An Insider’s Guide to the Best Things to do in Cholet
Last Updated on 5th August 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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Nestled on the banks of the Moine River in western France, the sleepy town of Cholet lies around an hour’s drive east of Nantes within the Vendée region of France. Home to several churches, and museums, it is self-proclaimed to be the ‘handkerchief capital of France’. Here’s an insider’s guide on the best things to do in Cholet!
What is Cholet known for?
Cholet is located within Pays de la Loire, which is a region of France that’s in western France, borders the Atlantic Coastline, and is home to the likes of Nantes, Angers, and Noirmoutier. Cholet is a mid-sized town and is home to around 53,000 residents, though it’s typically not on any tourist trails of the region.
The town is perhaps best known as France’s ‘handkerchief capital’. The iconic red and white handkerchiefs that rose to prominence thanks to a song by Théodore Botrel, “Le mouchoir rouge de Cholet” (The red handkerchief of Cholet).
The myth of the red and white handkerchief is meant to represent a time in history where Cholet was important to the outcome of how France would be ruled; red represented blood and the white evoked the memory of those in the Vendée who gave their lives standing up against the men of the Revolution. The song by Botrel brought this legend to the forefront of people’s minds.
In times gone by, Cholet acted as a service centre for the agricultural area that surrounded it. It’s believed the town’s name could have derived from ‘cauletum’ (‘cabbage’), thanks to the local cabbage growing industry. Cholet was also an important town in the region for the sale of cattle, sheep and pigs.
The Vendée region itself is known for the famous Brioche Vendéenne. A pride of the region since the Middle Ages, this brioche is braided by hand and typically flavoured with either brandy or orange blossom water.
It’s best consumed at breakfast alongside a glass of juice or a piping hot coffee. Most people opt to eat the brioche on its own, but you can also eat it with chocolate spread, jam, or butter. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even dip it in your hot drink!
How long do you need in Cholet?
To be honest, Cholet isn’t that big and doesn’t have a huge amount by way of tourist attractions (unless you wish to use the town as a base to visit the nearby Puy de Fou). As a result, you don’t really need more than a couple of hours to wander the streets and check out the various churches.
Best things to do in Cholet
The town centre is constructed around Notre Dame, which is one of the oldest buildings still standing in town. There’s also a carrousel, mairie (town hall which is where important functions such as weddings take place), and plenty of open-air terraces where you can dine or enjoy a drink outside.
Eglise Notre-Dame de Cholet
Located in the heart of Cholet’s historic district, this is the most important church in town, dedicated to Notre Dame de Cholet (Our Lady of Cholet). The church was built in 1853, however by the 19th century it went under reconstruction and the facade seen today is in the neo-Gothic style.
The church is considered a Historic Monument. Inside it houses many paintings from the 17th and 19th centuries, and two statues by the French sculptor, Hippolyte Maindron, can be found. The church is open to the public daily and in the summer months, they offer guided tours.
Taste the local brioche
Of course, one of the best things to do while visiting this part of France is to sample the delicious Brioche Vendéenne. The sweet and buttery bread can be eaten as a French dessert or simply just as a snack, enjoyed best with a fresh cup of coffee!
Cholet boulangerie address book:
- La Brioche Gelineau: 68 Av. des Marronniers, 49300 Cholet (this is my personal favourite, and in my mind, the brioche is pretty much unrivalled!)
- Boulangerie La Pause: 1 Pl. de Paris, 49300 Cholet
- Les Délices de Charlotte: 15 Rue Jacques Cathelineau, 49300 Cholet
- Boulangerie Maison Bécam: Pl. du Huit Mai 1945, 49300 Cholet
Grand Menhir de la Garde
A historical sight…albeit not the most exciting thing to see is the Great Menhir of the Guard. This is a 30-tonne menhir that stands vertically in the public gardens of Cholet.
It’s nicknamed the Vinegar Stone because of the custom in which offerings of wine were poured on the stone, leaving it to have a sour smell. A tradition came about to push someone’s nose against the stone and make them smell the vinegar.
Surprisingly enough this joke seemed to establish itself throughout France and several towns now have this tradition.
Museum of Art and History
A place to explore the artistic heritage and history of Cholet is at the Museum of Art and History. Here, the museum showcases several works from the 16th century to the present. Filled with sculptures, paintings and other mediums, visitors can also learn more in depth about the Vendée wars (1793 to 1796).
The museum is open: Wednesday- Saturday (10 AM – 12 PM & 2 PM – 6 PM) Sunday (2 PM – 6 PM).
Parc de Moine
Take a leisurely stroll in this green pocket of Cholet, which takes its name from the river that runs through the town. This is an idyllic spot to soak up the surrounding nature and people watch as the world goes by in this sleepy little French town. If you visit during May and June, then you can enjoy the beautiful rose gardens in bloom.
Dine at Le Bord du Lac
Indulge on fine French food at this beautiful lakeside restaurant that specialise in seafood, while overlooking beautiful views of the resevoir, Lac de Ribou. The restaurant also serve a range of vegetarian dishes!
I particularly love visiting on a hot sunny day, where you can soak up views of the lake and dine on their expansive terrace. Le Bord du Lac also serves a wide array of cocktails, including the ever-popular Aperol Spritz.
Church of Saint Pierre
Though there are around a dozen churches total in Cholet, one which is particularly grandiose is that dedicated to Saint Pierre (known as Saint Peter in English). This church is free to visit and was constructed in the late 19th-century in the neo-Gothic style.
Church of the Sacred Heart
This beautiful church was built between 1937 to 1941 in a modernised Romano-Byzantine style. This modern style church was designed by the local architect Maurice Laurentin.
This church is free to visit and is open throughout the week.
Textile and Fashion Museum
Cholet has a long rooted history of traditional artisan crafts, considered somewhat a cradle of textiles. From ancient times the town was producing linen, and by the 19th century, cotton. But the most famous specialty to come out of their textile industry was the little red handkerchief of Cholet, which is the emblem of the town.
The museum is housed in an old bleaching factory. Today, a visit to the Musée du Textile offers visitors to see the traditional machines used to create the iconic handkerchiefs that essentially put Cholet on the map, as well as the techniques used to make them and local history associated with the industry.
The museum is open: Wednesday- Saturday (10 AM – 12 PM & 2 PM – 6 PM) Sunday (2 PM – 6 PM).
Take a day trip to Puy du Fou
Situated around a 30-minute drive from Cholet, you can step back in time and visit one of the most unique theme parks in France, Puy du Fou. This historical showpark details 700 years of history in the local area, all on their colossal sized stage!
The Cinéscénie is the true highlight and spectacle of any visit to the park, boasting as the biggest night-time show in the world, the actors include thousands of volunteers (and horses) in acting out and retracing the history of the Maupilier family from the Middle Ages up until the Second World war.
Adult admission for Puy du Fou starts from €35 (if booked in advance), check opening hours here.
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