Foussais-Payré has held the status of a Petite Cité de Caractère since 2000. The town lies on the edge of the Mervent Forest and on the banks of the Vendée River.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Foussais-Payré will plan their trip around this destination.
Culture
The historic heritage includes the present-day priory house of the Prieuré de Foussais, which was rebuilt in the 15th century. The Prieuré de Foussais has been listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 1984.
The Église Saint-Hilaire preserves a portal that dates partly from the 12th century and is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque art. The blind panels beside the central portal depict the Descent from the Cross, the Meal at Bethany and the risen Jesus. The Église Saint-Hilaire has been classified as a historic monument since 1862.
Another historic building is the Maison François Laurens. It was built in 1557 by the Protestant merchant François Laurens and has been listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 1989. The Foussais market halls were built in 1599 under an ordinance issued by Henry IV.
The lime kilns are also part of the town's history. They were built around 1860 as part of Vendée's lime-burning heritage by the Société des Houillères et Verreries de Vendée, which also owned the Faymoreau mines. The lime kilns were closed in 1914.
Nature
The Arbre de la Liberté stands in the town, a plane tree with a circumference of more than five metres. It bears the designation Arbre Remarquable de France.
The Sentier des Belles Vues is a 12-kilometre hiking trail marked in yellow. The walking time is approximately three hours from the town hall car park. After crossing a stream at Ribelouc, the trail reaches a viewing table.
Art and Crafts
Les Ateliers du Goût offers handmade chocolate and confectionery, demonstrations and educational activities in Foussais-Payré. The Foussais-Payré sculpture trail is accessible all year round. At the Symposium de Foussais-Payré, artists design and create their works live before the public.
