Grand'landes: Trails, Chapel and Herbs

Grand'landes offers several ways to enjoy a stay: trails through bocage and woodland, a digital treasure hunt, religious buildings with different historical connections, and plant products at Infus’Herbes. The following stops provide practical information about the landscape, starting point, duration and visiting conditions.

Trails and time frames

The Sentier des Buses begins and ends at the church square in Grand'landes. Its route alternates between trails through the bocage landscape and wooded sections. The Sentier de la Frande also follows trails through the bocage landscape and wooded sections. Both routes therefore share bocage and woodland as landscape features; the Sentier des Buses also starts and ends at the church square. Grand'landes also has a cycling route, the Sentier des Landes.

Le puits secret is a digital treasure hunt in the Baludik app. The route is 2 kilometres long and takes about one hour and 30 minutes; it begins at the town hall car park. Le puits secret is accessible to pushchairs and people with reduced mobility. Check accessibility again before your visit.

Church, chapel and local tradition

The present-day church of Grand'landes dates from 1928–1929 and preserves the porch of the previous church. The Chapelle de la Pitié was rebuilt on the ruins of a 15th-century chapel. It preserves a window from that period as well as a late medieval door. A local legend links it to the vow made by fishermen who survived a shipwreck.

The two buildings illustrate different historical connections: part of the earlier building was retained in the present-day church, while the Chapelle de la Pitié brings medieval architectural features together with a local legend. In this way, tangible architectural traces meet a story passed down through tradition, without equating the legend with the surviving architectural features. A porch is a part of a building situated in front of the main structure.

Plants and tours at Infus’Herbes

Infus’Herbes grows around 25 varieties of aromatic and medicinal plants, some of which are gathered wild. They are used to make simple herbal teas or aromatic blends. Guided tours last an average of 30 minutes. Before travelling, check whether a tour is available on your preferred date. Direct sales are available by appointment on all days except Sundays.

For comparison, Le puits secret takes about one hour and 30 minutes, while a guided tour at Infus’Herbes lasts an average of 30 minutes. For planning your time, this means Le puits secret takes about one hour longer than the average 30-minute tour. Allow time to make the required appointment for direct sales.

Discover more destinations: La Chaize-Giraud, Sainte-Cécile, Bouillé-Courdault, La Chapelle-Palluau, Maillé, Maillezais, Vouvant, La Châtaigneraie

For the broader travel overview: Vendée.