In Combrand, architectural history and the history of the Vendée Wars sit alongside trails through the valley of the Ruisseau de Pisse-Vache. The Chapelle des Arcis offers a glimpse into the area’s construction methods and stained glass; the “Sur les pas des Géants” walking trail links a historical theme with ponds and a grotto. Château architecture, a farm offering and a glass bead workshop add different perspectives on Combrand.
The Chapelle des Arcis: construction and stained-glass windows
On the edge of Combrand, the Chapelle des Arcis stands in a small park on the road to Rorthais. Father Jacques Vion, the parish priest of Combrand, built it in 1866 and immediately gifted it to the commune. The chapel is a single-nave building made of local granite, comprising one room. Its construction date, material and compact form give the chapel a distinctive architectural profile.
A stained-glass window depicting Saint John the Baptist dates from 1858. In six panels, it depicts five episodes from the saint’s life. In 1876, during construction of the eastern bay, the window was moved to the new chancel wall. The work was therefore created 18 years before it was moved; the two dates help place the window’s history in context.
Château architecture and local history
The Château de la Pastellière is a historic site and a listed historic monument in Combrand. Water-filled moats surround the château, which is protected by three round towers. The moats and towers give the building its defensive character and provide a distinctive architectural point of interest alongside the simpler chapel.
Another historic address is the Château de la Girardière. Gaspard de Bernard de Marigny, a Vendée artillery general, was executed there in 1794. The person, place and year give this episode a specific connection to the history of the Vendée Wars. Pastellière and Girardière represent different aspects of the local heritage: château architecture at one, and a clearly dated event at the other.
The “Sur les pas des Géants” walking trail
The trail follows the history of the Vendée Wars and runs through the valley of the Ruisseau de Pisse-Vache. There are ponds along the way, and the route also passes a grotto. This means the walk combines a historical theme with two explicitly named landscape features. Visitors wishing to discover Combrand through its history and landscape will find a different approach here from visiting the buildings in the village.
The walking trail starts and ends at the Combrand town hall car park on Chemin St Bréviaire. Check the starting point before travelling and the trail conditions before setting out: conditions and access may change. No walking time or difficulty level is given here, so do not plan around an assumed duration.
Farm offerings and glass beadmaking
GAEC “Légumes and co” offers 70 varieties of vegetables in Combrand, with vegetables available for retail sale year-round. The range also includes vegetables preserved in jars, as well as strawberries for pick-your-own at the farm. Check opening hours before visiting.
In summer, GAEC La Ferme au l’Ouin / Ô lueurs d’Aubépine offers a distillation event. L’ATELIER VERRE ET FEU offers a two-hour workshop for one person aged 12 or over, by reservation; prices start at 85 euros. Participants use Effetre Murano glass rods to make five or ten beads, which can then be assembled into jewellery. The offerings also differ in their timing: year-round vegetable sales, a seasonal summer event and a workshop requiring a reservation each have a different schedule.
Discover more destinations: Vasles, Caunay, Chizé, Fontenille-Saint-Martin-d'Entraigues, Scillé, Pouffonds, Le Breuil-sous-Argenton, Lezay.
For the main travel overview: Deux-Sèvres.
