Discover Givrand: River Landscapes, Trails and History

Givrand combines river landscapes, archaeological history and routes with clearly named waypoints. The Jaunay marshes border the town to the south, while the Maison de la Cour is a historic landmark in the centre. There are also hiking trails, a Vendée Vélo route and river excursions. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether you are more interested in the landscape, history or outdoor activities.

River Landscapes and Activities on the Jaunay

The Jaunay marshes border Givrand to the south, where the Jaunay and Gué-Gorand meet. The Jaunay is also at the heart of the water activities: Les Canoës du Marais offers excursions from Givrand along the calm river by canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or pedal boat. That gives you several types of watercraft to choose from if you would like to include a river activity in your stay.

Route 63 also leads to the Jaunay: it runs from Coëx to Givrand and ends at the Passerelle sur le Jaunay in Givrand. The route and river excursion relate to the same river, but in different ways—the route through its named endpoint, the excursions on the water itself. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider the Jaunay both as the route’s destination and as the setting for an activity.

Archaeological Traces and Medieval History

Archaeological excavations in Givrand uncovered a Merovingian and medieval necropolis with 170 burials, including 70 sarcophagi. A necropolis is a burial ground; these figures give this part of the town’s history a concrete scale. The finds span two periods: the Merovingian and medieval eras.

In the centre of Givrand, the Maison de la Cour houses an archaeological crypt containing an ancient Merovingian necropolis. In addition, during the Middle Ages, a Romanesque church in Givrand was under the authority of the Abbey of Saint-Michel-en-l’Herm. These details highlight different aspects of history: the necropolises as burial sites and the church as part of medieval religious history. Together, they offer more than one point of interest if you would like to learn about the town’s past.

Hiking Trails and Specific Starting Points

For a hike, you can compare the lengths of the Circuit du Bourg and the red hiking trail. The Circuit du Bourg is a 5.4-kilometre circular walking route, with a stated duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The red hiking trail is 9.6 kilometres long and starts at the Maison de la Cour car park. The two routes differ in length by 4.2 kilometres. The Circuit also has a stated duration to help you plan.

The Maison de la Cour is also a useful reference for starting points: the red hiking trail begins at its car park. Loop No. 16 starts at the Maison de la Cour, Place des Anciens Combattants, 85800 Givrand. This gives you specific starting-point details at the Maison for both routes, though at different locations.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Les Lucs-Sur-Boulogne, Le Poiré-Sur-Vie, La Jaudonnière, Mortagne-Sur-Sèvre, La Flocellière, Moutiers-Sur-Le-Lay, Sallertaine, Treize-Septiers.

Go to the main travel guide: Vendée.