Maillezais

Maillezais (French pronunciation: [majzɛ]) is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.

Maillezais
Commune
Maillezais seen from the Abbey of Saint-Pierre
Coat of arms
Location of Maillezais
Maillezais Show map of France Maillezais Show map of Pays de la Loire
Coordinates: 46°22′20″N 0°44′17″W
Country	France
Region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Vendée
Arrondissement	Fontenay-le-Comte
Canton	Fontenay-le-Comte
Intercommunality	Vendée Sèvre Autise
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Annie Rineau[1]
Area 1	20.33 km2 (7.85 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]	901
• Density	44/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	85133 /85420
Elevation	1–18 m (3.3–59.1 ft) (avg. 7 m or 23 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

It was once an island in the Marais Poitevin, until monks of the Maillezais Abbey dug canals in the 13th century. Remains of the sea wall are still present, and canoe tours of the canals are a regular attraction to tourists. The ruins of the former Maillezais Abbey, dating from the 11th-14th century, are a listed monument.^[3]

See also

• Communes of the Vendée department

References

1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
2. "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
3. Base Mérimée: Ancienne abbaye Saint-Pierre, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)