샤익스 최고의 라이딩 경로

Beautiful gravel hike all around

The Church of the Immaculate Conception was built at the end of the 19th century. In 1889, the village of Mazeau separated from the commune of St Sigismond. The construction of a church completed the emancipation of the community. Three difficult financing plans followed, in April 1890, June 1892 and February 1893. Restrictions on the initial project of the Fontenay architect Filuzeau were imposed. The plan no longer provided for a possible contribution from the state. The church was therefore financed solely by the Mazéens through a loan and the sale of wood. From 1890, the financing plan ruled out the project of building a presbytery. Work did not begin until the spring of 1897. On January 26, 1898, the archbishop signed the certificate of authenticity of the relic of the Cross kept in the church of Mazeau. On December 8, 1898, for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the parish church was blessed by Father Ménard, superior of Saint Joseph of Fontenay-le-Comte, assisted by five other priests.

Pleasant picnic area by the river.

intimate little church

Long before the discovery of electricity and the associated inventions, our ancestors discovered the possibility of harnessing the power of the elements—which, while useful on the one hand, could also be a threat as a force of nature—for various purposes. A fitting example of the human inventiveness of earlier generations is such a mill: The heavy millstones used to grind grain or press oil, for example, could be powered by water or—as in this case—the wind. Hardly any of them still fulfill their original functions today, but fortunately, some have at least survived as testimonies to ancient times.

Thank you for this beautiful walk.

The site of Mareuil sur Lay corresponds to that of an old city marked by the proximity of the sea. Former port, it welcomed the barges (traditional boats dedicated to the transport of goods) which went up the Lay by transporting in particular salt. Once at the port, the salt was unloaded and transported overland. Under Napoleon 1st, a national road was laid out, leading to the construction of a new stone bridge and Mareuil became an obligatory passage between La Roche sur Yon and La Rochelle. The bridge you cross here dates from this period and offers a beautiful view of the old town of Mareuil. The town is also at the heart of the Mareuil vineyard, which is the largest and one of the most famous in Vendée. Located on the slopes of the Lay and Yon rivers, it extends over an area of 300 hectares divided between 10 municipalities. Annual production is approximately 17,000 hl.

Superb climb at the exit of Mareuil