Soon a giant wooden sculpture in this town in Vendée

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The rumor spread throughout the Yonnais countryside. It seems that giants could come and populate the banks of the Yon. What was only a rumor tends to be confirmed.

The local public tourism company Destination La Roche-sur-Yon has launched a call for projects for the creation of three giant wooden sculptures.

Artists from all backgrounds have until November 7 to present their sketches. The specifications are broad: “These sculptural creations must immerse the public in an imaginary universe, an atmosphere conducive to relaxation, daydreaming, play, even spectacle, animation or interaction with the natural environment. »

Giants of 5 to 6 m

In other words, the sculptors have carte blanche. Provided you respect the fact that these giants must be made of wood and measure nearly 5 to 6 m. Frédéric Paul, director of Destination La Roche-sur-Yonalso imagines them “visitable”. As for the form, animals, leprechauns, trolls, characters… “We want to give artists the opportunity to let their imagination wander. »

For inspiration, an uchronie (story imagined based on a real historical element, Editor's note) written by the tourist office entitled The Arch of the Yon Delta, Napoleon's secret manuscript should serve as a basis. In this story, we meet the general of the empire Gouvion, Gargantua and an ark filled with animals… Enough to guide the first strokes of the sculptor's plane.

A giant at Coux

The first work is expected for summer 2025 at the level of the career of Couxin La Roche-sur-Yon. The giant should find a place upstream of the La Roche-sur-Yon Vendée cycling (RVC) car park.

“This centerpiece will be part of an overall development project for Les Coux which must be carried out in several phases,” specifies the City. There will also be “a path along the Yon to allow the public to wander around and access the site”, specifies Frédéric Paul.

Two giants at Apron and Dompierre

The statues, at nearly €100,000 each, will constitute the first markers of the Valleys plan. This vast project desired by the Agglo to enhance the banks of the Yon, from La Ferrière, via Dompierre-sur-Yon, La Roche-sur-Yon, to the chaos from Piquet to the Apron.

It is also in this commune, at a place called Tenement de La Bodinière, on a plot of land of 10,454 m² belonging to the community, that a second giant could be installed in 2026.

The site of La Margerie in Dompierre-sur-Yon could follow in 2027 with the reception of the third sculpture. “These two installments are optional,” warns Frédéric Paul.

A lively construction site

The artist must also have an animator hat. Residents, job seekers, associations, local institutions and schools will be invited to the site from spring.

“These giant sculptures should not be confined to a simple restitution above ground. They must be the opportunity to create social ties with the population and to make them full participants in the project,” insists the framework document. And Frédéric Paul sums up, “we want to take the residents on board this adventure”.

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