Discover Saint-Vincent-Sterlanges

Saint-Vincent-Sterlanges can be explored through two distinct highlights: the church with its sacred art and the marked Sentier de Sterlanges. While the building, paintings, organ and Trésor exhibition offer cultural and historical details, the trail has a specified length and approximate walking time. This lets you distinguish between a culture-focused visit and a hike with an estimated duration when planning your trip.

Church and sacred art

The church of Saint-Vincent-Sterlanges is a neoclassical building that was rebuilt in 1845. The year it was rebuilt is distinct from the creation of its furnishings: Gabriel de Fontaine painted “Le Baptême du Christ” in 1857. The work returned to the church on 18 June 2025. These dates refer to three different events: the rebuilding, the creation of the painting and its later return.

The Trésor exhibition in the church comprises twelve objects that are either protected as historic monuments or listed in the supplementary inventory. Its timeline spans from the 14th century to the beginning of the 19th century. It can be visited daily during church opening hours and outside of services; check the current church opening hours in advance.

The organ has seven stops and 450 pipes; it was completely restored in 2014. According to Jean-Michel Dieuaide, president of “Orgues en Vendée,” it is one of the oldest organs in the Vendée. The restoration refers to work carried out in 2014; the statement about its age, by contrast, places the instrument in comparison with other organs in the Vendée.

Hiking the Sentier de Sterlanges

The 2024 trail description lists the Sentier de Sterlanges as an easy hiking trail measuring 6.6 kilometres, with a walking time of about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The time is approximate; local trail conditions can change. The trail starts at the car park on Rue Malvoisine in Saint-Vincent-Sterlanges and is marked with pink marker No. 1. Check the markings on site. Distance and walking time are different planning details: 6.6 kilometres is the distance, while the time remains an estimate.

The Sentier passes the washhouse and the Fontaine de Sterlanges. The Fontaine was built in 1856. Thus, in addition to the trail’s distance, the route includes specific points of interest along the way. The year the Fontaine was built and the year the church was rebuilt refer to different structures and events.

Different considerations apply when planning your day: the trail’s distance and estimated walking time are useful for the Sentier, while church opening hours and services determine when the Trésor exhibition can be visited. Walking time and visit duration are therefore not interchangeable.

Landscape

The Petit Lay flows through the bocage landscape of Saint-Vincent-Sterlanges. If you factor the landscape into your choice of destination, this description of the area complements the specific cultural highlights and the designated hiking route.

Discover more destinations: Oulmes, La Barre-De-Monts, L'aiguillon-Sur-Mer, Loge-Fougereuse, Saint-Révérend, Saint-Juire-Champgillon, Saint-Laurent-Sur-Sèvre, Venansault

See the regional travel overview: Vendée.