Troglodyte weekend in Anjou

Morning: in the bowels of a troglodyte village at Rochemenier

Start your journey at Rochemenier, one of the most fascinating troglodyte villages in the Pays de la Loire. Twenty rooms carved out of the tufa stone await you for a journey back in time. Opt for the guided tour or the interactive tablet, which will delight children: from the 13th-century chapel to the underground farmyard, all aspects of farming life are revealed before your very eyes.

Afternoon: the sculpted secrets of Denezé and Doué-en-Anjou

Continue on to Denezé-sous-Doué, where the Cave aux Sculptures offers a unique spectacle. Descend a few steps and plunge into a stone theater: hundreds of characters sculpted in tufa stone unfurl their mysterious saraband.

Round off your first day at the Troglos de la Sablière in Doué-en-Anjou, where contemporary artists engage in a dialogue with the rock. Their sculptures stand side by side with astonishing fossils, creating a bridge between past and present.

For dinner, settle into a troglodyte restaurant. Taste the famous fouées (or fouaces), hot rolls filled to your heart's content, a local specialty not to be missed.

Morning: Doué-en-Anjou, between fossil sea and animal paradise

Start the day at the Mystère des Faluns in Doué-en-Anjou. In these monumental caves, a sound and light show transports you 10 million years back in time, when the sea covered the region. Water mirrors, video projections and light effects transform the walls into a living theater.

Another option for the morning: the Bioparc de Doué-en-Anjou, the only zoo of its kind in the world, which has turned former quarries into a natural setting. More than 1,500 animals, from red pandas to zebras, live in spectacular spaces carved out of the rock. Observe felines basking in their caves, multicolored birds nesting in the tufa rock walls, while primates explore their vertical territories.

Before leaving Doué-en-Anjou, take a fragrant break at the Roseraie les Chemins de la Rose. In this English-style garden, more than 10,000 rose bushes display their colors. While parents stroll through the flower beds, children can take part in an original treasure hunt in the company of Léon le Paon.

Afternoon: castle life from Brézé to Montreuil-Bellay

Head for the Château de Brézé, a Grand Site du Val de Loire that hides its secrets well. Beneath its elegant facades lies a whole underground world: seigneurial residences, covered walkways, secret refuges and even a drawbridge, all carved out of the rock. The dry moats, among the deepest in Europe, promise a timeless experience.

Finish your journey in Montreuil-Bellay, a Petite Cité de Caractère proudly overlooking the valley. Its castle, with 15 towers and 600 meters of ramparts, invites you on a medieval journey. Take the opportunity to discover its vineyards and taste local wines.

To extend your (underground) journey in Anjou

A few kilometers away, the village of Turquant invites you to discover its craftsmen who have made the caves their workshop. Glassmakers, sculptors and ceramists open their doors to you, perpetuating the creative tradition of these unique places.

Wine lovers will particularly appreciate the impressive galleries of Bouvet-Ladubay or the Robert et Marcel winery. In these subterranean cathedrals, precious Saumur, Saumur brut and Crémant de Loire wines are aged. A tasting in these storied cellars will reveal the full elegance of Saumur wines.

For a different view of this landscape carved out by man and time, treat yourself to a canoe trip on the Thouet at Montreuil-Bellay. From the water, the château and its beautiful tufa mansions are revealed from a different vantage point, between lush nature and reflections on the river.