“The discreet”
Located in the south-eastern part of the territory, Nieul-le-Dolent is the most remote commune in the Pays des Achards. Equipped with local stores and a craft zone, it is a small commercial hub, facing the La Roche-sur-Yon basin in Vendée.
Discover Nieul-le-Dolent
A few minutes walk from the village, the Garnes lake evokes the memory of the Fontaine des Garnes, an ancient place of pagan worship. An odd number of coins were thrown in to cure fever.
Today, the lake is a popular place for fishermen and walkers, with picnic tables and a children's play area. Here is also the starting point of the Garnes Trail. This 14 km hiking circuit allows you to discover the paths and wooded areas around Nieul-le-Dolent.
![Plan d'eau des Garnes à Nieul le Dolent]()
![Aire de jeux plan d'eau des Garnes Nieul le Dolent]()
![Plan d'eau des Garnes Nieul le Dolent]()
The Garnes lake
St. Peter's Church, located in the heart of the city, is one of the many Vendée churches rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century. In neo-Gothic style, the building is simple. The gargoyles on the bell tower nevertheless attract the eye and give a nod to the Middle Ages.
The 19th century presbytery is located behind the church. It is still inhabited today by the priest in charge of the parishes of the Pays des Achards.
Staying in Nieul-le-Dolent
Entertainment in Nieul-le-Dolent
A little history …
The origins of Nieul date back to prehistory. It was in the Middle Ages that the town gained importance with the presence of a monastery and a Templar commandery. Several important lordships marked the medieval era. Even today, the coat of arms of Nieul-le-Dolent presents a standing lion, borrowed from the lord of Villedor, Robert de Chaon. Some surnames of lords persist in the names of localities.
In particular the name of Villedor, linked to the lords Robert de Chaon in the 15the and 16e centuries, remains surrounded by legends. Around 1815, a treasure of gold coins from the 15th was found in this place.e century. Oral tradition has it that an underground tunnel would start from Villedor and would make it possible to reach the village of Chaon at Girouard. Legend also says that a set of golden skittles is buried in a cache in Villedor. Unfortunately, he keeps the exact location of the cache a secret.
Nieul-le-Dolent was famous in the 19e and 20e centuries for its fairs and markets for plowing oxen. At their peak, there could be up to 500 cattle on the Fairgrounds. Today, only the name of the large square behind the town hall recalls this era.
Some discreet memories of the commercial past still exist in the streets of the town. The attentive walker can discover old wooden signs or small mosaic tiles on a doorstep, indicating the former presence of shops that are now deserted. In rue Clemenceau, the “Jackmod” advertisement painted on a wall once indicated a clothing store, while the wooden sign bearing the name “Violleau” indicated a cabinetmaker's shop.
