A beautiful escape in the Baugeois region
Between the silver thread of the Sarthe and the well-kept secrets of the Baugeois, Anjou invites you on an adventure where nature and history intertwine. Here, rivers whisper stories thousands of years old, bell towers twirl skyward as if in defiance of logic, and the apothecaries of yesteryear preserve their mysterious remedies. Paddle gently on the water, push open the door of a sleepy château, decipher the riddles of a cabinet of curiosities... For a weekend, take the time to let yourself be surprised.
You'll love
Paddling the wild islands of the Sarthe
Slip into the shoes of a 15th-century lord at Château de Baugé
Discover the secret of twisted bell towers
Explore a museum where mummies, butterflies and Neolithic bracelets rub shoulders
Day 1 : from Tiercé to the treasures of Anjou's heritage
Morning: canoeing on the waters of the Sarthe angevine
Start your adventure at the Porte-Bise nautical base in Tiercé. Here, the Sarthe meanders through lush green islets and shady banks. Embark on a canoe trip down to Cheffes. Along the way, nature reclaims its rights: patient herons, stealthy kingfishers and iridescent dragonflies punctuate your navigation.
The water becomes livelier as you approach Cheffes. Here you face the five rapids, a unique passage in the Pays de la Loire region, where the river plays leapfrog between the rocks. A small dose of adrenalin before a leisurely trip upstream through the lock, as in the days of the bargemen.
Afternoon: a journey through time for everyone
There are two ways to spend the afternoon. Take to the skies at Espace Air Passion at Angers-Marcé airport. In this temple to the first conquerors of the skies, more than forty planes and gliders tell the epic story of aviation from 1900 to 1970. Admire the René Gasnier n°3, the first plane to fly in Anjou in 1908. Children will marvel as they climb aboard the Fouga Magister, pilot's helmet on, while enthusiasts will watch as volunteers restore these mechanical birds before their very eyes.
Or set course for Durtal castle, a veritable fortress that watches over the Loir valley from its rocky promontory. Push open the door of this stone sentinel that has seen kings and queens come and go. From the parapet walk to the 40-meter-long gallery, let us tell you all about the eventful history of this witness to the passage from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The old kitchens reveal their secrets, and the 15th-century roof timbers tell the story of five hundred years of history in the creak of their beams. In the "chambre aux engoulents", gargoyles seem to be watching you, while the "devil's room" still shudders with the plots that were hatched there.
Day 2 : in the secrets of the Baugeois
Morning: old-fashioned remedies and the royal palace
In Baugé-en-Anjou, theHôtel-Dieu plunges you into the medical world of yesteryear. Its apothecary, one of the finest in Europe, houses over 650 jars with mysterious contents: dragon's blood, woodlouse powder, crayfish eyes... In the grand salle des malades, discover how people were treated under Louis XIV, before strolling through the jardin des simples, where medicinal plants still perfume the air.
A stone's throw away, the Château de Baugé invites you to dine at King René's table. This erudite prince, cousin to the kings of France, made this intimate palace his heart's home. From the banqueting hall to the attic transformed into a poetic forest, the new scenography invites you to share in the refined daily life of this 15th-century knight-artist.
Afternoon: architectural riddles and a cabinet of curiosities
In the afternoon, discover the mysterious twisted spires of the Baugeois region, defying the laws of gravity. The Baugeois region boasts the highest concentration of these architectural curiosities in France. In Pontigné, admire the perfect spiral of the bell tower of Saint-Denis church, which turns a quarter turn on itself. At Vieil-Baugé, the bell tower is both twisted and leaning, as if the devil's hand had twisted it, according to local legend. At Fontaine-Guérin, the spire turns from left to right, unlike the others. These mysterious monuments raise many questions: architectural intent or natural deformation of the wood? It's up to you to form your own opinion.
Finish your tour in Beaufort-en-Anjou, at the Musée Joseph-Denais. This cabinet of curiosities, created in 1905 by a passionate journalist, is a veritable immobile world tour. In this timeless place, more than 9,000 heterogeneous objects stand side by side: Egyptian mummies, Camille Claudel sculpture, dinosaur fossils, Neolithic bracelets... The building itself, with its singular architecture blending Florentine influence and slate roofs, is a curiosity in its own right.
Want to extend your stay in Anjou?
- Pedal along the Loire à Vélo between Angers and Tours, following in the footsteps of Renaissance castles.
- Explore the cellars of Saumur and their troglodytic galleries where the nectar from the Loire hillsides ages.
- Discover the extraordinary gardens of Terra Botanica in Angers, Europe's leading plant park.