Life in Vouvant
From your garden gate, the lively village of Vouvant is just a few steps away: A bakery (100m) for your morning baguette and croissants
Two bars for coffee or an evening apéritif
Restaurants, a chemist, a brocante and artisan shops
The 11th-century Église Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, with its medieval carvings, interior, and crypt.
Vouvant is known for its art, music, and plant festivals at the Place du Bail. Unlike many rural villages, it is active year-round, with exhibitions, concerts, and village celebrations.
A quintessentially medieval town with such an interesting history.
The myth of the fairy serpent Melusine is very much entwined with the town.
Vouvant celebrated it’s 1000 year anniversary in 2019. It was founded by William the Great of Aquitaine III and Count of Poitou in 1019.
It started as a small fort with a Romanesque church being built on a hill surrounded by a natural moat, the river La Mere.
The town became increasing fortified in the 11 and 12th centuries when there was major construction work to build a large stone wall with 30 towers completely encircling the town.
The origins of la Recepte were the main Tour de Guet-the watch tower built into the stone wall overlooking the Porte Bouguerin and its drawbridge.
Over the following centuries, it expanded along the wall to include several rooms and became the first point of entry into the town requiring the payment of tax- hence the name- la recepte- the house of receipts.
Then after the French revolution in the 1840’s the final wing was added to incorporate a neo Renaissance façade which is the beautiful chateau you see today.
Life in Vouvant
From your garden gate, the lively village of Vouvant is just a few steps away: A bakery (100m) for your morning baguette and croissants
Two bars for coffee or an evening apéritif
Restaurants, a chemist, a brocante and artisan shops
The 11th-century Église Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, with its medieval carvings, interior, and crypt.
Vouvant is known for its art, music, and plant festivals at the Place du Bail. Unlike many rural villages, it is active year-round, with exhibitions, concerts, and village celebrations.
A quintessentially medieval town with such an interesting history.
The myth of the fairy serpent Melusine is very much entwined with the town.
Vouvant celebrated it’s 1000 year anniversary in 2019. It was founded by William the Great of Aquitaine III and Count of Poitou in 1019.
It started as a small fort with a Romanesque church being built on a hill surrounded by a natural moat, the river La Mere.
The town became increasing fortified in the 11 and 12th centuries when there was major construction work to build a large stone wall with 30 towers completely encircling the town.
The origins of la Recepte were the main Tour de Guet-the watch tower built into the stone wall overlooking the Porte Bouguerin and its drawbridge.
Over the following centuries, it expanded along the wall to include several rooms and became the first point of entry into the town requiring the payment of tax- hence the name- la recepte- the house of receipts.
Then after the French revolution in the 1840’s the final wing was added to incorporate a neo Renaissance façade which is the beautiful chateau you see today.
Explore Vendée and Beyond
La Petite Recepte is ideally located for exploring western France:
- Fontenay-le-Comte (15 minutes): Renaissance town with a superb Saturday market
- Puy du Fou (45 minutes): world-renowned historical theme park, voted best in the world
- Île de Ré, La Rochelle & Atlantic beaches (1 hour): sandy coastline and seafood restaurants
- Nantes Airport (1h 20m) and Paris (2 hours by TGV from Niort)
- La Rochelle Airport (1h 10m)
- Loire Valley & Bordeaux vineyards (1h 30m): wine tasting and châteaux tours
- Mervent Forest: oak woodland with hiking and cycling trails
- Venise Verte: picturesque canal network, perfect for boat trips
