Soullans offers a variety of discoveries combining cultural history and marshland. The Neolithic menhir known as Pierre-Levée, the Church of Saint Hilaire, and the Musée Charles Milcendeau each offer a different perspective. There are also footpaths through wetlands and a cycling route along small country roads. When planning your trip, both the historic sights and the different ways to explore the landscape are worth considering.

Cultural History from the Church to the Artist’s House

The Church of Saint Hilaire is a three-aisled Neo-Gothic church, built between 1898 and 1900. “Three-aisled” describes the division of the church interior into three aisles, while “Neo-Gothic” refers to its architectural style. The floor plan and style therefore offer two different points of reference for viewing the building. The church also contains statuettes of Saint Hilaire of Poitiers and Saint Louis. The statuettes are classified as historic monuments.

More than 80 works are on display at the Musée Charles Milcendeau at Bois-Durand, on the edge of the Marais de Soullans. A visit also includes the house where the artist lived with his wife Marguerite; it is open to visitors. The house is classified as a Monument Historique and has been awarded the Maisons des Illustres label. The museum visit therefore offers different cultural subjects: the artist’s works and his former home.

Guided tours and workshops are also offered at the Musée Charles Milcendeau. The visitor program may vary by season. If a guided tour or workshop is important to your trip plans, check the dates in advance.

On Foot Through the Freshwater Marshland

The Sentier des Mattes is an 8.3 km hiking trail. It follows paths through the freshwater marshland and offers a detour to the Monument de la Rochejaquelein. The route description thus combines a specific distance with a named cultural destination. The menhir and the monument are different historic landmarks in Soullans; the Sentier des Mattes specifically includes a detour to the monument.

The Sentier du grand marais leads from Soullans to wet meadows, where the landscape is shaped by its flora and fauna. The trail passes through a freshwater marsh area with reed-fringed ditches. Wet meadows, ditches, and reeds describe the character of this landscape more precisely than the general term “marshland” alone.

The Sentier de la Mongie also passes through marshland. Herons, egrets, mallards, and moorhens can be found there. These named bird species offer a concrete glimpse of the wildlife in this landscape.

Another Option: a Cycling Route

The Boucle Milcendeau differs from the walking trails in its mode of transport: this cycling route starts in Soullans and follows small country roads. This gives you a choice between a hiking trail with a stated distance and a cycling route described in terms of the roads it follows. Each route description emphasizes different features, without requiring you to assume they form a single route.

Seasonal Visitor Information

In the center of Soullans, the team at the Office de Tourisme du Pays de Saint Jean de Monts welcomes visitors every summer in July and August. As this visitor service is seasonal, check the opening arrangements before your trip.

When choosing your outings, you can sort the cultural attractions and routes by interest: the church and museum offer different aspects of a cultural visit, while the routes let you experience walking, marshland, and cycling in different ways. This makes it possible to explore Soullans through its specific sights and types of route.

Discover more destinations: Bois-De-Cene, Corpe, Saint-Christophe-Du-Ligneron, Maché, Sallertaine, Saint-Nicolas, La Chapelle-Palluau, Vouvant

For the broader travel overview: Vendée.