Saint-Vincent-Sterlanges is a municipality in the Vendée region in Pays de la Loire, about thirty kilometers north-east of La Roche-sur-Yon.
The territory of the locality, of a modest area (4.5 km²) has a landscape of grove, crossed by the course of the Small Lay, which flows into the Lay a few kilometers downstream to reach the sea.
Mentioned in the 14th century, the village affected by the Vendée wars in 1794 developed in the 20th century thanks to the exploitation of lime kilns.
An hour away from the coast and beaches and near the site of Puy du Fou, Saint-Vincent-Sterlanges, which has nearly 800 inhabitants, is revealed by its heritage and its environment a pleasant step for lovers of green tourism.
It is a beautiful old fountain that adjoins a stele that gave its name to the town. "Sterlanges" means indeed "Three angels" in old French: where the fountain was located, according to a legend, three angels would have appeared before to indicate a source hidden by the vegetation...
But in terms of heritage, besides charming traditional houses, it is the church that is the jewel of the locality.
The original building completed in the early fifteenth century was burned in 1794 by the "Infernal Columns" who wanted to permanently quell the insurgency insurgents royalist. It was not until 1845 that a new church was rebuilt in a neoclassical style. Its wooden door is decorated with sculptures (palms, flowers) and symbols evoking St. Vincent. We also observe that a balustrade and an arrow covered with slates surmount the square steeple. A small organ whose buffet dates from the seventeenth century is installed at the tribune.
But inside the church, always, other treasures await the visitor. It is a collection of a dozen sacred art objects, all inscribed and protected, dating from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century. One admires thus, in particular, a chalice, a ciborium, a chasuble... This permanent exhibition is open free to the public every day from 10h to 18h. Information on +33 2 51 40 21 71.
As for sports and "nature" recreation, in addition to a football pitch and a tennis court for visitors and holidaymakers, there are several marked hiking trails on or from the town that allow you to enjoy the bocage countryside.
In addition, the locality is crossed by the bike path fitted out by the County Council linking La Roche-sur-Yon to La Châtaigneraie. Maps and information on +33 2 51 47 88 20.
