DE PORT LAVIGNE À LA PIERRE BLANCHE

Just a stone's throw from the hustle and bustle of the city, Bouguenais offers a variety of landscapes to walk through (town, farmland, woods, stream courses).

With two urban centres, Bouguenais stretches out on either side of the road to Pornic. On the north side, the town stretches as far as the Loire, with a small, unspoilt port, Port-Lavigne, on its estuary.
It's not hard to guess its history! Its name tells us straight away that it was a port and that wine was transported here. Rue des Pêcheurs, the only street in the village, tells us about its main resource until the First World War. If you take a look at the facades of the old houses and their raised stoops, you will realise that the Loire regularly flooded them. A sign even indicates the level reached by the river in 1872. Water up to the chin, an unrivalled record. The history of Port-Lavigne continues to be written: new houses have been built, this time on the same level; along the estuary, a succession of sheds provide shelter for fishing enthusiasts; contemporary art has been invited onto the opposite bank. Artist Sarah Sze chose this site on the banks of the Loire to install her sculptures, The Settlers, which punctuate the path as far as Roche-Ballue.
During your walk, take the time to rest for a few moments in the Parc du Champ Toury, beneath the foliage. This natural area has been developed by the local authority, but is well worth getting to know!