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This is the Anjou, where an equitable climate has carved a soul from land and water to produce a rolling countryside, impressive abbeys and châteaux with a story to tell. A land of the rare and the commonplace, the sublime and the enchanted. Where, in fact, everything is in perfect balance.
Chambellay, a small village on the banks of the Mayenne river, a tributary of the Loire, in the Anjou region of France is rich with history. Surrounded by fantastic natural and cultural attractions it is the ideal place for discovering the famous castles of French nobility, the vineyards of the Loire, and if your heart desires participation in many of the nearby cultural and sporting activities, which include bathing, golf, fishing, river cruising and dining, bike riding, walking, horse racing, pony trekking, and ballooning to name just a few.
You can enjoy all these advantages whether you are staying for a just short time or on an extended tour. A perfect environment whether your stay is geared towards cultural, sporting or theme touring.
click below to see what's in store . . . .
The
Middles Ages in the Anjou is marked by the important figures of the
Plantagenet dynasty. Henri Plantagenet, through a game of matrimonial
unions and legacies, became the head of an “empire” which stretched
from Scotland to the Pyrenees. However, from the beginning of the 13th
century, the Kings of France reasserted their rights to the possessions
of the Plantagenets. At the end of the Middle Ages, Anjou is definitely
under the rule of the French crown. Back in the Capetian fold, Anjou
became one of the “key ” regions against the threat of the
Anglo-Britons. The 13th and 14th centuries brought an increase in the
population of Anjou, and unprecedented economic, religious and cultural
development. The 17th century is marked by the hardening of the
monarchy to the provinces, and a return to Paris as the seat of Power.
Richelieu and then Louis XIV layed
siege to the town of Angers
during the Fronde Rebellion. Strife continued and the French revolution
came. The conflicts finally subsided at the beginning of the 19th
century. The region bore a new face, that of agriculture, specialized
farming and town redevelopment. However, the area kept clear of the
industrial revolution, allowing it to grow more graciously into the
20th century.
At it’s historical peak the Loire Valley stretching from Tours to Angers and beyond became the playground of nobility and Kings. Many, many magnificent edifices were built, and can be seen throughout the region. The châteaux and abbeys which are the pride of Anjou were built in “tuffeau” (sandy chalk stone), but this stone from Saumur hides a rare treasure. More than 1,000 tunnels still remain. They are now converted into cellars, museums and art galleries. The magnificent castle-fortress of Angers was built by King Saint Louis between 1228 and 1238 , and it was Louis I of Anjou who commissioned the magnificent tapestry of the Apocalypse, which is the oldest and largest tapestry in the world and is still housed in the castle, now a museum.
The chateaux of France's Loire Valley represent a nation of builders starting with the necessary castle
fortifications in the nine hundreds to the splendor of those built a
thousand years later. When the French kings began constructing their
huge chateaux here, the nobility, not wanting or even daring to be far
from the seat of power, followed suit. Their presence in the lush,
fertile valley with its moderate climate, began attracting the very
best landscape designers. Before long, and to this day, it is known as
the "Garden of France".
By the middle of the 15th century, King Francois I, had shifted the center of power in France from the Loire back to the ancient capital of Paris. With him went the great architects but the Loire Valley continued to be the place where most of the French royalty preferred to spend the bulk of their time. The ascension of King Louis XIV in the middle of the 17th century permanently made Paris the permanent site for great royal chateaux when he built the Palace of Versailles. Nonetheless, those who gained the king's favor and the wealthy bourgeoisie, continued to renovate existing chateaux or build lavish new ones as their summer residence in the Loire.
The French Revolution saw a number of the great French chateaux destroyed and many ransacked, their treasures stolen. The overnight impoverishment of many of the deposed nobility, usually after one of its members lost their head to the guillotine, saw many chateaux demolished.
Today, these chateaux, some privately owned, serve as homes, a few opening their doors to tourist visits, while others are operated as museums. Below are a few nearby for your pleasure.
Angers
The
Château of Angers is a fortress. It was built by St. Louis in the 13th
century (1230).This fine example of the defensive architecture of the
Middle Ages is located on a Gallo-Roman site. It has seventeen towers
and there is nearly a kilometre (1/2 mile) of walling. It is a schist
and “tuffeau” (sandy chalk stone) construction. Behind the wall, the
building now keeps watch on a masterpiece of inestimable value. This
chef d’oeuvre is the Apocalypse tapestry. It was commissioned by the
Duke of Anjou, Louis I, in 1375, and it is the biggest collection of
medieval weaving in the world. The Château of Angers is open all year
round.
For further information:
Web : http://www.monum.fr
Tel.02.41.87.43.4
Le Plessis-Macé
The
castle of Le Plessis- Macé was built out of black schist stone at the
end of the 11th century. It was transformed into a magnificent sporting
residence in the 15th century. The whole building bloomed in the
Flamboyant Gothic style. The "tuffeau" balcony and the chapel, within
which is a rare Gothic tribune, are its finest examples. Nowadays, one
can appreciate the contrast between the 15th century buildings and the
remains of the old 13th century castle. There are many things to do at
the castle of Le Plessis-Macé. It can be visited , it can be rented out
for seminars or a family event , or one can take part in educational
workshops there. It is the setting for the "Très tôt en scène" theatre
festival and the Anjou Festival.
For further information:
Tel: 33(0)2 41 32 67 93
Saumur
The
Château of Saumur has an unforgettable panoramic view of the Loire and
the City. It was christened "the castle of love" by King René, because
of its fairytale like silhouette. In the 15th century it was rebuilt
for the purpose of sporting and other pleasures.
It now holds one of the finest decorative art collections in France and it has a remarkable horse museum. The Château of Saumur is open daily from April to September, and every day except Tuesday from October to March.
For further information:
Tel: 02 41 40 24 40
Web: http://www.saumur-tourisme.net/chateausaumur.html
Montsoreau
Le
Château of Montsoreau is located on a strategic site and it is an
exceptional tourist site. It overlooks the Vienne and the Loire, and it
is only a few kilometres from the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. From the
top of its towers there is a good view of the Anjou and Touraine area.
is open from April to June and Mid September and October every day
except Tuesday, and daily from July to Mid September.
For further information:
Tel: 33(0)2.41.67.12.60
Web: http://www.chateau-montsoreau.com/
Chateau Brissac
The
Château of Brissac The classic walls of Brissac, the tallest chateau in
France, soar from the centre of a splendid park full of age-old trees.
For further information:
Tel: 33(0)2.41.91.22.21
Web: http://www.chateau-brissac.fr/
Serrant
The
Château of Serrant is immense, powerful, and splendid. Napoleon would
have said of it "I finally see a Château in France". Inside it, the
most beautiful collections of privately owned furnishings in France are
to be admired, such as tapestries, paintings, priceless effects, rare
furniture, and especially the exceptional library containing 12,000
books.
For further information:
Tel: 33(0)2.41.39.13.01
Web: http://www.chateau-serrant.net/
Brézé
This
Château harbours wine cellars, storerooms, granaries and troglodyte
bakeries lodged in the walls of the deepest (dry) moat in Europe. From
the roofs of the Château of Brézé, there is a magnificent view of the
vineyards that have been in production for over 800 years. The Château
of Brézé is open from May to September, every day except Sunday.
For further information:
Tel: 33(0)2.41.51.62.06
Web: http://www.chateaudebreze.com/
Its
mild climate and environment as well as the enthusiasm of its men have
brought to the Anjou a large quantity of gardens and parks, each more
amazing than the other. The valleys are full of this natural heritage,
the Angers valleys being one of the most beautiful regions in Europe.
The garden tradition continues in the Anjou. Here is a selection of the
most original parks:
* Parc du château de Lathan: on the theme of gallantry in love.
* Jardin du château du Pin with 18 levels and 48 clipped yews.
* Jardin potager of the château de Montriou, a wonderful kitchen garden, and its collection of cucurbitaceae.
* The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, which has a collection of rare tree species.
* Chemins de la rose à Doué-la-Fontaine, one of the finest rose gardens in France.
* The Oriental Park of Maulévrier for a walk that will give you a serene change of scenery in its Japanese gardens.
Web: http://www.parc-oriental.com/
* The medicinal and aromatic plant garden of Chemillé for an initiation to natural medicine.
(See our polo and showjumping packages). Horses
are a very important part of life in the region, and this can
be seen throughout its history. Two famous characters stand out, these
being the King René and the owner of the Lorie Château. These great men
have passed down their passion in the form of the Cadre Noir in Saumur,
and the Lion-d'Angers National Stud, as well as famous sports
competitions (Mondial du Lion (Lion World Championship)), and also
beautiful riding paths. The two emblematic faces of horse riding in
Anjou are of course, Saumur and Lion-d'Angers. The cavalry riding
school was set up in Saumur at the end of the 17th century and gave its
first "carroussels" in 1828. 
The
national riding school and its Olympic stadium are, the scene of a
complete set of international events and of world show-jumping events.
Colbert founded the Lion-d'Angers in 1685. This national stud is
located on the 160 hectares (395 acres) of the Isle- Briand estate.
This center breeds stallions and trotters and is very much in the eye
of the general public. It is also the place where one of the major
complete horse riding events takes place, this being the Mondial du
Lion (Lion World Championship).
The
Anjou has kept from its past a considerable network of navigable
rivers. In total, there are more than 400 km (248 miles) of rivers open
to the public. Follow the local boatman and fisherman and their tracks
along the rivers. On the banks or, on board cruising boats which you
can rent or be chauferred in, take the time to discover the Anjou
slowly and enjoy a calmer, more peaceful natural vision of the region.
The
Loire is the first river to have been recognized by UNESCO as part of
the world's natural heritage. This natural paradise will arouse your
five senses. It is a pleasure to the eyes with masses of landscapes
just waiting to be admired. It is a pleasure to touch its old stones
and its plants, and then there are the tastes and smells, which come
from the local products and the restaurants. There are lots of animal
species happy to be in Anjou, to look at and listen to. To appreciate
the local plant and animal life, don't forget to stop over at the
Valley of Anjou Observatory and the Loire-Anjou-Touraine nature
reserve. Anjou also has a huge choice of restored and working mills to
be admired by the visitor. The force of paddle wheels powered water
mills. The water mills of Sarré in Gennes and Chenillé-Changé can be
visited. Discover: Aurillée, Moulin de la Croix-Cadeau, Doué la
Fontaine, Moulin Cartier (Tower)
There is a total of more than 2,700 kilometres (1,677 miles) of walking trails that are protected and signposted. A series of guides are available at the County Tourist Office in Angers and other towns.
Museums in Angers .......
The Jean Lurçat Museum
This museum is housed in the old St. Jean's Hospital buildings, which
were founded at the end of the 12th century by a charitable layman.
What remains of this hospital is the immense patients' ward with a
Plantagenet Gothic vaulted ceiling dating from the 12th century, its
12th century apothecary room, the chapel, the cellars built into the
schist mound and the timber framed attics. Since 1967, "Le chant du
monde" (the song of the earth) by Jean Lurçat is displayed in the
patients' ward. This is a modern wall-hanging which includes the ten
tapestries woven between 1959 and 1965 in the Aubusson workshops. This
symbolic wall-hanging is a modern replica of the Apocalypse tapestry of
Angers, which Lurçat discovered in 1937.
For further information:
Tel: 33 (0)2 41 24 18 45.
The Museum of Fine Arts (Beaux Arts)
Since 1796, it has been housed in the Barrault residence, a late 15th
century private home, recently extensively enlarged and renovated.
French and primitive painting by painters such as Chardin, Barbot,
Watteau, Fragonard, Boucher, David, and Ingres, are well represented in
this museum There is also a remarkable selection of Roman, Medieval and
Renaissance artefacts (Goldsmith's work, enamel, and ivory arts),
European painting is also well represented with a fine collection of
northern and Italian paintings.
For further information:
Tel. 02 41 05 38 00 33 (0)
Web: http://www.angers.fr/mba
Address: 14 rue du Musée, 49100 Angers
The Pincé Museum
This
museum is located in the 16th century Pincé residence (see facing photo
by Pierre David). It is a place where one is totally immersed in
classical antiquity, such as the Greek and Roman (represented by
pottery, glasswork and bronzes) and the Egyptian civilisations (Gods,
funeral rites, scripts, daily life). There is also a Japanese art
collection (theatre masks, pottery, porcelain, laquerwork), a
recreation of a tearoom and a Japanese etchings room. Chinese art is
also represented here (fabrics, tobacco containers, etc.) Temporary
exhibitions are organised on a regular basis.
For more information:
Tel: 33(0)2 41 88 94 27.
The Modern Tapestry Museum
Not far from St. Jean's Abbey, the old orphanage was restored in June 1986 and became the Modern Tapestry Museum. Permanent collections of Jean Lurçat's and Thomas Gleb's work are to be admired upstairs. The museum also has a rare collection of paintings, drawings, book illustrations, pottery, war and post-war tapestries.
For more information:
Tel: 33(0)2 41 24 18 48.
The David d'Angers Gallery
The (Toussaint) All Saints Abbey is one of the biggest 13th century
abbeys in Angers. Since 1984, it houses a collection of plaster models,
medallions, marble and bronze statues sent by Jean-Pierre David
(1788-1856) to his home town's museum. There is a gallery of modern
busts (Balzac, Hugo, Goethe, Paganini, etc.) upstairs, and a selection
of the artist's 500 medallions. These show how much David d'Angers was
interested in the human face.
For further information:
Tel: 33 (0)2 41 87 21 03
The Regional Angers Marcé Air Museum
This
museum was created by some aviation enthusiasts who were determined to
safeguard in our memories the role of those great men of the great
flying adventure, such as Roland Garros, René Gasnier, etc. The aim of
this museum is to give us an opportunity to discover a collection of
light and winged aircraft. Temporary exhibitions, guided conferences,
and restoration of the "vieux coucous" (old cuckoos) demonstrations are
also organised.
For further information:
Tel: 33 (0)2 41 33 04 10
Web:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/museeregionalgppa/
JANUARY
"Premiers plans" festival in Angers : European Young Cinema Festival.
FEBRUARY
Industrial Tourism Week : a dozen companies open their doors to the general public.
Upstream Salt Waterways of the Loire : from Guérande to Saumur, follow the old river boatmen paths.
The Oriental Festival : Saint-Florent-le-Vieil hosts a traditional oriental music festival.
According
to the legend, it was St. Martin, the Bishop of Tours, who brought back
the first "Chenin" plant from Germany in the 4th century. This vine was
to bring nobleness to the great white wines of the Loire.
The well-rounded white wines brought fame to the Anjou region, from the time when the Dutch traders followed the Loire from the Layon, before conveying them all over the world. These wines are the "Coteaux du Layon" with its quince and honey flavor, and the two great wines, the "Quarts de Chaume" and the "Bonnezeaux", the vineyards of which rise above Saint-Aubin-de-Luigné and Thouarcé. You can't miss the brightness of the golds and greens on the vineyard road. The "Layon" can be drunk as an aperitif or with a foie gras from Anjou.
Another
great Anjou wine is the "Savennières", which is a dry white wine, and
which is well know for its two "appellations" (certifications): "la
Roche aux Moines" and the "Coulée de Serrant". These great wines should
ideally be appreciated with a seafood platter or a fish from the Loire.
"Pimpant", the rosé should be drunk chilled and young with sautéed eel or a plate of "rillauds", which is a flavorful pork bacon conserved in lard.
Traditionally a white wine region, the current wine production is now more oriented towards red wines. "Fleuron du Saumurois" and "Saumur-Champigny" are wines that leave you "with your head free after drinking". Their flavor of wild fruits will enchant your palate. On the other hand, the Anjou red wine "Anjou-villages" gives off a scent of raspberry and its color is a gleaming ruby red.
The coolness of the cellars dug into the "tuffeau" stone and the know-how of the wine producers combine to give birth to the "Crémant de Loire". This is a Saumur brut sparkling wine which can be drunk at the start of a party or which will end your meal with lots of exuberance.
Many wineries are open for tastings to delight your palette.
Other
pleasures of the table....... Another great wealth of the Anjou is its
fruit and vegetables, and this can be seen in its colorful market
stalls, which abound in many of the villages almost every day of the
week. There are quantities of asparagus, cherries, strawberries,
raspberries, melons, apples and plums, all matured in the sun and the
warm winds. You must taste the traditional "Pâté aux prunes" plum
pastry, which is a pie filled with greengages, and the "Doyenne du
Comice", a delicious pear hybrid created in Anjou.
We hope you will join us in exploring
this remarkable region of France.
We love it and we know you will too...
