Churches, chapels and the remains of the walls of Château des Ganuchères shape Treize-Septiers’ cultural and historical character. For orientation, there are clearly identified attractions: the 14.9-kilometre Les Peneuillés walking trail through forests and wetlands, as well as a fitness trail with exercise stations in the Bois de l’Ile. Products produced and raised locally each week are also part of the local offering. This gives you a choice of different focal points when planning your trip: historical traces, a designated route and local produce.

Churches, chapels and local history

The church of Treize-Septiers was consecrated in 1875. The foundation stone had been laid in 1872, and the church was blessed a year later. These three dates trace the sequence of the laying of the foundation stone, the blessing and the consecration, giving the town’s history a clear timeline.

Two chapels add to this timeline. The Chapelle Notre Dame de la Salette was built in 1854 in the garden of the presbytery, near the church of Saint Martin de Treize-Septiers. A remarkable healing is said to have taken place there. The Chapelle des Godelinières “Notre Dame de Grâce” was inaugurated on 25 September 1949. The chapels thus lead to different periods in the town’s history: the Salette chapel dates from the mid-19th century, while the inauguration of Notre Dame de Grâce took place in the mid-20th century.

Château des Ganuchères

Château des Ganuchères takes you back to another era in the town’s history: it was built on a promontory in the 14th century. In the 15th century, it was stormed, looted and set on fire; only a few sections of wall remain. Unlike the churches and chapels, where successive consecration dates take centre stage, here the focus is on the transformation of a building into the few traces that survive.

Walking trail and fitness trail

For outdoor activities, you can choose between a designated walking route and a fitness trail with exercise stations. Les Peneuillés is 14.9 kilometres long, marked in yellow and passes through forests and wetlands. Use the distance as a practical guide when planning, and check the local trail markings before setting out. The fitness trail in the Bois de l’Ile has exercise stations. The two options differ in form: one is a route through forests and wetlands, while the other is a trail with stations for exercise.

Local produce and animal experiences

The Magasin des fermes de la Gourinière farm shop in Treize-Septiers offers products produced and raised locally each week. Its weekly offering provides a different focus from the churches and walking trail, bringing local production to the fore. A 2024 tourism guide lists animal feeding, goat milking and learning about animal breeds at the Le Champs du Bonheur micro-farm in Treize-Septiers. As arrangements may change, check the current conditions before visiting.

Discover more destinations: La Faute-Sur-Mer, Saint-Maixent-Sur-Vie, Les Châtelliers-Châteaumur, Boufféré, Saint-Malô-Du-Bois, La Pommeraie-Sur-Sèvre, Saint-Paul-en-Pareds, La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire

For the broader travel overview: Vendée.