Lac de Rochereau, a plateau surrounded by slopes, and local history dating back to the Middle Ages give Chavagnes-les-Redoux several distinct features to explore during a stay. Leisure activities and walks take centre stage by the water; the landscape, hiking trails and buildings offer other points of interest. When choosing a destination based on your interests in nature and culture, you can weigh these different sides of the town against one another.
Water and landscape
Lac de Rochereau covers 127 hectares. Fishing and water sports such as windsurfing are enjoyed on the lake; a circular route is also available for walks. This places walks and activities on the water side by side as distinct options. This makes a practical difference when planning: you can consider the circular route for a walk, or take fishing and windsurfing into account as interests at the lake.
The landscape offers another way to experience Chavagnes-les-Redoux. The commune consists of a large plateau surrounded by slopes. From there, you can enjoy views of the surrounding landscape, Pouzauges and the hills. The terrain of plateau and slopes offers a different focus from the leisure activities at the lake. If you are more interested in landscapes and views, these features provide a point of reference alongside the lake.
Hiking trails with different points of reference
The Les Jarries hiking trail can be reached from Pouzauges via the D43, 10 km away. The Sentier La Muletrie is a hiking trail recognised by FFRandonnée. The two trail descriptions offer different points of reference: Les Jarries is described in terms of Pouzauges, the D43 and the distance; La Muletrie is distinguished by its recognition as a hiking trail. When narrowing down your options, you can consider whether specific directions via Pouzauges or the recognised trail designation matters more to you.
Church and local history
The Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption in Chavagnes-les-Redoux is first mentioned as a place of worship in 1096. The portal appears to date from the 13th century; the church building is also thought to date from this century. An inscription on a stone in the south wall gives the year 1636. These details refer to different historical points of reference: the first mention as a place of worship, the presumed dating of the portal and church building, and the year on the inscription. Anyone interested in the town’s history can distinguish these different periods rather than reading the dates as a single construction chronology.
Another building is the washhouse on Rue du Lavoir. It is part of the commune of Chavagnes-les-Redoux’s unprotected built heritage. Alongside the church, it offers a different point of reference for local architectural history: the washhouse is another distinct feature of the commune’s heritage. Thus, a church building with historical dates and a washhouse with a designated heritage status represent different interests in local history.
A former family cemetery belonging to Pierre PREAU is also part of the commune’s history. It was sold to the commune in 1873 and 1874. The family cemetery has not been used since 1913; since then, Protestants and Catholics have been buried in the communal cemetery. The sale and the end of its use are two distinct stages in this history. The dates help distinguish the sale in 1873 and 1874 from the later end of the cemetery’s use, while the subsequent practice of joint burial adds another aspect to the town’s history.
Discover more destinations: Bois-De-Cene, Draps, Angles, Noirmoutier-En-Lʼîle, Curzon, Le Mazeau, Mouilleron-En-Pareds, Saint-Malô-Du-Bois
For the wider travel overview: Vendée.
