FONTENAY-LE-COMTE

A member of the highly selective "Plus Beaux Détours de France" association, it is the département's architectural gem. The gateway to the Poitevin marshes, ideally nestled between the sea, the hedged farmland and the largest forest in the Vendée, it's a town where life is good.
Renowned for its gentle way of life, the town nicknamed "The gushing fountain and spring of the Beautiful Spirits" by François I is a charming place with a population of 15,500 that has managed to preserve its thousand-year-old heritage, witness to a prestigious past preserved by the only protected area in the Vendée (86 hectares).

2 discovery trails in the historic centre, departing from the Tourist Office. (3km or 4km)
Follow one of the routes and discover the treasures of the town thanks to the heritage interpretation panels. From the Quartier des Illustres to the Faubourg des Loges, the old town of Fontenay will reveal its architectural gems.
Free map available from the Tourist Office.

Other attractions in Fontenay-le-Comte include the Renaissance de Terre-Neuve and the Musée de Fontenay (currently undergoing renovation), and the Fontenautes & Compagnie "L'Étrange balade de Fontenay" audio walk.