Posted on 11 June 2025
On the heights of La Roche-sur-Yon, between wild nature and reclaimed wastelands, a new symbolic landmark has risen: the Shepherd of Coux . This wooden giant, installed on the Coux site, marks the beginning of a unique artistic journey in the heart of the Yon Valley.
A project to promote tourism in the Yon Valley
As part of the promotion of the Yon Valley, La Roche-sur-Yon agglomeration entrusted the
care to Destination La Roche-sur-Yon to initiate an artistic journey in the heart of nature, connecting the
sources of the Yon at the Chaos du Piquet. This project aims to reveal natural riches, landscaped and
cultural heritage of the valley through an original and immersive narrative.
The giant sculptures will become symbolic landmarks , encouraging walking, contemplation and discovery of the territory in a spirit of sustainable, cultural and environmentally conscious tourism.
The Berger des Coux and the MONsTR collective
The Shepherd of Coux is much more than a sculpture. Behind this impressive work is the MONsTR collective , based in Nantes. Founded in 2011, MONsTR is a collective of artists, designers, and builders. Their approach: to explore what humankind and nature can produce together.
By observing the characteristics of a place, MONsTR engages in a sensitive dialogue between the sculptor and the material, like two living entities involved in the same artistic process.
In the tradition of figurative sculpture, their work is expressed in heritage sites, public spaces, or natural environments. The collective creates works to be experienced, explored, and manipulated : interactive sculptures, playgrounds, landscaped installations, or scenographies.
Le Berger des Coux fully embodies this artistic vision: a rooted work, which questions our relationship to the territory and celebrates the links between humans, memory and living things.
It is part of the Giants of the Yon Valley project , an artistic trail linking the sources of the Yon River to the Chaos du Piquet. Through this initiative, La Roche-sur-Yon Agglomeration aims to showcase nature, the landscape, and local history through spectacular, poetic, and profoundly human creations.
This first giant, resembling a peaceful guardian, symbolizes the nourishing power of the earth , biodiversity, and the link between the inhabitants and their environment. Built using traditional artisanal techniques, it also serves as a refuge for birds, insects, and small mammals.
A collective, social and participatory work
The project's originality also lies in the way it was created with and for the local residents . The MONsTR collective devised an inclusive approach : People facing barriers to employment participated in the construction of the giant's wooden decking and cladding, through a training workshop supervised by professionals.
In schools, children made birdhouses which now adorn the Shepherd's coat. The materials used are local, and the traditional skills (mortise and tenon joints, wood cladding) showcase the region's artisanal heritage .
A strong symbol of sustainable tourism
Nestled within a restored natural space, the Berger des Coux invites visitors to stroll, contemplate, and reconnect with nature . Its location—between the Vallée Verte and the Étang des Coux—offers a unique panorama of the city and encourages a gentle and sensitive exploration of the area , true to the spirit of slow tourism.
This giant is an invitation to dream , an artistic and ecological signal in a landscape undergoing profound transformation.
The Berger des Coux is only the first in a series of giants. Other figures will soon watch over the valley, embodying in turn memory, transmission, and the link between man and nature...