Between abbeys and fortresses, ramparts and priories, a tour in the history of the Pays de la Loire !
Saint-Pierre de Solesmes Abbey
Saint-Pierre de Solesmes Abbey is a jewel of the religious heritage of the Sarthe Valley. One discovers there the famous Saints of Solesmes whose features and attitudes are exceptional, just like The Tomb of Christ dating from the 15th century. It is also the high place of Gregorian chant, bringing together several centuries of the history of liturgical music. Attending a sung service is a profound and unforgettable experience, bringing great spiritual and musical emotions.
The medieval fortress of Champtoceaux
Balcony on the Loire, Champtoceaux of its former name Châteauceaux, was in medieval times a very important fortress. Essential rampart of the kingdom of France and Anjou against the duchy of Brittany allied to England. As a consequence of the war of succession in Brittany, Jean V de Montfort, after being imprisoned there and for revenge, ordered the citadel to be levelled in 1420, a jewel three times the size of Carcassonne, which faded forever.
Le Mans, city of Art and History
The menhir, the Roman enclosure, the cathedral, the hundred or so half-timbered houses, the Renaissance residences, the cobbled streets, lined with chasse roues, transport you into history...It should be noted that the Cité Plantagenêt is used as the setting for many film shoots each year. Let us quote that it was the setting for famous films like Cyrano de Bergerac, the Hunchback or the Iron Mask...
Vivoin and its Priory
Installed on the banks of the Sarthe, and on the pilgrimage route to Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, Vivoin owes its fame to its remarkable priory. Founded at the end of the 11th century, saved from destruction in 1965 by a few villagers, this Priory has now become the Sarthe Cultural Centre. Outside the village is hidden a small heritage scattered along the paths: archaic crosses, hemp ovens, mills...
The seaside villas of Pornichet, La Baule and Le Pouliguen
Scattered in the pine woods of the Côte d’Amour, the area’s seaside villas reflect a delightful panoply of styles, from Art Deco to Belle Epoque, some boasting English, Basque or Moorish touches. Proprietors took great pleasure in their villas, giving them pet names reflecting their attachment. Now many of these seaside gems are protected within a conservation zone. They bear delightful testimony to the blooming seaside tourism of the end of the 19th century.
The old LU factory
The LU viewing tower, the jewel in the crown of this unique place, is accessible to the public year round. In 1909, Louis Lefèvre-Utile, the famous Nantes biscuit-maker built two towers based on plans drawn up by Parisian architect Auguste Bluyssen, forming an enormous gateway towards the cours St. Pierre and Saint-André. Drawing inspiration from the castle of the Dukes of Brittany, he wanted to make his new plant nothing less than a palace of industry. In the concrete-ridden 1970s, the only surviving tower was decapitated.
Gardens of the Abbey in St-Florent-le-Vieil
The abbey church, largely from the 17th century, is classified as a historical monument. It houses the tomb of the Vendée general Bonchamp.
Ship-building Yards in St-Nazaire - STX Europe
Passing through St-Nazaire’s huge port area, the Vélocéan cycle route takes you right by the STX Europe ship-building yards. These put the newest high-tech processes into action to build huge new ships, such as the latest range of cruise liners, as well as military ships. Don’t miss a tour (organized from the centre of town) to learn about the construction, through 2015, of The Oasis, set to become the largest cruise ship in the world.
Guérande and its Ramparts
A perfect example of Breton medieval military architecture, Guérande’s ramparts were begun in the 14th century. You can now cycle around the base of these walls, 1,300m in length. Four gateways stand at the points of the compass: Saint-Michael’s Gate in the east, the Vannetaise Gate in the north, the Bizienne Gate in the west and the Saillé Gate in the south. A further opening, Le Tricot Gate, was added in 1848. Since 1877, Guérande’s ramparts have been listed as a French historic monument.
Don’t miss the guided tour, Guérande les Remparts, organised by Guérande Tourist Office.
The Dungeon of the Château d'Oudon
A scenery, film and light show takes you right into the heart of the events that marked the history of the Grand Fleuve: the life of a fisherman from the Loire in the Middle Ages, the Loire at the time of the Revolution, the Loire boat workshop, the journey on the Loire by the English painter William Turner. On the last level, take off for a virtual balloon trip over the Loire, before enjoying the magnificent panorama over the Grand Fleuve from the top of the keep!