Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire is a town in Maine-et-Loire, in the Pays-de-Loire, south of Angers which it borders.
Its territory of about 15 km² has an actual geographic peculiarity: its limit "western" is formed by the course of the Maine and its limit "Southeast" by the Loire which join south Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire then forming a point surrounded by the river and its tributary.
Side "Loire", the municipality also includes two islands: Ile aux Chevaux and Courgan Island.
This peculiarity has shaped the history of the town which became in the seventeenth a resort bishops and bourgeois notables and Angers in the locality Port-Thibault, overlooking the Loire. Thus, from the old regime and the nineteenth century, were built houses of character including parks down in terraces to the river where were located the "gazebos" small buildings overlooking the river.
Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire which now has about 3700 inhabitants has retained a rural character (it remains several farms), a part of good life and preserved a heritage interest. All these attractions plus a cultural vitality that make the small town a pleasant stop near the city of Angers and its tourist sites.
Its proximity to the capital of Anjou helping, as the configuration of its territory, Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire retains a rich heritage.
Thus identifies three sites under protection as historical monuments of archaeological remains dating from ancient Gallo-Roman but especially the mansion Belligan (XV), known for the murals and rich woods and it houses finally, the field of Chateaubriant, the name of the lords of these lands. The current castle dates from the years following the acquisition of the area, already modernized by a former trader who made his fortune in the sugar trade in the West Indies, by Darlus of Montclerc private in 1769. Still, the gated wall dominates Maine and can be observed from the outside. It includes a main building with carved facades, orangery, a chapel bordering a beautiful alley, and a landscaped park of 7 hectares.
To see more of the resort, the Pruniers bridge over the Maine, built in 1908: it is made of a long metal overpass of 150 m based on both batteries and consists of three spans of 50 m each and 7 m in height.
A former castle transformed into a psychiatric hospital, the manor of Chanzé (XVI, remodeled in the nineteenth), the Clos Lorelle (with its chapel of the eighteenth) are yet to report, reflecting the prosperity of the town. More modest, typical mills Cavier in the region (the movable body supporting the wings rests on foundations shaped cellars) are still visible in the street... the Mills, and bear witness to their share of the milling activity of yore.
Rest finally discover the church. A first building dating from the ninth century was replaced in the eleventh by the current church, with the thirteenth of a choir vaults Anjou (also called Plantagenet style) and a polychrome triumphal arch eighteenth. Successive reshuffle did not affect the beauty of the whole, which also shows the tower, with a square base, decorated with fake Romanesque arches. The church was further enlarged in the nineteenth, after the damage caused by a storm: a collateral was added to the south, altars were built, carved capitals... Finally, we observe that the rectory is attached to the side "is" the church. It has a Renaissance turret. The building belonged to the congregation of the Dolores who owned other property in the parish. Below, thus, are staged flowered terraces: the gardens of the rectory. Restored and opened to the public in 1997, they offer a lovely view on the island of Horses and the bank of the Loire. A nice place for a stroll.
But before a visit can be instructive museum Beverage and Sommelier, established since 2004. Its collections consist of objects and documents embrace all aspects related to trades and skills of viticulture, oenology and the sommelier. A documentation center is also open. Free or guided visits with or without tasting. Information at +33 2 41 76 28 27.
The town also has a quality cultural center, space for art-picture (pun related to the geography of Sainte-Gemme-sur-Loire). Shows (concerts, theater) and exhibitions are regularly scheduled there. Information at +33 2 41 66 75 52.
In addition to the gardens of the rectory presented above, a very pleasant Mediterranean garden with Mediterranean trees (palm trees, cypresses, vineyards...) and terraced overlooking the Loire ready also, in the same area, to walk in a framework bucolic and relaxing. The Hutreau park, large 9 hectares, north of the town, dotted with playgrounds and picnic in a wooded area, is equally pleasant to go especially in summer. Gardens and grounds are open access every day.
For hikers (walking or cycling), it is easy to reach from the town called the track "La Loire à Vélo" along the river. We can go back to Angers and Saumur upstream or down downstream to the confluence, cross the bridge over the Maine and join downstream Bouchemaine, or go to the center of Angers.
A marked loop of 40 km further to discover all of the city.
Finally, three cycle paths are provided on the town, a distance of 4.2 km. Maps and information +33 2 41 23 50 00.
