Église Saint-Louis

A representative example of neoclassical architecture. A major feature of the Place Napoléon and the urban ensemble decided by Napoléon 1st.

Restoration work is scheduled to take place between 2021 and 2029. This will involve the façades and the interior of the building.

Saint-Louis church, listed as a historic monument in 1982, is one of the largest religious buildings in the Vendée. Spurred on by the First Empire, it was built between 1813 and 1829, well after Napoleon's death. It replaced the church of Saint-Hilaire, a place of worship mentioned as far back as the 11th century, whose location, size and condition were not suited to the size of the new administrative centre. Like the town hall, the imperial lycée and the courthouse, the church's location was part of Napoleon's desire for peace among citizens.

With its plan inspired by Roman basilicas, its antique-style decoration and its furnishings (confessionals, pulpit, etc.) designed by the Ponts et Chaussées, the building fits perfectly into the neoclassical style that prevailed when the town was built. Its trompe-l'œil painted vault, stained glass windows and furnishings (Stations of the Cross, altar, war memorial, organ, etc.) reveal the evolution of the liturgical arts in the 19th and 20th centuries. The church houses a 14th-century polychrome statue of the Virgin and Child, representing Notre-Dame de La Roche.