Colonne de la duchesse d'Angoulême

The Duchess of Angouleme's column in Saint-Florent-le-Vieil is one of the monuments to the Vendée Wars and the Crown's recognition of the commitment of the Vendéens.

On the heights of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, the column of the Duchess of Angoulême recalls a significant episode in French history and the memory of the Vendée.
It was inaugurated on the former feudal mound supporting the keep built by the Counts of Anjou, on 22 June 1828, by the Duchess of Berry.

This column commemorates the visit of Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte, Duchess of Angoulême and daughter of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, who made a pilgrimage to the site of the Vendée wars on 22 September 1823.
Her aim: to pay tribute to the victims of the conflicts that marked western France between 1793 and 1796. In Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, she stopped off at Mont-Glonne, a symbolic site where the fighting left its mark.

The neoclassical-style column, topped with a solid bronze crown since 1899, stands in a peaceful setting with an uninterrupted view over the Loire Valley.
It stands close to the abbey church, in a landscape combining historical memory and religious heritage. Accessible on foot, the site is ideal for a stroll with family or friends.