Pers can be explored in two different ways: through its historic landmarks and the La fontaine de Pers discovery route. The Lanterne des morts, the oldest tomb slab in the Cimetière de Pers, and the Chapelle de Pers represent different aspects of the area’s heritage. When planning your visit, it helps to distinguish between these heritage sites and the route’s starting point. This way, you can plan your stay around whether monuments or the route’s themes are your main focus.

Heritage sites in Pers

The Lanterne des morts in Pers was classified as a historic monument on 22 March 1889. 22 March 1889 is the date of its classification, not the year it was built. The oldest tomb slab is in the Cimetière de Pers; it may date from the early Middle Ages. So, while the Lanterne has a precise classification date, the tomb slab’s age is described more cautiously. Anyone interested in the area’s history can use these examples to understand the difference between a monument’s precisely dated status and a possible estimate of its age.

The La fontaine de Pers discovery route

The Chapelle de Pers is a stop on the La fontaine de Pers Route. The route also passes through villages and hamlets and visits numerous fountains and bread ovens. This matters when planning: you can treat the chapel as a named stop or focus on the route itself, with its fountains and bread ovens. You can choose between a single heritage site and a discovery route with several themes as different focal points.

The similar-sounding names refer to different things: La fontaine de Pers is the discovery route, while the Fontaine de Pers is its starting point. There is a surfaced car park at the starting point. If you plan to start there, check the current parking situation in advance. This makes it easy to include the starting point in your visit plans.

Fontaine de Pers: starting point and rest area

The Fontaine de Pers is located in the area known as La Fontaine, outside the centre of Pers. So, treat the starting point as a separate place to visit rather than simply locating it in the town centre. This distinction is useful when including the route and heritage sites in Pers in your day’s plans.

The Fontaine grounds were completely restored in 2003 and landscaped as a pleasant rest area. The picnic area there is called “La Chaume.” This means the site is named not only as the route’s starting point but also as a rest area with its own name. If you plan to take a break there, check that it is currently open for use before your visit.

Find a holiday rental to suit your visit

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Pers, first consider which part of the area’s heritage you want to shape your stay: the monuments and cemetery, or the route and its starting point at the Fontaine. Then factor the specific location of each property into your day’s plans. This way, you can focus your search on the places you want to visit rather than choosing accommodation based on the destination name alone.

Discover more destinations: Mazières-en-Gâtine, Pas-de-Jeu, Échiré, Sauzé-Vaussais, Étusson, Nueil-Les-Aubiers, Bouin, Saint-Coutant.

For an overview of the wider region: Deux-Sèvres.