Les Epesses
Les Epesses is a French village in the Pays de la Loire in the French department of Vendée.
Geography
With an area of 3129 acres and 2677 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Les Epesses is one of the smaller municipalities of France.
History
Written documentation from the High Middle Ages notarize the construction of a church by the monks of Vézelay in Burgundy, the then most important religious center of France.
This church Notre Dame de Spisses was probably on the site of the present church, in which a portion of the building which clearly dates from the Middle Ages, was used again.
The Puy du Fou family has expanded the church by and by, and left their coat of arms in the keystone of the arch. The story of the noble family Puy du Fou is closely connected with the life of the inhabitants of Les Epesses since the 12th century.
Attractions
One of the most important historical buildings in Les Epesses is the Renaissance castle of Puy du Fou in granite and brick, which was partially destroyed during the French Revolution. Today, the castle houses the Écomusée ( local history museum ) and serves as the backdrop of the company founded more than 20 years ago, open-air spectacle Puy du Fou.
650 players behind and in front of the stage set in the summer months (June to mid-September) every weekend a fantastic and colorful joyful spectacle dar. In this great night spectacle of the history of Maupillier family is shown.
This family lived since the Middle Ages in the Puy du Fou. More than six million viewers in the 25 years have been able to watch the spectacle.
This spectacle as well as a leisure park each year attract more than one million tourists.
Twinning
In 1996, the district of Leipzig Liebertwolkwitz signed a partnership agreement with Les Epesses.