The most beautiful natural sites to discover Châteaux de la Loire

Of the great forests of Anjou, only a few are left, of which the forest of Chandelais is the most important. In the 15th century, King René used it for hunting, close to his residence in Baugé. Nowadays, the most remarkable trees of Anjou can be found there, oak and beech trees, as well as about fifty species of mushrooms. This 2,000-hectare forest offers numerous hiking, biking and horseback riding trails: 80 kilometers in total!

This 112-hectare park is a haven of peace for joggers with its 4, 5 or 8 km of paths around the Saint-Nicolas pond, but also a superb playground and discovery area for children, with its toy boat basin, its pedal carts and its animal enclosures. Come and (re) discover this pleasant park for a stroll, a picnic, to enjoy the refreshment bar in good weather, or why not for a little ride on the merry-go-round for young and old alike.

Looking for fresh air? Head for the Louroux pond, one of the largest in the region but also one of the most interesting. Classified as a sensitive natural area, many birds make their nests there. An ornithological observatory has been created to observe coots and grebes. As for the flora, two nationally protected species, the gratiola and the buttercup, grow on the site. A walk of about 5 km (2 hours) around the lake is not to be missed. Angling is permitted on the dike.

This 2,5 km walk from the castle park offers beautiful views over Lavardin and its castle. On the road you can admire Saint-Genest church, the cave site of the Rotte aux Farts, one of the many caves in the village where men settled several hundred years ago. Some are still inhabited! You will also find the Renaissance house of Florent Tissard dating back to the th century.

Tariff: free.

Duration: 1 h.

Difficulty: .

Played-lès-Tours has a green area around a lake where residents of the city, surrounding cities and holidaymakers can relax and enjoy all year round. In addition to the beautiful promenade that allows you to go around the lake, you can breathe fresh air in the woods around, come play with the children at the playground and Gadawi Park, the patch space, or enjoy nautical activities. The nautical school offers you canoeing, windsurfing and sailing from 10 a. m. to 8 p. m. (information and rates at 02 47 67 45 04). In summer, a bathing structure is installed with two supervised basins. Perfect after a picnic!

The Loing is not far if you pass by Dordives where the Vallée des Ardouses already welcomes you with its 4 hectares. Here, there are 70 hectares where sensitive nature has regained its rights in the Sablière de Cercanceaux, a former material extraction site. Follow the 7 km path that goes around it and admire Mother Nature: frogs and dragonflies enchant. These landscapes are ideal for contemplation and have become a beautiful ornithological observatory. But where is Ornicar?

Located in a traditional th century house, in the heart of the, forest, the Maison de la Forêt invites to discover the forest world. The visit is interactive thanks to a sound atmosphere, manipulation and experience. Different themes related to forests are addressed: the four seasons, the life of the tree, its different species, the forest soil, the animals of the ground, etc. All year round, the forest trails complete the visit. Guided by Pablo, the mascot, take the badger's trail, a family journey in the forest. On the jay's course you will learn about this bird while the butterfly trail will help you find a mysterious local specimen. Enigmas, booklet and interpretive panels are this course. The GPS Trail combines technology and discovery of forest heritage: GPS and booklet are available to discover unfamiliar locations. Finally, the Bats Trail gives an opportunity to learn more about this strange bug. Once again, with a playful booklet, children will have to help Betty, a young bat, regain his family name. School holidays are the opportunity for animation and production workshops, while in May artists perform works in the forest. They take a completely different dimension in August, time of performances and night walks.