Bed and Breakfast
Vouvant
Chambres d'hôte
Bed and Breakfast in Vouvant
Michaël and Sue Fink
La Grange
Faite
85120 Vouvant
Vendée, France
02 51 00 36 39
email:
The Legend of Melusine
The renown of the Lusignans was such that, two centuries later, it inspired Jean d'Arras. He took Eustache Chabot, the mother of Geoffrey the Big Tooth, as the oracle for his Melusine who, with three apronfuls of Stone and a draught of water covered Poitou with towers and stout walls.
One evening in the forest of Coulombiers, at the end of a long day's hunting, Aimeri, the Count of Poitiers and his nephew Raimondin set off in pursuit of a wild boar. During the excitement of the kill, Raimondin accidentally dealt his uncle a fatal blow. Overcome by deep sorrow, the young man was on his way back to confess what he had done when he caught sight of three maidens dancing in a glade by the light of the moon.
One of them smiled and spoke to him. Her name was Mélusine. She was a fairy, daughter of Elinas, King of Albania and the fairy Pressine. A terrible curse lay on her. Pressine had punished her for her bad behaviour towards her father by condemning her to a sad immortality unless she married a loving knight who was not inquisitive and who agreed never to see her on Saturdays because on that day she had to bathe and watch her beautiful long legs turn into a horrid scaly tail, and if her husband saw her like this, she would never again take on human form.
Raimondin was attracted by the young girl's intelligence and beauty and asked her to marry him. He swore he would never try to see her on a Saturday. Mélusine was delighted to find a husband and accepted. She suggested that he should provide the lands and the castle. But Raimondin, who was not wealthy, wondered what lands and what castle?
Once back at court, Raimondin who was very happy, but very sad also, tried to solve his problem by blaming the boar for the death of the Count. Then, during the ceremony of homage to the new Count of Poitou, on Melisine's advice he asked for as much land as would fit into a deerskin.
'How stupid' said the assembled lords. However, to everybody's consternation, the deerskin was cut into narrow strips and laid end to end and marked out an enormous area.
'Never mind' said the lords, 'he still hasn't got a castle'. Their complacency was short-lived for in one night, right in the middle of the territory with three apron-fuls of stones and a mouthful of water Mélusine build the splendid castle of Luisignan.
Moreover, so that her husband might be the most powerful lord in the region, she amused herself on certain nights by studding the surrounding hills with mighty fortresses.
Raimondin followed the advice of a jealous brother, to try to solve the secret of his wife's. He surprised Mélusine in her bath, combing her long fair hair and swishing her horrible fish tail. Hardly had he taken this fatal step than the fairy screamed and with a great noise like the flapping of wings she flew out of the window voicing a terrible curse on the castles she had built. 'I swear that Pouzauges, Tiffauges, Mervent, Chateaumur and Vouvant shall perish by losing one stone a year.'
Some say that on certain nights she still comes to haunt the ruins of her castles.
Vouvant - one of the most beautiful villages in France
On the edge of the largest forest in the Vendée
Vouvant is one of those villages everyone loves. As well as one of the most beautiful villages in France, Vouvant is a village of artists and every year promotes art of all kinds hosting exhibitions and many resident artists. oils, watercolours, chocolate - painting, photography, sculpure - whatever art you like.
Vouvant is a medieval village full of history - from its humble beginnings over a millenium ago on a wooded hilltop, it has developed into a beautiful walled cité today with things to do and see throughout the year.
Wander around the ramparts, along the river Mere, through the rambling streets. Visit the romanesque church with its historic facade; or just sit and take in the stunning views.
Take a break outside one of the cafés; eat in one of the restaurants; picnic by the lake. From Mervent there is a centre for water based activities - from sailing to canoeing and pedalos.
With so much to do in the village you must not forget what's also to hand. Vouvant sits on the edge of the massive Mervent Forest where you will find miles of marked walkways and rambles.
And on your doorstep
Walk, cycle, ride through the ancient woodland - or explore slightly further afield:
- The Marais Poitevin, nicknamed the Venise Verte because of the green canals, is a national park full of nature
- The Abbeys of Nieul sur L'Autise (birthplace of Eleanor of Aquitaine) and Maillezais give testament to the areas religious history
- The town of Fontenay-le-Comte, ancient capital of the region, is steeped in history waiting to be discovered
- The lovely mining museum in Faymoreau is a surprising find, exploring the coal mining industry - now completely forgotten
- A short drive north is the biggest (and best) theme park in France: the Puy du Fou - a real extravaganza not to be missed
- And don't forget the medieval cité or Foussais Payre, the donjon in Bazoges, the museum in Mouilleron, and the miles of sleepy lanes meandering through picturesue villages full of surprises as you would expect from rural France.
And that's just in the immediate area!
We've deveoted a whole page to the surrounding area of the Vendée
