes fresh goat’s cheese rounds, plain or with herbs, in ten different flavours. The goat’s cheese is made from raw milk and shaped by hand with a ladle. On Sunday mornings, the fromagerie sells its products at the market in Thouarsais-Bouildroux. Market hours may change, so check the date in advance if you would like to include a market visit in your plans.
Picnic by the Boursaudière lake
There is a picnic area with six shaded tables by the Boursaudière lake. The tables are accessible to people with reduced mobility. If you are planning your break around this particular facility, check its condition before your visit, as individual amenities may change.
Plan your stay around your interests
When planning your day, it is useful to bear in mind the difference between the longer hike and the market’s set hours: the route takes about three and a half hours, while the market takes place on Sunday mornings. If you would like to include both, you can plan them as separate activities and make churches, nature or the picnic area a priority according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Jard-Sur-Mer, Les Landes-Genusson, Fontenay-Le-Comte, Barbatre, Tiffauges, Soullans, Lavaud, La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire
Go to the main travel overview: Vendée.
