Visit near you!
Slow tourism is all the rage, and we're 100% behind it! So instead of flying miles and miles away, why not make the most of your holiday to discover or rediscover the well-known and lesser-known corners of the Ancenis region where you live? It's good for the planet, for your wallet and for our local economy!
The must-see Oudon Tower
What do you mean, you've never been there before? Well, you'll have to do something about that! The keep has watched over Oudon for over 600 years. On site, a fun and interactive tour tells you all about its eventful history. And once you've climbed the 120 steps, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view over the Hâvre valley: you won't regret the effort!
In the heart of nature
Saddle up!
On Sundays, it's time to get out your bike and take to the trails on your own, with friends or family! Whether it's the Voie Verte, Loire à Vélo or Régalante, we love the zen atmosphere that reigns on these trails. You're bound to find a route to suit your pace and your tastes!
Hush, watch...
Two observatories await the curious. The Marais de Grée, which stretches between Ancenis-Saint-Géréon and Vair-sur-Loire. You'll love it in winter, with its vast expanses of water, and in summer, when it's covered in dry grassland. Follow the path to the Maison des marais and then the ornithological observatory. Herring gulls, Eurasian spoonbills and herons can be seen performing a ballet in the middle of nowhere.
What's more? Free guided walks so you don't miss a thing of this Natura 2000 site.
Not far from Lac de Vioreau, take a short tour of the Etang de la Provostière (5.5 km) and stop off at the observatory on the shore. In front of your eyes or in your binoculars: black-headed gulls, great crested grebes and common coots! Even better than the show!
The ornithological observatory
Our animal friends
Quails and ducks, goats and rabbits, pigs and sheep... the Galli farm in Vallons-de-l'Erdre is an educational farm like no other, with almost 900 ornamental animals. The ideal outing when your children need some fresh air! (and you too!)
A stroll through our villages
Take a stroll throughIngrandes-Le Fresne-sur-Loire, a town of shipowners and bargemen. The town, which has now been awarded the "Petite Cité de Caractère" label, still bears the scars of a busy port. For a long time, it was a strategic crossing point between Anjou and Brittany. There's a delightful stroll along its narrow streets, where you'll find a mix of wealthy shipowners' houses built of tufa and slate, and fishermen's cottages. At Le Cellier, a 15km walk takes you past the Folies Siffait, mysterious and romantic gardens, a sort of labyrinth of terraces and staircases with walls invaded by nature, trompe-l'œil windows and an exceptional panorama over the Loire. At Saint-Mars-la-Jaillé, we've fallen in love with the Belle Époque swimming pool, so don't forget to pack your swimming costume and take a dip! How about a trip to Canada? We're talking about Joué-sur-Erdre and its exceptional natural sites: the Lac de Vioreau, not forgetting the River Erdre that runs through the town.
Congratulations!
The Alexandre-Braud swimming pool in Vallons-de-l'Erdre has been selected as an "emblematic 2024 site" in the Pays de la Loire region by the Loto du Patrimoine (Heritage Lottery), organised by Stéphane Bern. It is one of eighteen French sites that will receive financial support in 2024. This aid will contribute to the renovation work due to start at the end of 2024.
A monument to culture
Feel like a small child surrounded by the monumental sculptures in Mouzeil Park? It's an experience you simply must have! Created by the artist Jean-Claude Lambert, a very unusual character who you may see creating his sculptures in the park from gigantic tree trunks or granite, this unusual place invites you to take a poetic, unusual and artistic stroll. After passing through worlds with enchanting names, you'll discover the longest line of megaliths in the world - and that's not all! And it doesn't stop there! Every two years since 1999, five sculptors from all over the world add their work to a trail through the heart of the village of Oudon. You'll come across a bear, a UFO or even a King's Fool, enough to keep you daydreaming!
Free admission to the Mouzeil sculpture park 7/7.
We're going out even when it's raining!
Exhibitions to feast your eyes on
Come and enjoy the sunshine at the MAT! The Centre d'art contemporain du Pays d'Ancenis opens your eyes to the creative work of today and tomorrow in the Pays d'Ancenis through its two exhibition venues: the Chapelle des Ursulines in Ancenis-Saint-Géréon and the Centre d'art contemporain in Montrelais.
Meunier, tu dors?
Sébastien Collin, farmer-miller at the Moulin de la Garenne in Pannecé, whose 12-metre-high mill can be seen from afar, invites you to discover an ancestral skill! Restored to its original condition, it is the last remaining mill in the Ancenis region. Here, Sébastien Collin grows ancient varieties of wheat, rye and buckwheat, which he transforms into flour. He'll tell you all about his work and his love of his products, before letting you leave with wheat or buckwheat flour, aprons or bread bags under your arm. What's more? Overlooking the large hamlet of La Bourdinière in Pannecé, head to the mill in August to experience the magic of "Starry Night".
Braud, an agricultural adventure
You've probably already seen the blue harvesters and grape-pickers that were exported all over the world in the second half of the 20th century. The Braud company in Vallons-de-l'Erdre, which has been closed since 1989, played a major role in agricultural and harvesting progress over the last century. This museum tells the story of this veritable agricultural saga in our region, and traces the technological development of the machines that the company produced.
Chic shops!
Pamper yourself in the shops of our craftsmen and women - a great idea when it's raining! (Textiles, leather, pottery, jewellery: in the Pays d'Ancenis , we've got gold in our hands and we'd love to share our craft skills with you!
Our neighbours
A Loire château
Designated a " Château de la Loire " in 2011, Goulaine is the only Breton château in the Loire Valley. "At the gateway to Nantes and the ocean, the Château de Goulaine has stood the test of time in a setting of vineyards and marshland", is how Christophe Goulaine, worthy heir to 1,000 years of history spent in this residence for the Goulaine family, describes it. Built in a green setting, this beautiful Renaissance residence is open to visitors every day in summer. Bonus for children? a treasure hunt and costume hire!
Animals galore
Rated as one of the world's finest animal parks,the Parc Zoologique de la Boissière du Doré boasts a remarkable collection of species just 30 minutes from Nantes and Cholet. In the heart of the Nantes vineyards, a team of enthusiasts look after more than 1,100 animals, including many species in danger of extinction, such as the orang-utan, the park's emblem.
If you love animals, but also thrills: take a trip to Le Natural'parc in Orée d'Anjou.
A whole host of museums!
Musée des métiers, Musée Joachim du Bellay, Musée "au siècle passé", musée des tapis... They're only a few kilometres away, and before you've covered them all, you're going to need a few more Sundays!
Nantes, the city of surprises!
Ancenis-Saint-Géréon is just 30 minutes from Nantes, so you'll be able to explore the machines on the island, its castle, its lively shopping streets and, if you push a little further, the fine sand of the beaches along the Atlantic coast!
Angers, the gentle city
Head east to Angers, just an hour away. What's there to see and do? The château, the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Ile Saint-Aubin, a green setting just a stone's throw from the city.
