Montjean-sur-Loire:
green holiday resort on the left bank of the Loire, Montjean welcomes you all year. Come and enjoy its heritage, its port, the circuit Loire by bike, the proposed hikes and events throughout the year for all to enjoy!
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil:
Posed as if by magic on the banks of the last wild river in Europe, the small town character of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil never ceases to amaze its visitors. Mount Glonne which rises to fifty meters above the Loire, has an architectural gem of beauty. The monastic complex that form the ancient abbey Maurist, is indeed an architectural masterpiece, made from a blend of elegance and sobriety. Its abbey church with eclectic styles, contains the tomb of General Bonchamps, who became famous during the "Wars of Vendée" by his gesture of forgiveness, before passing from life to death. Gesture forever engraved in white marble by the famous French sculptor David d'Angers. Part of the choir windows show elsewhere in this turbulent era, which deeply affected the city. The church square offers visitors a breathtaking view of the valley of the Loire and the surrounding area.
Small steep streets of the historic center, you will lead in turn towards the different monuments of the city: the memorial column of the Duchesse d'Angouleme, the chapels St. Charles and Saint-Sauveur...
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil who has an undeniable cultural aura in the Country of Mauges, has a space dedicated to literature: the house Gracq. Indeed, it was in this small city ligérienne was born July 27, 1910 the famous writer. His house is now home to writers from all backgrounds, who come here to rest to write their book with as inspiration, the Loire flowing at the feet of the building.
Here, culture is expressed in all its components: concerts, exhibitions, performances, film sessions take place in the abbey, converted from as cultural place.
Taste the local cuisine: fish from the Loire and Anjou wines will certainly charm you.
To explore the city over water, nothing like a walk on the Loire river following in the footsteps of the illustrious Gracq on the promenade that bears his name. This is certainly by taking this path on the banks of the royal river, you will understand better what the "the softness of Anjou," which Joachim du Bellay, celebrated author of the sixteenth century originated in Liré, was so praised.
Montjean-sur-Loire:
- "Cape Loire": Discovery Park on the Loire Skippers: come discover the boat Cape Verde (self-propelled barge of 1929, classified a historical monument in 1994), a permanent exhibition on the skippers of the Loire, theme gardens, rooms temporary exhibitions (in season). Open from April to October.
- Walks along the Loire: Discussed walks from April to November with Ligériade II. Reservations at the Tourist Office on +33 2 41 39 07 07.
- The church of Saint Symphorien is built (1858-1864) on the ruins of the old castle burnt down in 1793 by Republicans. Neo-Gothic style, it dominates the Loire and its valley.
- Montjean The bridge dates from 1948 after having been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. It spans the Loire with its 496 m long.
- The Chapel of Saint Aubin dating from the eleventh century has the characters of the novel Angevin.
- The tomb of Edmond Heusschen pyramidal lies outside the cemetery. Benefactor of the town for making it prosperous in the 1850s, the Belgian engineer moved to Montjean in 1854. He bought the concession mining Montjean and creates the Company of Mines and Lower Loire Lime kilns and develops the activity of ligérienne city.
- The Fountain St. Meen erected in 1887 was a pretty important pilgrimage center in the early twentieth century. The water from its source healed (?) Of scabies. It has a small chapel on the pediment of which is inscribed there "A St Meen Châteaupanne Montjean 1889". It is on the altar and before the Pilgrims celebrated what was an office during pilgrimages. Abandoned, vandalized, this chapel is now in ruins and its source is exhausted.
- The gateway replaces Trottier in 1979 the ferry connecting the island of Chalonnes Montjean. It bears the name of hemp farmer Island who wrote to the President of the Republic to achieve its inception. Before its creation the islanders had to detour 20 km through Chalonnes or take the ferry (until 1972). The last ferryman tray, Auguste Leduc, Petty was also the last poet to carry lime to Britain by the canal from Nantes to Brest.
- The Chapel of Our Lady of Good Help was offered by the spouses Arsendeau (the chapel was built on land belonging to them) to the parish council in 1816. The district has built close subdivision is now called the Chapel.
- The docks are spread over 650 m and are stone since 1794 (previously they were in sand). The wharf Salmon (Wharf sailors) was used for the berthing, loading and unloading ships. Monsignor Provost served meanwhile dock to boat maintenance. The goods transported on the river were slate, limestone, lime or exotic products purchased in Nantes and reported in Montjean. The hourglasses were circulated until 1994 (end of sand mining) and oil until 1991. Montjean was the first port of Nantes Loire with 1850 to 1900. 6000 boats per year would spend in 1838 (not counting steamboats!).
- The island of Chalonnes, which with its 13 km long, is the largest island of the Loire. Formerly privileged place for the cultivation of hemp and willow, it now houses another 300 people.
- The headframe of the shaft of the trench built in 1874 is considered one of the largest of the 13 coal mine shoring preserved in France (32 meters high). A horse above the mine shaft of the trench down to 178.5 m underground. A pulley system allowed back bags of coal to the surface so that they are transported through railway, to the lime kilns. Originally, the entire site of the trench included a port, seven kilns contained in the same massive trapezoidal, a mine and a career related to the ovens by a railway track.
- The lime kilns which can be especially seen on the banks of the Loire (a circular walk goes around). Ligérienne the city owns a total of 23, some of which are listed or classified historic monument since the late 80. In traditional form, they form truncated cones ranging from 7 to 14 meters high and 8 to 16 meters in diameter.
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil:
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil offers a multitude of activities for all the family, here are a few that might interest you:
- Browse listed Old Town "Small City of Character", the esplanade of Mount Glonne the Gracq walk along the Loire, passing through small steep streets.
- Entering the majestic abbey church, which houses the magnificent white marble tomb of Bonchamps sculpted by renowned artist David d'Angers.
- Cross the cloister of the abbey and discover the traditional sand ball play.
- Visit the old abbey Maurist beautifully renovated open during exhibitions and cultural events in the city.
- The ride on the Loire aboard "Soulair Wind", a ship built in the style of a traditional toue de Loire, with at its helm the young Matthew Perraud, professional fisherman.
- Visit the House Gracq, recently renovated, it hosts a residence of authors and cultural events in the chart room and the remarkable library.
Saint-Laurent-de-la-Plaine:
Museum of Trades: 35 trades presented on more than 5000 m² exhibition, through an exceptional collection of tools and antiques. Open to individual public from April to October. Groups all year by appointment.