Vouillé: Trails and Heritage in the Lambon Valley

Vouillé stretches around the green Lambon Valley and encompasses five villages: Vouillé Bourg, Gascougnolles, Arthenay, La Rivière, and Vaumoreau. The landscape, hiking trails, and architectural history offer different ways to shape your stay. If you are arriving by car, Vouillé is at exit 32 of the A10. If you use this information to find your way, check the road signs.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

The Circuit des Puits is an easy, six-kilometre hike that takes approximately two and a half hours. The trail is marked in red, leads to several of the commune’s wells, and crosses the Lambon. It offers a practical way to discover Vouillé’s natural and cultural heritage. Allow for the approximate duration when planning your day, and check for current trail information before setting out.

Shaded lanes and walking trails also lead to the commune’s rural architecture. This lets you choose your focus: the Circuit des Puits combines a specific route with wells and a river crossing, while the lanes and trails draw attention to the architecture of rural Vouillé.

Churches and Châteaux

The Church of Notre-Dame features construction phases dating from the 12th, 14th, and 15th centuries. In 1964, it was added to the supplementary list of historic monuments. The construction phases and the date of protection provide two distinct points of reference: the development of the building and its later inclusion on the list.

The former Château de La Barre now houses the town hall. The château was built in 1830 and listed as a historic monument in 1998; it also has a landscaped park. In Arthenay stands the Château de La Salmondière, a Neoclassical building dating from 1842. An orangery and a sundial are among its noted architectural features. The two châteaux add other architectural forms and historical dates to the picture of Notre-Dame.

Local Life and History

The Place des 5 Villages is associated with markets. Musical events and various performances take place in the town hall park. As the events schedule may change, check the dates in advance if you would like to plan your stay around an event.

The Bibliothèque Populaire de Vouillé is located in La Rivière. Its collection comprises 2,000 volumes, including works by Ernest Pérochon; it is described as the smallest library in France. Another local story takes you to the Vaumoreau Valley: hemp grown there was used to make yarn for linen weaving. This historic craft tradition connects the cultivation of a plant with its processing into a textile material.

The Pierre qui vire of Champarnaud is also among the commune’s cultural highlights: the megalith is described as magical. Along with the buildings, library, and hemp tradition, it offers further points of interest for a trip focused on local history and heritage.

Discover more destinations: Sainte-Néomaye, La Chapelle-Thireuil, Champdeniers-Saint-Denis, Pressigny, Chizé, Le Busseau, Saint-Aubin-Du-Plain, Sainte-Soline.

For the broader travel overview: Deux-Sèvres.