Discover Mareuil-Sur-Lay-Dissais

In Mareuil-Sur-Lay-Dissais, historic sites of remembrance meet wooded landscapes, walking paths and wine experiences. When planning your trip, you can choose from a range of highlights: Église Saint-Sauveur and the memorial site tell stories of architectural history and the past, while Coulée Verte and Bois des Tours offer different landscape experiences. In season, visits and excursions at Vignobles Mourat are also available.

Churches, memorial site and local history

Église Saint-Sauveur has been a listed historic monument since 14 July 1877. Its narthex, the church’s entrance vestibule, dates from the 11th century. This means that two different periods can be seen in a single building: the medieval origins of one part and the church’s later listing as a protected monument. Anyone interested in historic architecture will find a tangible point of interest here.

Since 1993, Église de Dissais – Musée des 3 Batailles has housed a permanent exhibition and memorial to three battles of the War in the Vendée. The exhibition relates to events on 28 June, 30 July and 14 August 1793. These three dates place the memorial in a chronological context and give its subject a clear historical framework.

The Lay is also part of the area’s history: Mareuil-sur-Lay-Dissais was once a port where boats carried salt upstream. The river is therefore both part of the landscape and part of the recorded history of salt transport. This former role should be distinguished from current facilities: what is described is a historic port, not a port in operation today.

Woodland, views and walks

Coulée Verte connects an arboretum with a picnic area and a lovely view of the Lay. Bois des Tours offers a different landscape: this 12-hectare woodland lies in a grassy valley that divides into two valleys bordered by rocky slopes. Together, they offer contrasting experiences: a landscaped natural area with a view and a woodland with a distinctive valley formation.

Bois des Tours is well equipped for walkers and offers a wide choice of easy walking paths. If you enjoy spending time outdoors during your stay, you can take this into account when choosing your destination. Calvaire adds a historic viewpoint to the landscape: dating from 1865, it offers panoramic views over Mareuil-sur-Lay-Dissais.

For a clearly defined activity, there is also the Marche d'orientation. It starts at Salle Omnisports; a map and control markers are part of the format. Routes of 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 kilometres are available, and are accessible with a pushchair. The three distances offer a clear choice of route length, while the map and markers help participants find their way during the activity.

Seasonal wine experiences

From April to September, Vignobles Mourat offers wine tours and tastings at 3 p.m.; visitors are asked to contact them in advance. If you would like to include this experience in your travel plans, it is best to confirm the appointment beforehand. Separate from this are the self-guided vineyard excursions, also offered from April to September: these take place by bicycle or electric car, require a reservation, and include a picnic delivered to the vineyards.

The wine experience is set against the backdrop of three estates operated by Vignobles Mourat, two of which are organically farmed, with a combined vineyard area of 125 hectares. The vines grow on slopes in the Fiefs Vendéens Mareuil appellation. This provides context for the tours and excursions in terms of the wine-growing region; the seasonal dates and the reservation requirement for self-guided excursions remain important differences between the experiences.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Saint-Prouant, Sainte-Hermine, Saint-Paul-Mont-Penit, Île d'Yeu, Noirmoutier-En-Lʼîle, Saint-Mesmin, Vaire, Givrand.

For the main travel overview: Vendée.