LE HAVRE DU PAYRÉ

Not to be missed! Straddling the communes of Talmont-Saint-Hilaire and Jard-sur-Mer, this site, classified as a "Grand Ensemble Naturel", was designated the first remarkable site in the Vendée in 2007! Declared eligible for the "Grand Site de France" label by the Ministry of Ecology, the Payré estuary is an exceptional place from all points of view: historical, natural and geological. From the sky, this last five kilometer segment is sublime! Three rivers meet a few meters from the coast to form the Payré estuary, a real natural shelter behind the Veillon dune. It is the mouth of the oyster farming channel. A bend to see the pine forest reflected in its waters, a last meander to bypass the dune, the Payré which passes through Talmont and flows into the ocean between Jard-sur-Mer and the beach of Veillon, with on its left the point of the Payré, depending on Jard-sur-Mer, on its right the point and the beach of Veillon, depending on Talmont-Saint-Hailire On 2 800 hectares, the Havre du Payré extends from the Payré estuary in the south, from the Talmont castle in the north, from the Veillon wood in the west and from the Lieu Dieu abbey in the east, to Jard-sur-Mer. In terms of landscapes, this site mixes marshes, forest massifs, dunes, estuary, cultures, and the Payré point. Located at the end of an oyster farm passage, it depends on Jard-sur-Mer. With an area of 50 ha, this site is composed of cliffs, dunes and foreshores. In medieval times, boats sailed up the Payré to the foot of the Talmont castle. Later, boats went up to the Guittière port to load salt from the marshes. Let's not neglect the geological interest of this site, one of the most visited geological sites in the Vendée. Le Veillon is a major paleontological site in Europe with a hundred dinosaur footprints dating back 210 million years, visible during high tides. It is incredible! The nature aspect is not left out for the nature observers because of the protection of the ocean by the cliffs of the Pointe du Payré and the Veillon dune, the estuary shelters a preserved fauna and flora. To discover this place, park your car at the parking lot located after the Lieu-Dieu abbey. Take the path leading to the beach of La Mine. After 300 m, take the path on the right, which enters the oak forest, including several beautiful specimens; at the end of the path, a path runs along the coastline: the Grail, a magnificent viewpoint on the Payré estuary! A must see!