Vair-sur-Loire is a town in Loire-Atlantique, in the Pays de la Loire region, east of Ancenis, which it borders on.
It was created on January 1, 2016, following the merger of the localities of Saint-Herblon and Anetz.
It thus has a vast territory of 51 km² on the right bank of the Loire, the course of which constitutes the limit with the department of Maine-et-Loire, to the south. The name of the new commune refers to the castle of Plessis-de-Vair located in Anetz, former seat of a marquisate which also included the parish of La Rouxière and whose outbuildings were located in Saint-Herblon. The estate remains the heritage jewel of the new community.
It now has some 4,600 inhabitants spread over two poles: the former fishing village of Anetz and the town of Saint-Herblon, a little set back from the banks of the river.
The latter is Vair-sur-Loire's other major asset, in terms of tourism and the environment, also with the Grée marshes, a wetland made up of 450 hectares of meadows crisscrossed by canals, which meet in the south to flow into the Loire…
Between history, heritage and preserved environment, so many assets that will appeal to lovers of green tourism and hiking...
In terms of heritage, it is therefore the castle of Plessis-de-Vair which is the jewel of the town, located halfway between the centers of the ancient villages of Anetz to the south and Saint-Herblon to the north. In the 12th century, a first fortress was first built, surrounded by a moat. In the 15th century, the lords of Vair set up a more residential castle then ceded their domain, which returned in 1496 to Jean de Cardonne, general steward of the finances of Brittany.
The whole is subject to a new transformation in the 17th century: having become the seat of a marquisate, its new owner, also president of the Parliament of Brittany and advisor to Louis XIV, Claude de Cornulier, has new towers erected square, entrance pavilions, a chapel and an orangery…
Finally, between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the ensemble made up of medieval (moats, corner towers) and classical elements (pavilions) is restructured and the castle is therefore rebuilt to harmonize the site. The new building therefore presents a more contemporary but noble aspect, as evidenced by the bright lounges of the main building. The castle, listed in the Inventory, is still private. It now hosts events (family receptions, seminars but also cultural events). It is also open to visitors every Wednesday from April to November (possibility of visits with fun activities such as treasure hunts or costume shows for children). Price: from 5 to 10 euros. Information on +33 2 40 96 21 59.
Still on Anetz, in terms of heritage, also worth mentioning is the Saint-Clément church with its astonishing Romano-Byzantine bell tower (late 19th century), its fishermen's and mariners' houses, but also the site of La Grange (where a medieval barn has been preserved which depended on a Cistercian priory), mills, or even, more singular, in the village, a giant sequoia!
On Saint-Herblon, can be observed the old castle of the Priory (which was originally a monastic establishment), remodeled in the 17th and 19th centuries, the Château de l'Escale (from the 19th century, in tufa stone) and with antique-inspired ornaments on the facade), which now has guest rooms (contact +33 6 07 02 66 49) or the neo-Romanesque church of Saint-Hermeland, rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century after the fire in the previous building. In addition, in the countryside or on the banks of the Loire, a number of megaliths (menhirs, terminals) are worth a look.
On the cultural side, the local media libraries regularly offer events (readings, conferences, meetings). Inquire on +33 2 40 83 31 95 (Anetz) and +33 2 40 09 64 38 (Saint-Herblon).
For athletes, it is possible to book a tennis court (call +33 2 40 98 01 63) or take part in the outings of the cycle tourism association, also open to mountain bikers (contact +33 2 40 09 52 65).
It remains to emphasize the formidable potential offered by the municipality in terms of hiking or cycling to take advantage of its unique environment (banks of the Loire and the Grée marshes, over 450 hectares) with great ecological wealth.
You can follow the secure route of the Loire by bike (several hundred kilometers long) or take the signposted loops (several tens of kilometers in total in the town of Vair alone) which allow you to discover the different ecosystems, the fauna as well as flora and landscapes and elements of small heritage dear to sailors... Maps and information on +33 2 40 83 07 44.