Lucon travel guide

Visit Lucon (Pays de la Loire, France)

Lucon is a town in the southern part of the Vendee department, best known for its cathedral and a popular day trip with visitors to the beaches along the coast to the west of here such as La Tranche-sur-Mer and Longeville-sur-Mer.

A traditional town of the region, Luçon is not perhaps an important tourist destination, but has several sites of interest to see when you are in the region or passing through.

Explore Lucon

Start your visit in the centre of the town, in the open square near the cathedral. Note that the smaller chapels and even the Jardin Dumaine can be hard to find unless you ask in the Tourist Office in Place Richelieu for a map of Lucon! The map also highlights several other places of interest, and these have information panels when you arrive to explain their history and importance to the town.

Lucon Cathedral

Most visits will start with Luçon cathedral, the Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, which is the most important historical monument in the town and dominates the town centre. Several cathedrals have stood in this location during the last 900 years which explains why the cathedral we see today includes various styles of architecture.

You can see traces of the original roman style church built in the 11th century, such as the impressive facade of the north transept in the Place Sochet des Touches; substantial parts in the gothic style including the imposing tower; and also more recent additions and modifications in the classical style such as the 17th century facade (the original facade collapsed in 1665).

The earlier cathedral was very much damaged between 1562 and 1570 during the Wars of Religion, which is why a great deal of the cathedral dates from after that time.

Inside the cathedral there are several paintings and items of furniture of interest such as a 17th century pulpit and the carved wooded stalls in the choir, and an impressive cloister: see Luçon cathedral for information.

Other sights of interest in Lucon

There are also several chapels of interest in Lucon, such as the Ursuline Chapel, dating from the 17th century and most interesting for its attractive painted ceiling. The Chapelle du Carmel has an attractive courtyard entrance, and in a side street nearby you can also see the Chapelle Sainte-Thérese de l'Enfant Jesus.

The cemetery in Lucon has also become something of an attraction, with about 50 ornate and decorative tombs and more typical of those found in south-east France than others in the Vendée region.

The most unusual 'historic site' in Lucon must surely be the town water tower - this is an early concrete water tower built 100 years ago and now a listed historical monument!

We also enjoyed a stroll around the Dumaine Garden, a nicely maintained and extensive park to the north-west of Lucon centre. You will see a traditional bandstand and carefully thought out water features such as a lake and a formal pond, seasonal plant arrangements and well established trees. This substantial 4 hectare park was bequeathed to the town more than 100 years ago by its original owner, Pierre Hyacinthe Jumaine.

Attractions nearby

Lucon was once an important port town with a port connected to Aiguillon-sur-mer on the coast. Unfortunately the port has now been filled in but the canal can still be followed, and visitors to the coast might like to cycle along the canalside to reach the town.

A short distance west of Luçon you can visit the small village of Magnil-Reigniers to see the attractive Church of Saint-Nicholas and the associated priory - the priory is very elegant and was added to the church in the 14th century.

You can find more travel ideas in the Vendee guide and the Pays de la Loire guide.