Rives-du-Fougerais

Rives-du-Fougerais is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France. It was established on 1 January 2024, with the merger of the communes of Cezais, Saint-Sulpice-en-Pareds and Thouarsais-Bouildroux. Its seat is Thouarsais-Bouildroux.

Toponymy
Rives-du-Fougerais takes its name from the Petit-Fougerais river which has its source in Saint-Sulpice-en-Pareds and crosses the three delegated communes.

History
On 1 January 2024, Cezais, Saint-Sulpice-en-Pareds and Thouarsais-Bouildroux merged to create the new commune of Rives-du-Fougerais.

Geography
The new commune of Rives-du-Fougerais is located to the east of the Vendée department, in the Bocage Vendéen and the small agricultural region of Bas Bocage Vendéen. It is located 43.7 km from La Roche-sur-Yon, the prefecture of the department, 17.1 km from the sub-prefecture Fontenay-le-Comte, and 10.8 km from the La Châtaigneraie, capital of the eponymous canton on which the commune has depended since its creation. Rives-du-Fougerais is also part of the La Châtaigneraie living area. The closest communes are La Caillère-Saint-Hilaire (2.4 km), Bazoges-en-Pareds (4.5 km), Saint-Maurice-le-Girard (5.4 km), Saint-Cyr-des-Gats (5.7 km), Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salle (6.7 km), Antigny (7.6 km), Bourneau (8.3 km) and Vouvant (8.4 km).