Balade Historique & Gourmande à Torfou

Discover the First Vendée War and the Battle of Torfou, through the village's own symbolism!

Accompanied by three guides with a passion for local history, participants will set off to discover the events that marked Torfou and its surrounding area during the Vendée Wars, following a route that links places of remembrance, historical accounts and local heritage.

The morning will begin in the centre of Torfou with a visit to several emblematic sites: the Grande Croix, symbolising the end of the fighting, the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes chapel where some of the victims of the battle are buried, and the "Bon Débit" ford, the starting point of the Battle of Torfou on 19 September 1793. Two costumed soldiers will be on hand to demonstrate the weaponry used at the time. The route will then continue to the "Chemin des Femmes", a place associated with the decisive action of the women of Torfou during the first episode of the battle.

After a gourmet break at the Colonne restaurant, the afternoon will provide an opportunity to learn more about the conflict through a presentation of Vendée weaponry and a walk along the "chemin du Pâtis", the former front line where another important phase of the battle took place. Participants will also discover the secrets of the Colonne before heading to the Congrégation des Sœurs de Sainte-Marie. There, the nuns will present the work of Charles Foyer, a major player in the reconstruction of Torfou after the Vendée Wars.

The day will conclude with a friendly drink.

Meal included, by reservation only.

The route is approximately 4 kilometres long. It is possible to make certain trips by car in order to shorten it.

This walk is part of an overall programme of 10 Historical and Gourmet Walks in the Mauges. Organised by local associations, these walks invite you to discover the Vendée Wars and the reconstruction of our villages with the help of passionate historians.