La Forêt-Sur-Sèvre: Château, Chapels and Trails

The Château de La Forêt-sur-Sèvre, the Chapelle de l’Ouvroir and the “Saint Marsault – La virée des pommiers fleuris” hiking trail showcase different aspects of the destination: an island estate on the Sèvre, sacred architecture and art history, and a route through sunken lanes and Chiron landscapes. There is also a fishing area, a pump track and an old cork oak in the town centre.

Château complex on the Sèvre

The Château de La Forêt-sur-Sèvre stands on two islands surrounded by the Sèvre. The château is on one island; the remains of the former outbuildings are on the other. During the Vendée Wars, the château was looted and burned down. Reconstruction began in 1810, and restoration was completed in 1837.

The château is partially protected as a historic monument. The designation covers the façades and roofs, the ground of both islands with the château and former outbuildings, as well as the surrounding waters. It was designated by decree on 19 July 1963. The protection thus applies both to parts of the buildings and to the islands and waters of the estate.

Chapel, sacred art and manor house

The Chapelle de l’Ouvroir was consecrated on 14 September 1845 and extended in 1851, six years later. The extension tripled its area. Its altarpiece depicts the Passion of Christ and a Pietà, and has been listed in the register of historic monuments since 2014. An altarpiece is a structure behind an altar; a Pietà depicts Mary with the dead Christ.

The church in La Forêt-sur-Sèvre also contains protected sacred objects: the chalice and paten have been protected as historic movable objects since 8 November 2001. These objects and the Chapelle’s altarpiece are different examples of sacred art and of movable and building-related heritage.

The Logis de la Jobtière is in La Ronde, in the commune of La Forêt-sur-Sèvre. It is thought to have been rebuilt around 1480. The dwelling and long outbuildings form a courtyard surrounded by ditches; this in turn lies within a complex with water-filled ditches. The approximate dating and layout of the buildings give the manor house a historical profile distinct from that of the château with its two islands.

Landscape and leisure

The cork oak known as the “Chêne liège du facteur” has been growing in the town centre for more than 80 years. It was planted by Jojo Marsault, a former postman. Its name recalls this personal connection to local history, while its location makes it a feature of the townscape.

The “Saint Marsault – La virée des pommiers fleuris” hiking trail runs through La Forêt-sur-Sèvre. It passes through sunken lanes and Chiron landscapes. Along the way, visitors can see the Pierre des Plochères beside characteristic houses and, possibly, apple trees in bloom. The trail’s name refers to the apple blossom; seeing it along the way is a possibility, not a certainty.

At Le Pont de Bois, carp fishing is practised on a catch-and-release basis. There is a rest area with picnic tables for anglers and their families. The pump track in La Forêt-sur-Sèvre features a course with rollers and bends for mountain bikes and BMX bikes.

The leisure options each have a different focus: the hiking trail takes you through the landscape, Le Pont de Bois is for carp fishing, and the pump track is for mountain bikes and BMX bikes. This lets you choose among the activities described according to your interests, rather than treating them as alike.

Discover more destinations: Maisonnay, Usseau, Saint-Coutant, Chizé, La Crèche, Saint-Martin-de-Sanzay, Fontenille-Saint-Martin-d'Entraigues, Secondigny.

For the broader travel overview: Deux-Sèvres.