The Les Cinq Chênes hiking trail begins in La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire. The 11 km-long, easy, yellow-marked PR circular route takes an average of 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Those who choose La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire as a holiday destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
Culture
The Eglise Saint Jean La Caillère is considered one of the oldest churches in the parish. According to tradition, the Eglise St Hilaire du Bois was built from the remains of an earlier church that stood at a place known as “Les Vieilles Eglises”. The nave of the church in La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire has been listed as a historic monument since 26 December 1927.
The Chapelle Jean-Paul II was built in 2008 using traditional construction methods. Its stained-glass windows and furnishings were created by Jacques Loire, a master glassmaker from Chartres. The Manoir de La Ray is also listed as a historic monument, having received this designation on 5 December 1984. The protection covers the façades, roofs and fireplace of the great hall.
Paths and Landscape
The Les Cinq Chênes route passes through the hedgerow lanes and country tracks typical of the Vendée bocage in the commune. Along the way, it passes a majestic oak tree several centuries old with five crowns.
The GR®364 includes a 22 km-long section from Vouvant to La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire, with 300 metres of ascent. This section runs between rivers and the open landscapes of the bocage.
Land and Harvests
The fertile land of La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire produces cherries in spring, followed by pears, peaches and apples in autumn, as well as walnuts and grafted sweet chestnuts throughout the year.
More local pages: Cugand, Commequiers, La Châtaigneraie, Palluau, Moreilles, Foussais-Payré, Bouin, Aizenay.
