Le May-sur-Èvre is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department, in the Pays de la Loire region, 7 km north of Cholet.
Its territory of nearly 32 km² belongs to the natural and historical region of Mauges, which corresponds to the south-west of Maine-et-Loire and the former province of Anjou. The Vendée uprising and then its repression left a lasting mark on the population…
Around the town, the landscapes remain bucolic: there are 74% agricultural land and 20% grassland in the locality.
Although prehistoric remains have been unearthed and traces of a Roman road remain, a parish was created in the High Middle Ages, depending on the diocese of Poitiers. Then, from the 12th century, monks from Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm dominated the village attached to the diocese of La Rochelle. Later, the stronghold led by the lords of Cazeau paid a heavy tribute to the Wars of Religion but the activity diversified. Textile craftsmanship developed and in the 19th century, Le May-sur-Èvre specialized in the production of shoes, which made it a small town in the countryside. A hundred kilometers from the Atlantic coast, the town has retained this face. With 3900 inhabitants, it has a leisure offer that deserves attention.
Le May-sur-Èvre has preserved a notable heritage, the vicissitudes of the Vendée wars which followed the Revolution having partly spared it. This is the case of the parish church of Saint-Michel, built in the 15th and 16th centuries on the foundations of an old chapel which served the priory established by the monks of Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm. It was one of the few in the region not to be destroyed by the Republican troops who used it as a stable and as a barn... Suddenly, because of its imposing dimensions, it then earned the nickname of "Giant of the Mauges". Housing statues of Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul and the Virgin and Child, classified as an object, the church, which is also listed in the Inventory, is particularly renowned for its imposing framework.
Also worth seeing in terms of religious architecture, the chapel of Saint-Tibère, away from the village on the road to Chemillé. In a bucolic setting, it dates from the 16th century and was restored in the 20th century. Finally, mention should be made of the Notre-Dame-de-Miséricorde chapel, built for the Jubilee of 1875. recently the subject of conservation works after decades of neglect. This fortified castle originally equipped with a main building and an enclosure with a round tower at each corner dates from the 15th century, and it was then protected by a moat and a drawbridge controlled by a small castle square tower. After the Revolution, the building was partly dismantled, but elements were saved, such as a Renaissance fireplace which was transferred near the Herbaria. The site, private property, is open to the public during Heritage Days. The ruins give a good idea of what this seigniorial castle once was.
Finally, the so-called Bastille house (some elements of which date back to the 16th century) should be seen to conclude this overview.
In another register, that of economic history, note that a discovery route punctuated by 11 panels allows you to understand, in the town, "the golden age of the shoe industry" which made the town prosper from 1880 to the 1980s. Information on +33 2 41 63 80 20 or +33 2 41 49 80 00. last years of leading equipment. This is the case of the Espace Senghor, which includes a theatre, a cabaret space and an exhibition hall. The program is rich throughout the year. Information on +33 2 41 71 68 48. We should also mention the Exéko room, which houses the town's entertainment service, the music school and equipment made available to associations. Contact on +33 2 41 63 80 20. The Jean-Ferrat socio-ludic center also has a room that can accommodate 400 spectators (information on +33 2 41 63 80 20) and nearby, finally, renovated in 2019, the library regularly offers events such as readings or meetings (join +33 2 41 63 39 35).
For sports enthusiasts, tennis courts are accessible to visitors and vacationers (reservation with the club on +33 2 41 63 28 06), a synthetic football pitch and a multi-sport pitch.
For hiking enthusiasts, several marked trails have been laid out in the town itself, highlighting the heritage or the charms of the countryside around the town. This is the case of the Saint-Tibère trail (12.5 km), the Bouëre de l'Evre trail (12.7 km), the Chemin des Murailles and Gastines (16 km, also open to mountain bikers). Larger loops including, for example, the discovery of Cholet are also possible: maps and information on +33 2 41 49 80 00.
You can also join the outings of the local walking club: contact +33 2 41 63 25 01.
Every Wednesday, the market showcases the richness of the Mauges terroir and local gastronomy.
The second Sunday in May, spring market with plants, arts and crafts and local gourmet products.
The third Sunday in September, garage sale.
The first Sunday of October, Fressure festival (with tasting of this typical dish of the region made from pork) and fairground attractions.
The third weekend of October, festival of "committed comics" in the presence of authors and cartoonists.
