Circuit de l'Erdre et de son patrimoine

Follow in the footsteps of the River Erdre on this 15.5km walk, lasting around 3 hours 50 minutes, and let yourself be carried away by a stroll between nature and memory, where wild landscapes and heritage meet.

The walk begins in the peaceful wooded parkland of the Château de la Villenière, where the tall, century-old trees provide an elegant backdrop for the start of the walk. The path soon winds its way through vast, open grassy meadows, where the fat grass feeds the peacefully grazing dairy cows, emblems of the Anjou countryside.

A little way off, the source of the Erdre gurgles silently, a fine vein of nascent water. Who would have thought that this discreet trickle would later become a sovereign river, flowing all the way to the Loire?

The walk continues through rural hamlets and open fields, where slate houses dot the landscape with their typical, sober architecture. These buildings, with their warm, dark colours, bear witness to the ancient bond between man and the local stone.

Then there's the Sainte-Emérance chapel. Built in the 15th century on the orders of Louis XI, this Plantagenet Gothic chapel is striking for its elegant lines. Inside, the sculpted keystones bear the coat of arms of France, a reminder of its royal foundation. This place, at once sober and steeped in history, invites contemplation and wonder.

Finally, the loop leads to the Espérance slate quarry, a reminder of La Pouëze's industrial past. This site, steeped in memory, is a reminder of the time when slate provided the backbone of the local economy, a period that has now calmed down but is still very much a part of the area's identity.

Between heritage and nature, this walk invites you to take a journey through time and landscapes, to the gentle rhythm of the emerging Erdre. It's a trail open to all, a place to walk, observe and be touched by the beauty of the area.