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Foussais-Payre
Sud
Vendee.. Haut
Bocage.. Coastal
Region.. Marais
Poitevin.. Marais
Breton.. Bas Bocage.. Plaine.. Marais
Olonne..
Situated in
the south eastern corner of the Vendée some 8 kilometres north east of Fontenay-le-Comte on the D49 this pretty village is classed as a 'Petites
Cites de Charactere'. Foussais joined with its neighbour Payre-sur- Vendée in
1968 to form Foussais-Payre but its history dates from the Gallo-Romanic period
with the names Foussais and Payre being taken from two Roman columns,
Fusciacus and Petrus,Pierre.
The village church which dates from 1050 has one of the most remarkable edifices in the Bas Poitou. During the '100 years War' and the 'Wars of Religion' when the Catholics and protestants fought over the control of the area, much damage was done and the church was pillaged and burnt. Luckily the grand facade remained almost in tack except for a couple of heads that were destroyed and today this facade is a key to understanding the "Art Roman".
The Renaissance period brought a period of great prosperity to the area with good trade in wool, linseed and leather which is today evidenced by the large number of elegant residences within the two villages and the surrounding countryside.
Behind the church is the priory, now home to the "Hotel de Ville" (Maire). Originally under the stewardship of the Abbay De Bourgueil, one enters via the grand Louis X111 gate to discover fine chimneys and a 17th century wooden staircase.
Opposite the church is a corner of dwellings with timber frames which in 2009/10 is under renovation into 4 houses and the market stall.
The Village has an excellent restaurant in the Auberge st.Catherine
The remains of the Lime kilns in Payre-sur- Vendée were in full production until the second half of the 19th century.
Photo Gallery of Foussais-Payre
Return to find more interesting towns and villages in the Vendee
The village church which dates from 1050 has one of the most remarkable edifices in the Bas Poitou. During the '100 years War' and the 'Wars of Religion' when the Catholics and protestants fought over the control of the area, much damage was done and the church was pillaged and burnt. Luckily the grand facade remained almost in tack except for a couple of heads that were destroyed and today this facade is a key to understanding the "Art Roman".
The Renaissance period brought a period of great prosperity to the area with good trade in wool, linseed and leather which is today evidenced by the large number of elegant residences within the two villages and the surrounding countryside.
Behind the church is the priory, now home to the "Hotel de Ville" (Maire). Originally under the stewardship of the Abbay De Bourgueil, one enters via the grand Louis X111 gate to discover fine chimneys and a 17th century wooden staircase.
Opposite the church is a corner of dwellings with timber frames which in 2009/10 is under renovation into 4 houses and the market stall.
The Village has an excellent restaurant in the Auberge st.Catherine
The remains of the Lime kilns in Payre-sur- Vendée were in full production until the second half of the 19th century.
Photo Gallery of Foussais-Payre
Return to find more interesting towns and villages in the Vendee
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