The 3rd weekend of September, set off to discover the heritage of the Pays des Achards in Vendée, between La Roche-sur-Yon and Les Sables d'Olonne! Guided tours, unusual discoveries and encounters await you for a weekend rich in history and surprises.
Every year in September, European Heritage Days are the perfect opportunity to open doors, be surprised and rediscover sometimes unsuspected treasures, right near you. Many guided tours and activities are free and suitable for families.
In the Pays des Achards, our heritage may be discreet, but it tells the moving story of daily life in the past. Wash houses, crosses, churches, and small buildings are revealed in a new light... and are just waiting for you to reveal their secrets!
What are European Heritage Days?
A major European event (42nd edition) to exceptionally open heritage sites and offer unique activities — often free. In 2025, the theme was “Meeting architectural heritage” : the opportunity to (re)discover both the great monuments and the small buildings that tell the story of our lives of yesterday and today.
2025 Program in the Land of Pickles
For two days, several municipalities in the Pays des Achards open their doors to take you on a journey through time. Here is the program not to be missed:
Heritage Days in Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche
- Free time all weekend with explanatory and illustrated panels “Beaulieu before & Beaulieu now”
- Sunday, September 21 : two guided tours at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., then closing drinks in the Cour des Arts at the end of the second tour.
Tours, exhibitions and markets for Heritage Days at Girouard
- Saturday 20 September, from 10h to 17h : Visits (Saint-Généreux church, Château Gaillard, dovecote, fountains), exhibitions (La Poste d'antan, architectural heritage, watercolors by Alain Gouliquer) and activities (producers' market, bread oven, barrel organ, giant games, Musicavélo, Cub'édito).
- 10h30 to 12h : guided tour of P'tit Val Gaillard (registration required).
Heritage Days Program in Saint-Julien-des-Landes
- Sunday September 21, from 15 a.m. to 18 p.m. at the La Lyre Media Library: exhibition “Ernest Renaud: this unsung hero” (archive maps, photos, slideshow, children’s games).
Guided tour for Heritage Days in Sainte-Flaive-des-Loups
- Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 14:30 p.m. to 17:30 p.m. at Logis du Gué: guided tour of the interior courtyard and the chapel.
Our ideas for experiencing Heritage Days in Vendée
These European Days don't stop at the borders of the Pays des Achards! In the surrounding area, many sites are also exceptionally open. This is an opportunity to extend your visits and vary your discoveries.
At the Château de Talmont-Saint-Hilaire
Guided tours, medieval combat demonstrations, activities centered around knights, building workshops and a photo exhibition will punctuate the weekend in the heart of this thousand-year-old fortress. → Read more here.
At the Château d'Apremont
Exceptionally for this weekend of September 20 and 21, the Château d'Apremont reopens its doors for an exclusive guided outdoor tour. You will then discover the secrets of this castle and understand the work in progress and to come!
→ Read more here.
In La Roche-sur-Yon
Enjoy guided tours, exhibitions and workshops in emblematic places: museum, court, train station, Town Hall, Departmental Archives — not forgetting a nature outing in the heart of the Yon Valley. → Read more here.
Heritage Days in Vendée
To discover even more activities in the department, the complete program of the Heritage Days in Vendée is here to guide you!
Prepare your visit!
Ready to experience European Heritage Days in the Pays des Achards? Here's everything you need to plan your weekend:
- Download our brochure to find the entire program
- Click on the interactive map to find out about all the events in Vendée
- Check out our pages villages et cultural heritage. to better understand the history of each municipality
- See also our other highlights of the year to extend the adventure
FAQ – European Heritage Days in Vendée
Are Heritage Days free?
All tours and activities offered in Pays des Achards are free. Only the guided tour of P'tit Val Gaillard requires prior registration. For tours in the surrounding area, be sure to check the program details.
Which sites to visit during Heritage Days in Les Achards?
For this 2025 edition, go to Beaulieu-sous-la-Roche, The Girouard, Saint-Julien-des-Landes et Sainte-Flaive-des-Loups to discover exhibitions, guided tours and activities throughout the weekend.
Can we discover the heritage of Achards outside of Heritage Days?
Of course! Thanks to our free digital courses (Legendr and Adventure Lab), you can explore the heritage of the territory all year round, at your own pace.
Where can I find the program for the European Heritage Days in Vendée?
You can find all the weekend's events on the official European Heritage Days website on an interactive mapYou can also find the program for major cities in Vendée such as La Roche-sur-Yon, Luçon, Fontenay-le-Comte, Montaigu and Les Herbiers. on the Vendée Tourism website.
The heritage of the Pays des Achards, discreet but touching
In the Land of Achards, there are no monumental castles or large abbeys... but a heritage that speaks to the heart and recalls the daily life of yesteryear. A wash house at the bend of a path, a small chapel, a dovecote, an old bread oven…So many witnesses to a simple but profoundly human story.
This small built heritage tells the story of rural life, the gestures of yesteryear, the beliefs and traditions of our villages. We sometimes pass by it without seeing it, and yet it is the memory of the territory.
And then there are also our Halls of the La Mothe district at Achards, a small architectural gem from 1924. This brick building, at the heart of local life, recalls the importance of fairs and markets in the lives of the inhabitants.
A souvenir to bring back: the Halles des Achards medal
Want to keep a little piece of heritage with you? The Monnaie de Paris has struck a medal bearing the image of the Halles des Achards! A lovely souvenir to give as a gift or collect, which honors this emblematic building from the early 20th centurye century.
→ Available at the Tourist Office or directly on sale online here.
Extend the experience all year round
European Heritage Days is an exceptional weekend… but the discovery continues all year round in the Pays des Achards!
How? our free digital coursesGo for a walk whenever you want, completely independently, smartphone in hand:
- Adventure Lab – “ If La Mothe were told to me » to the Achards : Discover the emblematic places (Bibrou lake, Halles, church, etc.) with 5 puzzles to solve through observation. Let yourself be guided and (re)discover the La Mothe district.
- Adventure Lab – “ The Little Path of Fires » to Martinet : A journey through the heart of Saint-Jean traditions, punctuated by 5 puzzles based on the sculptures of Tanguy Craipeau.
- Legendr – “ The fabulous story of the castle without a knight » to Girouard : Digital tour around Château Gaillard: investigate 5 mysteries with the Legendr app. Ideal for families (7–77 years old) to combine a walk with discovering the Girouard heritage.
These original and free walks appeal to both the curious and families: a simple and fun way to (re)discover heritage, at your own pace.
