Saint-Hilaire-La-Forêt: Find Menhirs, Dolmens, and a Hotel

Saint-Hilaire-La-Forêt brings together prehistoric monuments, the Église Saint Hilaire, the Lavoir de la Courolle, and a route through the countryside. This gives you different options for planning your trip: individual sites with their own construction and heritage stories, or the Circuit Vert through sunken lanes and bocage countryside. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether cultural sites, the landscape, or both will shape your trip.

Menhirs and Dolmens: Forms and History

At La Rainière, two menhirs stand side by side as a single site. The larger of the two stones is 4 metres high and 2.50 metres wide. These measurements refer specifically to the larger menhir; they distinguish it from its neighbouring stone without treating the two as identical. Since 6 July 1995, the Menhirs de la Rainière have been fully listed as historic monuments. The date refers to their listing, not to when the stones were erected.

The Dolmen de la Sulette has a different classification: it is an Angevin-type dolmen and was restored in 1992. Originally, it was surrounded by a tumulus made entirely of earth. The two monuments therefore stand out for different reasons: at La Rainière, the arrangement and dimensions of the stones draw the eye; at La Sulette, it is the type, restoration, and former surroundings.

Experiences at the Préhisto’site du CAIRN

At the Préhisto’site du CAIRN, you can explore a Neolithic dwelling and enter a life-size dolmen. The programme also includes pottery- and jewellery-making workshops, as well as demonstrations of fire-making and hunting. Activities range from exploring a reconstructed living space to hands-on and demonstration-based activities. If you want to plan your visit around a particular programme item, check in advance what is being offered on your chosen date; the visitor programme may change.

Church, Spring, and Local Heritage

The Église Saint Hilaire was built between the 12th and 19th centuries—the dating therefore spans several centuries. This gives it a different historical timeframe from the prehistoric monuments and the restoration of the Dolmen de la Sulette, dated to 1992.

The Lavoir de la Courolle is a former sacred spring. According to local tradition, during years of drought the population would go there in a procession. This story gives the site its own place in the commune’s cultural heritage, alongside its classification as a former sacred spring. The lavoir is open year-round. As opening information can change, check it again before your visit.

Circuit Vert and the Countryside

The Circuit Vert is 5.4 kilometres long and marked in green. It passes through the countryside around Saint-Hilaire-La-Forêt, with its sunken lanes and bocage landscape. The distance and the marker colour provide different kinds of information: the kilometre figure describes the route, while green indicates its markings. Check the latest route information before setting out, as it may change.

Saint-Hilaire-La-Forêt is 4 kilometres from the beaches. Keep these figures distinct when planning: 5.4 kilometres is the length of the Circuit Vert, while four kilometres is the commune’s distance from the beaches. This lets you consider the countryside walk as a separate option alongside the destination’s proximity to the beach.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Château-Guibert, Bretignolles-Sur-Mer, Saint-Julien-Des-Landes, Sérigné, Notre-Dame-de-Riez, Vaire, La Jonchère, Mouilleron-En-Pareds.

For the broader travel overview: Vendée.