Saint-Mars-la-Réorthe: Art and Paths in the Haut-Bocage

Saint-Mars-la-Réorthe combines sacred art and history with walking and hiking paths through a varied landscape. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether you would prefer to explore cultural sights or experience the surrounding area on foot. The Église Saint-Médard and the Vierge de la Colonne offer specific points of interest, as do paths through woodland, sunken lanes and the landscapes of the Haut-Bocage.

Church art and local history

The Église Saint-Médard brings together several works of art that differ in material and subject matter. Woodwork can be seen in the choir; there is also a copper-painted Stations of the Cross and stained-glass windows depicting tragic episodes of the Vendée Wars. The church thus features different forms of sacred art: woodwork, painting on copper, and windows depicting a historical subject. Those interested in church art can take in a range of materials and subjects here.

The protected cultural heritage includes a painted wooden sculpture of Saint Roch. It depicts the saint as a pilgrim with a shell and a dog. These attributes provide specific details by which to recognise the depiction, and distinguish the figure from the painted scenes and woodwork in the choir.

Another prominent landmark is the Vierge de la Colonne. The monument was erected in 1855 to protect the commune’s inhabitants from the violence of severe thunderstorms. The Vierge stands atop an eight-metre-high column and overlooks the centre of Saint-Mars-la-Réorthe. While the church’s furnishings place art and religious depictions centre stage, this monument combines its height with the stated purpose for which it was erected. The Château de la Traverserie, within the commune, was the scene of several events during the Vendée Wars.

Walking and hiking paths

The Sentier des Jarries passes through several Espaces Naturels Sensibles. Along the route, shaded areas, clearings and viewpoints over the hills of the Haut-Bocage alternate. This provides a specific point of reference when choosing a route: the described landscape along the Sentier des Jarries includes both shaded stretches and more open spots with views.

The commune also has hiking paths through woodland and sunken lanes. Their character differs from the scenery along the Sentier des Jarries: there, shade, clearings and viewpoints alternate; here, wooded stretches and sunken paths take centre stage. The green space in the Petit Lay valley is connected to the Bois des Jarries and serves as an area for walking. You can therefore weigh up the different types of paths described and a landscape specifically identified as an area for walking.

Find a hotel in Saint-Mars-la-Réorthe

Decide on your main focus first; this will give you a clear idea of your travel interests as you begin searching for a hotel in Saint-Mars-la-Réorthe.

Discover more destinations: La Jonchère, Sallertaine, Champagné-les-Marais, Bouin, Aubigny, Saint-Georges-De-Montaigu, Saint-Martin-Lars-en-Sainte-Hermine, Saint-Révérend.

For the main travel overview: Vendée.