Bike ride and discovery tour between Talmont-St-Hilaire and Jard-sur-mer

A short bike ride, between Talmont-Saint-Hilaire and Jard-sur-Mer, retracing the history of this territory, would you like it? In this case, ride your most beautiful horse and set off to discover this very typical little corner of Vendée thanks to the Discovery Circuit "It's rolling with Richard Cœur de Lion".

"It's rolling with Richard Coeur de Lion!": an original heritage tour!

The Vendée has no shortage of cycle paths and therefore essential circuits to discover. But if there's one you have to test, it's the “It's rolling with Richard de Lion!” circuit.

Representing less than thirty kilometres, this bike ride consists of 9 stages allowing you to learn about the historical, cultural and natural riches of this region. There is no real starting point since it is a loop. You start from one of the 9 stages and then you ride in the direction you like! The circuit is very well indicated thanks to remarkable signage. Once you have identified the first sign, all you have to do is locate the next one which will guide you to the next site to visit.

Unique natural sites

Rich in 9 stages, your walk will be punctuated by varied and typical landscapes of the marsh, information on the origin of the places you will come across and historical references.

Among the natural sites to discover there are in particular:

• The marsh observatory: from here, enjoy the fauna and flora that make up this Natura 2000 classified site.

Take the time to discover this incredible environment

• The marsh fish: they date from the 11th century, all as salt marshes nearby

Cross the swamp with your bike

• The oyster port: it represents one of the major economic activities until the 19th century

Welcome to the oyster world

These places symbolize the importance of nature and the agricultural exploitation associated with its specificities.

Take the time to savor these unique spaces! Here, everything is peaceful and everyone enjoys the place, contemplates the vegetation and the fauna that lives there. Look up and observe the birds flying overhead. And if possible during your visit, taste a few oysters directly from the producer!

Historical places

It is not for nothing that the circuit bears the name of the King of England! Did you know that the latter has accumulated the titles? You will then learn that in addition to his title of King of England, he was also Count of Poitou and Duke of Aquitaine. We are in the heart of his county! As you cycle, you will understand that he was behind the reinforcement of the fortifications of the castle of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, and the construction of the abbey of Lieu Dieu, located in the town of Jard-sur-Mer.

These two sites are really worth a stop.

The Sainte-Radegonde church, for its part, has no real link with Richard the Lionheart. On the other hand, it is a real historical asset since it is a listed building, on the one hand, but above all because excavations have shown that it had been built on an ancient Gallo-Roman villa.

To understand the circuit and the different stages, you will have at your disposal interpretation panels. These are intended to immerse you in the story. They give you the historical and contextual information so that you can understand how this territory got there, why it has such assets, and what are the elements that have contributed to shaping it in this way, over the centuries.

We hope you enjoyed your bike ride with Richard Cœur de Lion. The cycle paths of the South Vendée and the charming villages crossed are just waiting for you to pass by!

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Article and photos prepared by Charline Prod'Homme for the Guide de la Vendée.