Things to see and do Loire-Atlantique

Route the Hermitage: 5 h on foot, 2 h by bike, 18 km (yellow markup, departure road behind the church). Route Les: 4 h walk, 1 h 30 by bike, 15 km (red markup, departure road behind the church). Rock-Acute Route: 2 h on foot, 1 h by bike, 8 km (purple markup, departure site of Stones-Higher). Come and discover the lake, the castles, but also the rush, the butternut, the vineyard… Possibility of bicycle rental.

Discovery of the forest of Saint-Mars-la-Jaille and Ancenis thanks to numerous hiking and equestrian tours. A tour guide «In Pays d'Ancenis» is available in tourist offices and town halls. The big hikers will choose the GR 3 which runs along the submarine trail. The most beautiful sites can be discovered by the Loire Dream Trail, a 64 km loop well marked. You can also choose to go up the Loire by bicycle. The fact sheets are also available in tourist offices and town halls.

They ceased their activity in 1875. A blast furnace, the houses of the founder and his clerk at the Étang Pond, the house of the master of the forges at the pond of Provostière are the remains.

You can see it at the entrance of La Turballe, on the road to Saint-Molf, at the place called Les Quatre Routes.... Rue du Moulin! Formerly called "Moulin de Maincrom" (the curved stone), named after the plot where it was built in the 18th century, it was modernised in 1893: it was raised by one floor and provided with a second pair of wheels, equipped with the Berton system and an orientation reel (butterfly). Its construction dates back to the 18th century, but it was valiantly ground wheat and barley until 1969. A visit to this windmill reveals the mechanism that crushes the grain and extracts the flour. On 4 levels, the strength of the wings, 52 m² of sail area, drives the spinning wheel, the lantern, the big iron, which, in turn, by various gears, rotate the sorter, the running wheel, the blender, to obtain the fine flower and the oatmeal... A miller's house, next door, a former storage place, presents a collection of objects from the past in order to bring back to life the time when the donkey came and went between the farm and the mill... and that the wings turned in the wind... These items were collected from donors. Among the objects are: headdresses and costumes, embossing and ironing irons, lace, heaters, clogs... The miller's house can be visited free of charge, in addition to the visit to the mill.

The bell tower of the church Notre-Dame-de-Mercy, known as Trescalan Church, offers the highest view of the peninsula. At a height of 33 m, it rises on the hillside at 45 m above sea level. At the origin of the construction, the bell was finalized in its upper part by a dome roof. A panoramic bezel allows very beautiful views and a complete overview of the entire landscape extending from the mouth of the Loire to that of the Vilaine, towards the wide and the islands of Morbihan and towards the great Brière. To access it, you have to climb 110 steps. After a 1 ^st level you can discover the arch of the church's frame. The church, for its part, includes many curiosities such as the ship Pie IX, ex-voto suspended in the choir, the statue of Notre-Dame-de-Brandu (Virgin to the Child) and the statue of polychrome wood dressed in Saint Brigitte.

This 8 km course along the Lecourbe is accessible to hikers, cyclists and people with reduced mobility. Located in natural surroundings, the trail takes a practicable route with strollers and can be carried out in any sense. The Lecourbe Park and the Beautour Dock can, for example, be a starting point. A great opportunity to discover the "Folies", dating from the th century and th century, as well as the many boats now restored and converted into workshops and exhibition spaces. This circuit will lead you to discover the past activities of the men and the ecological, historical and heritage of the sites crossed. It is punctuated by 17 educational panels that will allow you to learn more about the "secrets" of the Nantes Nantes.

This cave has always been a place of pilgrimage and is located on the north side of the church. Also called a cell, it is where Vital (or Viau), the former patron of the parish, lived. The cave was forgotten during the Revolution. The priest Lechat rediscovered it in 1849. It was then 7 m long and 2 m wide. In the past, the opening of the cave was in the priory's garden. We went down a stone staircase there. The outer entrance to the cave was then placed in the northern chapel of the church. In 1910, Father Sort had a reduction of the Lourdes cave and a wire entrance built, which were restored in 2017 by volunteers.

The house houses a collection of ancient objects.

Discover the history of La Turballe and its inhabitants through various guided walks by the association Au Gré des Vents. These discovery tours allow you to understand how the port was created, to visit it, to know its activities in detail, to attend a fish auction, to go and see how the Turballa sardines cannery works. Meet at one o'clock in the morning to follow the sale of freshly landed fish at the auction for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The visit will allow you to discover the services offered by the port, but also the fishing seasons, the fleet and the species caught. This will help you better understand the fish's journey from the sea to your plate. An original and exciting experience to live that is worth getting up early, even during the holidays!

The Hocmard is a tributary of the Erdre which is currently undergoing rehabilitation. A site suitable for birds and aquatic wildlife.

Labelled since 1146 in the cartulaire of Saint Florent, the Forges Forges site is a former charcoal smelter operated in its current form since the th, but known for processing ore since the th century. Today it is a magnificent place, like any old metallurgical site, including a pond, a splendid house of master housing and operating buildings. It is very good for you to walk in fine weather and during the beautiful season, a walk with terrace welcomes you on the water side. It is absolutely imperative, if you want to know the techniques of this profession, now almost disappeared, to attend the animations during which a team of professionals will show you a demonstration, from the manufacture of the mould to the sand to the finished piece.

On sunny days, the boats of Nantes offer a mini-cruise along the Erdre, "the most beautiful river in France" according to the famous formula of King François I.

The temple of Vesta is a circular temple inside the Boissé-Lemot Boissé Park. It complements the Italian architectural ensemble of the park along with the cave of héloise or the tomb to the ancient. It is inspired by Vesta temples in Rome and Tivoli. A waterfall had to sink rocks supporting the temple to the Lecourbe, this Projet project never lives. This temple is classified as a historic monument.

Donges is also a city of water. The marshes surrounding it have been the subject of important work: locks, valves testify to this project for soil planning. The Liberge site is a protected reserve of fauna and flora. An ornithological observatory has been built.

This castle is private but you can still see it. Although located close to Paulx, it is in fact common in the areas of Saint-Etienne-de-Mer and Paulx. In 1832, this castle was the theatre of one of the last skirmishes of the attempt to uplift the Duchess of Berry. Caraterie Castle dates back to the th century. But it replaces a more ancient edifice in 1832, because it was on that date that the Duchess of Berry decided to raise the country against Louis Philippe (the Orléans dynasty). She wanted to remove her, wearing her son (Bourbons dynasty, légitimistes) on the throne of King of France.

Botanical walk through a theme garden.

Since of many years, the museum is a meeting place and discoveries. It contains some rare pieces of the crafts of other continents, often brought back by missionaries. For example, works of art, African and oceanic Asian are presented. Information on the missions in the world and different services cooperation and mutual aid with missionaries is revealed.

Located between the new fields and the Migron on the left bank of the estuary, the reserves of Massereau and Migron extend over more than 700 hectares. At the heart of the Loire Estuary, one of the most important French sites for the conservation of migratory birds, these reserves constitute the wintering place for many anatidae, particularly winter teal. In a nature outing dedicated to the birds of the estuary, a naturalist guide will convey its knowledge of local fauna and flora. These outings are organised and accompanied by the National Office for Hunting and Wildlife (ONCFS) with the support of the Conseil général de Loire-Atlantique. Free of charge, they invite you to discover the reserves of Du and Du, their history, their fauna and their flora. Upon reservation.

On the road to Héric, at the exit of Nort-sur-Erdre the park offers a beautiful alley of chestnut trees, a small wood and a popular water course. The Manoir dates back to the early th century.

Three kilometres west of the village of Saint-Géréon, you will find the site of Pierre Meslière. Classified as prehistoric station due to the many stones found there, the site used to serve to empierrer the roads and manufacture the grinding. This is where the names of the Stones Meulières, which will become over time Stones Meslières. The site was discovered in 1877 by Viscount Pitre de Lisle du Dreneux (1846-1927), one of the first invaders in the department.

Start the garage of the Pré-Clos and follow the course for 4 km. Then take the road to the parking and turn left. After 300 m, a road leads you to a small road. Cross it and catch another little path that will lead you to the railway. Go under another bridge and continue straight after the picnic area. The trail leads to the heart of the vineyards of the hamlet of the Pierre-Meslière. For return, take the same route in reverse directions.

A magnificent neo-Gothic building, this church was built by architect François Bougouin between 1898-1900. In order to enhance it and protect it from any changes, it has been registered under Historical Monuments since 2007. Its organ is also classified as well as the magnificent stained glass windows dating back to 1924. Like the Saint-Sauveur Chapel, it has been partially damaged and has benefited from extensive rehabilitation work that ended in 2003.

In case you have not noticed, you are in Abbaretz in the heart of a rural country where agricultural activities have always been the most important. But we are also within the country of the forges where agricultural mechanisation took over from them in particular with the Huard de Châteaubriant and Braud de Saint-Mars-la-Jaille plants. Here you will see worthy jewels of these two productions, but also steam machines, autotractés autotractés and other Farmall tractors dating from the Marshall Plan and many others produced since the beginning of the agricultural machinery. A counsellor to all the curious!