Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre - Vendée Bocage

Built around 3 religious segregations, Saint-Laurent-Sur-Sèvre is located in the heart of the Sèvre Nantaise Valley, in Vendée Bocage.

Located between Cholet et Les Herbiers, just 10 minutes from Puy du Fou and La Cinéscénie, it is an easily accessible town, and an essential stop during your visit to Vendée. Between heritage and nature, Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre will not fail to surprise you with its beauty!

Holy City of Vendée

Father de Monfort came to end his life there in 1716. The Montfortian congregations established their headquarters from the XNUMXth century. Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre is a city dedicated to the memory of its founders, but also to teaching and the missionary spirit.

Basilica

Romano-Byzantine style, the basilica was built on the site of the old parish church, in 2 stages: 1888-1892 and 1938-1949.

The Basilica of Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort

'A basilica, in the Roman Catholic Church, is a church remarkable for its commemorative value, dedicated to some aspect of the Christian mystery or to the worship of a particularly venerated saint.'

Located in the heart of Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, this majestic building can be seen from all sides of the city. The Basilica houses the tombs of Father de Montfort and Marie-Louise Trichet (first Daughter of Wisdom). Pope JJohn Paul II made a pilgrimage there in 1996. Nearby, discover the scenographic space of the Congregation of the Daughters of Wisdom.

Circuit “in the footsteps of Montfort”

To visit the Holy City, several possibilities are available to you:

In July and August, guided tour of Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, every Thursday evening. Meet at 18:15 p.m. at point I in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, 1 bis place Grignion de Montfort. Duration 1 hour. Free.
Follow the marked route “In the footsteps of Montfort” between the historical and religious sites of Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre:

Le Windmill of Wisdom and its 174 meter long aerial aqueduct.
La Chapel of the Daughters of Wisdom, built at the end of the 81th century in neo-Gothic style, with its bell tower rising to XNUMX meters. Inside, remarkable windows illuminate the building. Then the Mission Museum presents the memories of the mission of Wisdom as well as the relics of Father de Montfort.
Le resource center of the Daughters of Wisdom.
The enclosure of the Montfortian missionaries, with the Long House which housed the first Montfortians, as well as the Maison du Saint-Esprit which was the largest military hospital in the insurgent Vendée.
LInstitution Saint-Gabriel-Saint-Michel and its monument erected in 2013 which evokes the expansion of the congregation of the Brothers of Saint-Gabriel in 32 countries.

I put my trust, Virgin in your recourse, come to my defense, take care of my days. "

Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort

Father Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort

Born in Montfort, near Rennes, it was in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre that he died in 1716, exhausted by fatigue and deprivation.

Missions in the bocage

A modest priest, he travels from parish to parish to evangelize the countryside. He organizes missions and brings the population together to listen to his sermons and sing hymns in honor of the Virgin.

The Montfortian congregations

In Poitiers, he meets Marie-Louise Trichet who devotes her life to the poor. She becomes the first disciple of Father de Montfort. She created the order of the Daughters of Wisdom in 1703. In 1713, Father de Montfort drafted the rule for the missionaries of the Company of Mary “Les Montfortains”. The congregation of the Brothers of Saint-Gabriel, created in 1821, is intended for education and teaching.

Tribute to John Paul II

In 1996, Pope John Paul II came to the Basilica of Saint-Laurent to pray at the tomb of Father de Montfort, his spiritual father.

A green city to discover

With its many hiking trails, along the banks of the Sèvre Nantaise, Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre is a real green lung, to get some fresh air and enjoy moments with friends or family.