Discover Soullans

Soullans brings together several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: the Neolithic menhir known as Pierre-Levée, the neo-Gothic Saint Hilaire Church, the Musée Charles Milcendeau and trails through the marshland. The cultural attractions differ in their history, architecture and art; when choosing a route, you can opt for either a walking trail or a cycling route.

Cultural history: menhir, church and museum

The menhir known as Pierre-Levée dates from the Neolithic period. Another cultural landmark is Saint Hilaire Church in Soullans: it has three naves, is neo-Gothic in style and was built between 1898 and 1900. The term “three-naved” describes the division of the church interior into three naves; “neo-Gothic” refers to the revival of Gothic forms. These features therefore represent two very different periods: the Neolithic era and the church’s construction between 1898 and 1900. The church also houses statuettes of Saint Hilaire of Poitiers and Saint Louis, both of which are listed as historic monuments.

The Musée Charles Milcendeau is located at Bois-Durand, on the edge of the Marais de Soullans, and displays more than 80 works. You can also visit the house where the artist lived with his wife, Marguerite. It is classified as a Monument Historique and has been awarded the Maisons des Illustres label. The museum offers guided tours and workshops. The program may vary by season; if these activities are important to your plans, check in advance what is scheduled for the period of your visit.

Walking trails and marshland scenery

The Sentier des Mattes is an 8.3 km walking trail that follows paths through the freshwater marshland. A detour leads to the Monument de la Rochejaquelein. You can factor the trail’s length into your day’s plans and consider the detour as an additional destination.

The Sentier du grand marais offers a different view of the landscape. The trail leads from Soullans to wet meadows, where the fauna and flora shape the scenery, and passes through a freshwater marsh area with reed-lined ditches. Herons, egrets, mallards and moorhens are among the birds found in the marshland. The Boucle Milcendeau is a cycling route from Soullans along small country roads, making it a different option from the Sentier des Mattes, which is a walking trail through the freshwater marshland.

The two trails offer different experiences: the key details for the Sentier des Mattes are its 8.3 km length and the detour to the Monument de la Rochejaquelein; the Sentier du grand marais highlights wet meadows, fauna, flora and reed-lined ditches.

Practical information

The team at the Office de Tourisme du Pays de Saint Jean de Monts welcomes visitors in central Soullans every summer in July and August. The visitor service is seasonal; check the opening arrangements before your trip if you plan to use this service.

Discover more destinations: L'epine, La Faute-Sur-Mer, Bournezeau, La Chaize-Le-Vicomte, Antigny, Les Brouzils, Mouilleron-En-Pareds, Mouilleron-Le-Captif.

For the broader travel overview: Vendée.