The church architecture, the large market halls and a château with water-filled moats give Moutiers-Les-Mauxfaits several clearly distinct cultural themes. Alongside the buildings, there are two signposted routes and valleys with various facilities. This lets you choose between architecture, heritage activities and getting around on foot or by mountain bike.
Church and market halls: different building periods
Built between 1170 and 1180, the Église Saint-Jacques de Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits is made of granite and is in the late Romanesque Poitevin style. It lies on a secondary route of the Way of St James and is open to the public daily. Check access again before travelling if you are planning a visit. On 14 October 1908, the church was classified as a Monument Historique. Its location on the pilgrim route and its late Romanesque architectural history offer distinct points of interest: a connection to a route of the Way of St James and a clearly dated 12th-century building.
The present-day market halls date from 1765 and cover 1,340 square metres. Their perimeter is lined with 41 limestone Doric columns. The halls were listed as a Monument Historique on 8 September 1943. Compared with the church from the late 12th century, they represent a significantly later building period; their size and number of columns provide further specific details about their architecture.
The Château de la Cantaudière
The main construction phase of the Château de la Cantaudière in Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits dates to 1578. Today, it consists of two building sections that together form an L-shaped layout, as well as a park and large moats that still hold plenty of water. The château’s façades and roofs, along with the fireplace in the salon, were partially classified as a Monument Historique by a decree dated 28 December 1978. Chronologically, the château’s main construction phase falls between the church, built in the late 12th century, and the market halls of 1765.
Routes and valleys
Both routes are intended for pedestrians and mountain bikes, but differ in length and marking: the Circuit du moulin Neau is 6.5 kilometres long and marked in green; the Circuit du bois joly is 4.5 kilometres long and marked in yellow. This makes the Circuit du bois joly the shorter option. Check the route markings and access locally before setting off.
The valleys also differ in their facilities. The Vallée de Huche Grolle has a pond, a fitness trail and a playground. The Vallée de la Poiraudière lies beside the Ruisseau de la Poiraudière stream and includes a pump track, a playground and a walking path. You can compare the two places based on the facilities listed for each. Facilities may change, so check their current availability before visiting.
Heritage activities and the Médiathèque
Every year, the Moutiers Animations Patrimoine association offers summer visitors free tours of the heritage sites of Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits. Dates vary from year to year, so check the dates for the relevant summer before travelling.
The Médiathèque of Moutiers-les-Mauxfaits is housed in the former Palais de Justice and is part of the Médiathèques Vendée Grand Littoral network. This network gives users in the area free access to tens of thousands of books, comics, manga, films and games. It also offers numerous activities and workshops throughout the year. The Médiathèque thus complements the historic buildings and seasonal tours with a range of media and activities throughout the year.
Discover more destinations: Fougeré, Bazoges-En-Pareds, Fontenay-Le-Comte, Foussais-Payré, Saint-Gilles-Croix-De-Vie, Le Champ-Saint-Père, Les Châtelliers-Châteaumur, Givrand.
View the regional travel guide: Vendée.
