Liven up your holidays!

Montval-sur-Loir

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Sarthe

Montval-sur-Loir - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Sarthe
7.4
5

Montval-sur-Loir is a locality of Sarthe, Pays de la Loire region, on the borders of the department of Indre-et-Loire, 35 km south-east of Le Mans.

The city was created in October 2016 following the merger of the municipalities of Château-du-Loir (4648 inhabitants), Montabon (767 inhabitants) and Vouvray-sur-Loir (785 inhabitants), and now has about 6400 inhabitants.

Vital point of the Loir Valley tourist destination, at the end of a valley where flows the Loir, tributary of the Loire, close to the vast forest of Bercé, Montval-sur-Loir remains a crossroads to the prosperous economy (industry, services and vineyards).

A situation that has persisted since the early Middle Ages, Château-du-Loir was a strong disputed stronghold between French and English during the Hundred Years War before being the seat of a powerful seneschal directly dependent on the King of France until in 1789.

Despite the conflicts of the past, Château-du-Loir such as Montabon and Vouvray-sur-Loir (not to be confused with Vouvray in Indre-Loire) have preserved a historic and environmental heritage of quality. The visitors also have a leisure offer provided, which makes the new town, near other strongholds of tourism in the Loire Valley, a popular stop.

Geographical information

MunicipalityMontval-sur-Loir
Postcode72500
Tourism label
Latitude47.6926680 (N 47° 41’ 34”)
Longitude0.4180680 (E 0° 25’ 5”)
AltitudeFrom 40m to 131m
Surface area26.99 km²
Population6120 inhabitants
Density226 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureLe Mans (54 km, 43 min)
Insee code72071
IntercommunalityCC Loir-Lucé-Bercé
DepartmentSarthe
TerritoryMaine
RegionPays de la Loire

Nearest cities & towns

Luceau3 km (7 min)
Nogent-sur-Loir3.7 km (6 min)
Flée5.6 km (8 min)
Dissay-sous-Courcillon5.8 km (8 min)
Saint-Pierre-de-Chevillé7.4 km (11 min)
Saint-Aubin-le-Dépeint7.5 km (10 min)
Lavernat7.6 km (11 min)
Thoiré-sur-Dinan8.3 km (12 min)
Beaumont-Pied-de-Boeuf8.4 km (13 min)
La Bruère-sur-Loir8.6 km (12 min)
Vaas9.3 km (12 min)
Marçon9.8 km (11 min)
Chahaignes11.2 km (16 min)
Verneil-le-Chétif11.4 km (17 min)
Saint-Christophe-sur-le-Nais11.6 km (13 min)

Things to see and do

On both Château-du-Loir and Montabon and Vouvray-sur-Loir, a historical heritage of interest can lend itself to a circuit in the form of discovery.

It will start in Château-du-Loir by the Saint-Guingalois church, formerly attached to the Récollets convent. Built in the eleventh century, the church takes its name from the relics of Saint Guénolé that were preserved there. Several times remodeled, we notice his Gothic choir of the thirteenth century and his paneled nave of the sixteenth. The transept and the bell tower date back to the nineteenth century. The poet Pierre de Ronsard was prior there from 1569 to 1585 and during this period, the city was popular with the writers of La Pléiade.

Several other ancient buildings testify to the prosperity of the city during the Ancien Régime. This is the case of the manor Riablay built in the fourteenth century became a bed and breakfast and several mansions like the hotel Guillot de la Poterie (XVIII), the home Graslin (XVII), built for a councilor Henri IV, with a remarkable facade, or, of lesser construction, the hotel Maillard (nineteenth). In another style, near the Loir, troglodyte houses have been preserved.

On Montabon, the Church of St. Aignan is worth a look, with a nave of the eleventh century and a choir remodeled in the fifteenth. It is also on the territory of this former village that was built in 1891 a railway rotunda with a swing bridge. At the intersection of the Le Mans-Tours and Paris-Bordeaux lines, the site was used to sort the wagons and ensure their maintenance. Out of service since the 1950s, now classified, being restored thanks to the support of the Mission Bern and the participation of the Montabon Railway Rotunda Association, the site can be visited on a regular basis (inquire at +33 2 43 38 16 60).

In Vouvray-sur-Loir, finally, the church dedicated to Saint-Martin, dating from the twelfth and sixteenth centuries, deserves a detour.

Other sites can give rise to a rewarding visit, such as the amazing audiovisual museum and communication located on the Pôle Sainte Cécile in Château-du-Loir. We discover a collection of a thousand pieces retracing the evolution of audiovisual techniques (phonos, radios, TV) and communication in all its forms (sound, image, writing). The whole is presented thematically. Entry: 4 and 5 euros. Information on +33 6 09 72 17 88.

On Vouvray-sur-Loir, it is the site of the Moulin Pousset which turns out to be a museum with double vocation. On one hand you can visit the old grain mill of medieval origin, its equipment, its paddlewheel, the whole remains in good condition and can still produce flour. The site also hosts a museum of cinematographic projection tracing the history of cinema. Finally, a gallery of artistic exhibitions (free entry) and a pleasant park on the banks of the Loire are also accessible. Open weekends and holidays from Easter to September and all year for groups. Price: 5 euros for the mill, 5 euros for the museum or 8 euros for a group entry. Information on +33 2 43 46 90 24.

These different historic sites such as the green surroundings of the new town, the banks of the Loir and vineyards can give rise to many hiking or mountain biking. Brochures and information on +33 2 43 38 16 60.

For the sportsmen again, on Château-du-Loir, a city stadium, a skate park and tennis courts are available. Contact +33 2 43 79 56 35.

An aquatic center called "Plouf" also offers for swimming as the relaxation of covered pools, outdoor pools in summer, fun equipment. Entry 3 and 4 euros. Information on +33 2 43 38 09 53.

On the cultural level, quality shows (concerts, theater) are regularly scheduled at the Espace Henri Goude (information +33 2 43 79 47 97) and activities are offered at the library, in the old building of the Récollets, and as quality exhibitions in the vault of this former convent (contact +33 2 43 38 03 31).

Places of interest

Information points
Monuments
Performance halls
Transport

Events and festivities

Photos

Henri Goude Space
Henri Goude Space
See photo
Old fort
Old fort
See photo
Old bandstand
Old bandstand
See photo
Town hall
Town hall
See photo
Church
Church
See photo
Grand hotel
Grand hotel
See photo
Fresco on the platform of the station
Fresco on the platform of the station
See photo
Station platform
Station platform
See photo
Town hall
Town hall
See photo
Memorial
Memorial
See photo
Statue
Statue
See photo
Hospital
Hospital
See photo
Espace Loir and Bercé
Espace Loir and Bercé
See photo
Church
Church
See photo
Church
Church
See photo
Rue Léon Loiseau
Rue Léon Loiseau
See photo
Rue Léon Loiseau
Rue Léon Loiseau
See photo
Rue Léon Loiseau
Rue Léon Loiseau
See photo
Lemonnier Square
Lemonnier Square
See photo
Station
Station
See photo
The rotunda
The rotunda
See photo
Old water tower
Old water tower
See photo

Weather

Friday 29 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 13°C
Day
Night
Saturday 30 march
Min. 7°C - Max. 14°C
Day
Night
Sunday 31 march
Min. 6°C - Max. 15°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Helicopter Flight above the Loire Valley and Surrounding Châteaux
Entertainment230 € Neuvy-le-Roi (18.6 km)
Private Helicopter Flight of Châteaux de Langeais, Villandry and Luynes
Entertainment850 € Neuvy-le-Roi (18.6 km)
Private Helicopter Flight – Chenonceau, Amboise, Pagoda of Chanteloup
Entertainment1835 € Neuvy-le-Roi (18.6 km)
Helicopter Flight over the Great Châteaux of the Loire Valley
Entertainment350 € Neuvy-le-Roi (18.6 km)
Helicopter Flight over Pays de Racan and Historical Châteaux
Sports sensations90 € Neuvy-le-Roi (18.7 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
The Heritage of Vaas
HikeIntermediate2:30Vaas (8.1 km)
Around Verneil
HikeEasy2:30Verneil-le-Chétif (10.3 km)
Discovering old Mayet
Village visitEasy1:15Mayet (13 km)
Cherré
HikeEasy2:20La Chapelle-aux-Choux (15.6 km)
In the footsteps of History
HikeEasy3:30Coulongé (16.2 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
By continuing to browse our site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies to improve your experience and make targeted offers.
Find out more and make settings
Your account