Les Lucs-Sur-Boulogne combines the memory of Vendée history with hiking trails in an exceptionally green river landscape. Historical landmarks include the Mémorial de la Vendée, the Chapelle du Petit-Luc and the church of Les Lucs. The trails range from a circuit around the town centre to considerably longer routes.

Memorial sites and architectural history

The Mémorial de la Vendée commemorates the massacre of 564 villagers from Les Lucs in February 1794. At the Chapelle du Petit-Luc, 22 plaques list the names of 564 people who were murdered in Les Lucs during the Revolution. The Sentier de la Mémoire leads from the Mémorial to the Chapelle. In this way, remembrance of the event is connected with the individual names commemorated in the chapel.

The Chapelle du Petit-Luc was built in 1866 on the site of the choir of the former church of Notre-Dame du Petit-Luc. According to the oldest documents, this former church is believed to date back to the 11th century. The dates refer to different buildings: 1866 is the year the chapel was built; the predecessor building is believed to date from the 11th century.

The church of Les Lucs has a different architectural history: it was built in 1902 to replace an older church dating from the 14th century, which had burned down several times. Its stained-glass windows depict the story of Père Barbedette, the parish priest of Notre-Dame du Grand-Luc during the Vendée Wars. In addition to the organ, an audio recording offers a guided tour at all times.

The Historial de la Vendée presents 7,000 years of history, covering a broader time span than the memorial sites dedicated to the Revolution. The Historial includes a children’s museum on the subject of trees, designed for children aged two and over. It also offers a varied programme throughout the year. Specific programme details may change seasonally, so check the dates of the events that interest you in advance.

Hiking trails by length and starting point

The exceptionally green riverside setting makes for pleasant walks. The 2 km circular trail “La faune et la flore de notre campagne” runs around the town centre and is suitable for families. Its focus on nature is complemented by its circular route in the town-centre area.

The Sentier du Puy is 8 km long and starts at the municipal campsite in the Val de Boulogne. The Sentier des Chapelles is 17 km long. Of the three routes, the circuit around the town centre is the shortest and the Sentier des Chapelles the longest; the Sentier du Puy falls between them in length. This lets you compare the trails by distance, while the starting point for the Sentier du Puy is also specified.

Discover more destinations: Fougeré, Chantonnay, Noirmoutier-En-Lʼîle, Saint-Paul-Mont-Penit, La Garnache, La Tranche-Sur-Mer, Château-D'olonne, Landevieille.

For the overview of the wider region: Vendée.